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.

• Political scientist Nils Muiznieks: economic crisis will increase split between non-Latvians and ethnic Latvians
• Legal Committee supported increase of fines for insufficient usage of state language
• Citizenship Law Implementation Committee discussed the draft guidelines for integration policy 2009-2013
• Saeima refused a proposal to recognize all Latvian non-citizens as Latvian citizens
• Vesti Segodnya prints article about the first and the only mosque in Latvia

In an interview with

In an interview with Chas, political scientist Nils Muiznieks has stated that economic crisis will increase split between non-Latvians and ethnic Latvians. According to Mr. Muiznieks, competition for vacancies will be much bigger and issue of ethnicity will play a part.

The Saeima’s Legal Committee supported increase of fines for insufficient usage of state language. Insufficient usage of state language at work will be punished with LVL 50 instead of LVL 25, while, fine for failure to translate public events into Latvian will be raised from LVL 100 to LVL 200.

The Saeimas Legal Committee supported increase of fines for insufficient usage of state language. Insufficient usage of state language at work will be punished with LVL 50 instead of LVL 25, while, fine for failure to translate public events into Latvian will be raised from LVL 100 to LVL 200. Chas

Latvijas Avize reports that the Saeimas Citizenship Law Implementation Committee discussed the draft guidelines for integration policy 2009-2013. The Committees head Peteris Tabuns (FF/LNIM) praised the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration for elaboration of the guidelines in general, arguing that the document puts integration on the right basis of Latvianness, while so far integration was based on multiculturalism and internationalism.

Yesterday, the Saeima refused a proposal of the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia to recognize all Latvian non-citizens as Latvian citizens.

Yesterday, the Saeima refused a proposal of the faction For Human Rights in United Latvia to recognize all Latvian non-citizens as Latvian citizens. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya prints article about the first and the only mosque in Latvia located in Riga. In an interview with the newspaper Latvias Imam Mamun Said states that there are more than 10,000 Muslims in Latvia and 95% of them live in Riga. According to Imam, number of Muslims in Latvia has grown during past few years and the number continues to grow.