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.

• Diena features an article about skinheads in Latvia
• Yesterday, the Saeima has refused the draft amendments to the State Language Law proposed by the FHRUL
• U.S. Embassy to Latvia holds the Afro-American History Month in February
• President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga criticizes a proposal of Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens

Diena prints an article about skinheads in Latvia. A representative of the Security Police in an interview with the newspaper states that in Latvia skinheads are not very well organised and there are several, however not very big groups. According to the Security Police, there are about 150 skinheads in Latvia, of them 50 could be considered aggressive. The average age is from 14 to 30 years. The newspaper also interviews several representatives of visually different minorities residing in Latvia. An Indian man says he experiences negative attitude every day, however, he believes that it was even worse couple years ago. While another representative - a rabbi - argues that the situation has worsened and he hears offensive statements on regular basis. A Korean man who arrived to Latvia six months ago states that the situation in Latvia in comparison to other European countries is the worst. However, a Chinese man who lives in Latvia for seven years announces that he has never experienced any negative attitude.

Yesterday, the Saeima refused the draft amendments to the State Language Law proposed by the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) which stipulated granting the official status to ethnic minority languages in territories densely inhabited by ethnic minorities.

Yesterday, the Saeima refused the draft amendments to the State Language Law proposed by the political party For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) which stipulated granting the official status to ethnic minority languages in territories densely inhabited by ethnic minorities. Chas

In February, the U.S. Embassy to Latvia holds the Afro-American History Month. Yesterday,  representatives of the Afro-Latvian association and U.S. Embassy held a meeting with school children in Vainode (a small parish in the northern part of Latvia) and shared their experiences. It is planned to hold similar meetings in other schools as well.

In February, the U.S. Embassy to Latvia holds the Afro-American History Month. Yesterday, representatives of the Afro-Latvian association and U.S. Embassy held a meeting with school children in Vainode (a small parish in the northern part of Latvia) and shared their experiences. It is planned to hold similar meetings in other schools as well. Diena

Yesterday, the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in an interview to the commercial TV channel LNT has criticized a proposal of the leader of the Latvia’s First Party Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections. The President argued that that if non-citizens have the same rights as citizens do, then citizenship would loose its meaning.

Yesterday, the President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga in an interview to the commercial TV channel LNT has criticized a proposal of the leader of the Latvias First Party Ainars Slesers to grant voting rights to Latvian non-citizens in municipal elections. The President argued that that if non-citizens have the same rights as citizens do, then citizenship would loose its meaning. Chas, Telegraf