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.

• Telegraf prints an article on why non-citizens still are not granted voting rights in municipal elections
• Latvijas Avize reports that representatives of several NGOs propose to establish competent ministry instead of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration
• Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the head of the NGO Russian Community in Latvia Tatjana Favorska

Telegraf prints an article on why non-citizens still are not granted voting rights in municipal elections. Head of the Saeimas faction Latvias Fist Party/Latvias Way Andris Berzins states that it is not proper time yet to raise this question because number of non-citizens in Latvia is too high and there is a danger that granting of voting rights would completely stop naturalisation process. Experts interviewed by the newspaper believe that the only reason why officials are slow in granting non-citizens voting rights is fear of stereotypes and fear to lose their traditional electorate. Director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Ilze Brads-Kehre considers that opportunity to take part in municipal elections would stimulate non-citizens to receive Latvian citizenship because they would finally feel needed for this state. Social Scientist Aigars Freimanis believes that if a number of EU citizens residing in Latvia who do not speak Latvian language and not familiar with Latvian history, anthem and political parties will take part in municipal elections in 2009 it will be a serious precedent to launch large-scale discussions on granting the same rights to non-citizens.

Latvijas Avize reports that yesterday, at the Saeimas Human Rights and Social Affairs Committees meeting, representatives of several NGOs objected closure of the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration and proposed to establish competent ministry instead of the Secretariat.

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the head of the NGO Russian Community in Latvia Tatjana Favorska. Mrs. Favorska believes that if Russian speakers as a community want to develop and become influential they must establish various NGOs which would work with various issues. Therefore, Mrs. Favorska states that it is wrong to criticize the fact that there are too many Russian NGOs in Latvia.