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.

• Russian NGOs in Latvia ask the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights and the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament to speed up consideration of a petition on granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections
• 42% of Latvian residents are representatives of ethnic minorities
• Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with Ruslan Pankratov who has submitted an application to the ECHR against Latvianisation of his name
• 1,989 guest workers have arrived to Latvia during first six months of 2007
• According to a study Attitude towards State Language, 56% of Latvia residents believe that the state has to ensure usage of state language in service sphere

Chas reports that representatives of several Russian NGOs in Latvia have sent to the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights and to the Committee on Petitions of the European Parliament an appeal asking to speed up consideration of a petition signed by 16,000 residents of Latvia on granting non-citizens voting rights in municipal elections. NGOs also asked to evaluate impact of mass scale non-citizenship on observance of Latvian residents rights and to support recommendations on elimination of non-citizenship addressed to Latvia by various international organisations.

According to

According to Chas, at present, 42% of Latvian residents are representatives of ethnic minorities. Many minority members in Latvia are non-citizens: 40% of Russians, 61% of Belorussians, and 64% of Ukrainians do not have any citizenship.

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with activist of the NGO Return Our Names Ruslan Pankratov who has submitted an application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) against Latvianisation of first and last name (adding the ending –s) in his passport. According to Ruslan Pankratov there are 3,000 persons registered in the NGO Return Our Names who support initiative against Latvianisation of personal names. Mr. Pankratov believes that modification of names amounts to forced assimilation and is form of ethno linguistic nationalism.

According to the Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 1,989 guest workers have arrived to Latvia during first six months of 2007. The majority of guest workers have arrived from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belorussia, Armenia and Uzbekistan.

According to the Department of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, 1,989 guest workers have arrived to Latvia during first six months of 2007. The majority of guest workers have arrived from Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Belorussia, Armenia and Uzbekistan. Latvijas Avize, Diena

According to a study “Attitude towards State Language” conducted by the State Language Agency (SLA) in summer, 56% of Latvia residents believe that the state has to ensure usage of state language in service sphere. Also, 49% believes that level of Latvian language proficiency for certain professions and posts must be defined in legal norms. According to the study, 34% of ethnic minority respondents have stated that they use their native language in private life and in other spheres. In an interview with

According to a study Attitude towards State Language conducted by the State Language Agency (SLA) in summer, 56% of Latvia residents believe that the state has to ensure usage of state language in service sphere. Also, 49% believes that level of Latvian language proficiency for certain professions and posts must be defined in legal norms. According to the study, 34% of ethnic minority respondents have stated that they use their native language in private life and in other spheres. In an interview with Latvijas Avize, a representative of the SLA has told about a broad study State Language Law: History and Topicality conducted by the agency. The study will reflect on how the politicians have taken care of development and protection of the state language. Latvijas Avize