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.

• Saeima in the third reading stroke out Orthodox Christian and Old-Believers Christmas from the list of dates officially celebrated in Latvia
• Saeima conceptually supported the draft amendments which allow slaughter of animals in the form of a ritual cut
• Latvijas Avize prints an article on the new draft law on electronic media which cancels state language proportion for private TV channels

Yesterday, the Saeima in the third and the final reading supported a proposal of the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to strike out Orthodox Christian and Old-Believers Christmas (6 and 7 January) from the list of dates officially celebrated in Latvia. As reported, the Saeima supported inclusion of Orthodox Christmas in such list in previous two readings. Head of the faction Concord Centre Janis Urbanovics considers that exclusion of Orthodox and Old Believers Christmas is discrimination of representatives of these traditional and numerous confessions in Latvia because Catholic and Lutheran Christmas is officially celebrated. Mr. Urbanovics considers that the law on state holidays should either include celebrations of all traditional confessions or religious celebrations should not be included at all.

Yesterday, the Saeima in the third and the final reading supported a proposal of the party For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM to strike out Orthodox Christian and Old-Believers Christmas (6 and 7 January) from the list of dates officially celebrated in Latvia. As reported, the Saeima supported inclusion of Orthodox Christmas in such list in previous two readings. Head of the faction Concord Centre Janis Urbanovics considers that exclusion of Orthodox and Old Believers Christmas is discrimination of representatives of these traditional and numerous confessions in Latvia because Catholic and Lutheran Christmas is officially celebrated. Mr. Urbanovics considers that the law on state holidays should either include celebrations of all traditional confessions or religious celebrations should not be included at all. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, NRA

Yesterday, the Saeima discussed and supported in the first reading the draft amendments to the Law on Protection of Animals which allow slaughter of animals in the form of a ritual cut. The draft amendments allow slaughter animals for consumption in the Halal method practiced in Islam and Judaism when animals are slaughtered without being knocked out senseless.

Yesterday, the Saeima discussed and supported in the first reading the draft amendments to the Law on Protection of Animals which allow slaughter of animals in the form of a ritual cut. The draft amendments allow slaughter animals for consumption in the Halal method practiced in Islam and Judaism when animals are slaughtered without being knocked out senseless. Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Latvijas Avize prints an article on the new draft law on electronic media which cancels state language proportion for private TV channels and stipulates that 30% of audio-visual content must be made in Latvia. The effective law stipulates that 40% of media content must be in Latvian language. Executive director of the Latvian Broadcasting Association Gunta Lidaka considers that usage of Latvian language by mass media should be regulated by the market, while, the state language and Latvian identity should be protected by consequent state policy. In the meantime, an MP Inna Druviete believes that Latvian language should dominate not only in public media but also in commercial media.