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.

• Security Police initiated a criminal proceeding on incitement to hatred towards Russians, Jews and other groups of persons
• Opinion survey: residents do not have a shared opinion on whether non-citizens should be granted voting rights in municipal elections
• MP Karlis Sezants blames Jews in undermining national security

The Security Police has initiated a criminal proceeding on incitement to hatred towards representatives of various groups. A person or a group of persons under a nickname “@nacionaalisti” in Twitter regularly published calls for violence and different insulting statements mainly towards Russians and Jews, but also towards Muslims, dark-skinned people and homosexuals. News agency LETA

According to a public opinion survey conducted by TNS/LNT, Latvian residents do not have a shared opinion on whether non-citizens should be granted voting rights in municipal elections. 48% of Latvian residents agree that Latvian politicians should consider such a possibility, but 49% does not agree with it.  Vesti Segodnya

 Commenting the draft amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating more severe punishment for different actions and activities aimed against independence and sovereignty of Latvia, a member of the Saeima’s Legal Committee, MP Karlis Sezants (Union of Greens and Farmers) stated that persons who are actively engaged in pro-Russia’s and pro-Putin’s propaganda such as Tatjana Zdanoka, Illarions Girss, Aleksandrs Gaponenko and Josifs Korens, belong to a “very smart” ethnic group. When a journalist asked to explain which ethnic group he means, Mr Serzants replied that he means Jews. Lsm.lv