Integration monitor is a daily Latvian press digest on ethnic minority and society integration issues. The Monitor reviews the biggest Latvian dailies: Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga (in Latvian language), Vesti Segodnya (in Russian language). In specific cases other information sources are used. Latvian Centre for Human Rights is not responsible for information published by the media.

• Saeima voted to start consideration of a proposal to grant Orthodox Christmas a status of official holiday in Latvia
• MP Andrejs Judins criticizes ethnic approach in the politics and ethnic voting

Yesterday, the Saeima voted to start consideration of a proposal to grant Orthodox Christmas (7 January) a status of official holiday in Latvia. Such proposal has been submitted to the Saeima every year by oppositional party the Concord but every time it was refused. The Concord believes that granting Orthodox Christmas the status of official holiday would have positive impact on integration and attitude of Orthodox Christians to the state authorities. The Concord’s proposal got support of 50 MPs. Vesti Segodnya, Diena, Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya interviews MP Andrejs Judins - ethnic Russian member of the political party Unity. Mr Judins says that he is treated in the party as a deputy and a lawyer and not like ethnic Russian or Latvian. He criticizes ethnic approach in the politics and ethnic voting. He also says that it is wrong that politicians very often are expected to solve ethnic issues first of all.