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.

• Governing coalition has to agree on the number of asylum seekers Latvia is ready to receive
• Police detained pro-Russian activists who gathered in the centre of Riga

After the agreement between the EU leaders about voluntary accommodation of asylum seekers by the EU member states, Latvian governing coalition parties have to agree on the number of persons Latvia is ready to receive. According to the Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma, this number might be up to 200 asylum seekers. Representatives of the Union of Greens and Farmers as well as the National Union stated that before making a decision, they want to be confident that accommodation of asylum seekers won’t cause negative long-term consequences for Latvia. According to a representative of the Ministry of Interior, part of asylum seekers could be placed in the accommodation centre in “Mucinieki”, but it is also important to plan integration of these people involving ministries and local councils. Diena, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, the police detained pro-Russian activists who gathered in the centre of Riga in order to sign founding document of an association “League of prisoners of conscience of Latvia”. The police evaluated that the gathering of five persons contradicted the requirements of the “Law on Assemblies, Marches and Pickets”. According to the explanations of one of the founders, leader of the party “For Native Language” Illarions Girss, the gathering of five persons was not a picket or assembly and the persons are entitled to enjoy their democratic rights. Latvijas Avize