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.

• 21 Russian language NGOs call to revise regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers which recently increased state language proficiency requirements in employment
• Council of Latvias NGOs calls the ECHR to evaluate the case of Kononov on legal, not historical grounds

21 Russian language NGOs sent an appeal to the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers and the Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis asking to revise new regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on state language proficiency requirements for certain professions and occupations. The new regulations (entered into force on 1 September 2009) considerably widened the list of professions which require various levels of state language proficiency and raised requirements for professions that were required various levels of state language proficiency under previous regulations. The NGOs highlight that the level of unemployment is higher among ethnic minorities and consider that the new regulations might lead to their further exclusion from the labour market. The NGOs propose to reduce the recent additions to the list of professions and occupations which require language proficiency; to lower Latvian language proficiency requirements for applicants for permanent residency; and to cancel state language requirements for deputies of municipal councils.

21 Russian language NGOs sent an appeal to the President of Latvia Valdis Zatlers and the Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis asking to revise new regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers on state language proficiency requirements for certain professions and occupations. The new regulations (entered into force on 1 September 2009) considerably widened the list of professions which require various levels of state language proficiency and raised requirements for professions that were required various levels of state language proficiency under previous regulations. The NGOs highlight that the level of unemployment is higher among ethnic minorities and consider that the new regulations might lead to their further exclusion from the labour market. The NGOs propose to reduce the recent additions to the list of professions and occupations which require language proficiency; to lower Latvian language proficiency requirements for applicants for permanent residency; and to cancel state language requirements for deputies of municipal councils. Vesti Segodnya

Council of Latvia’s NGOs, representing 50 organisations, addressed Jean Paul Costa, the President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) with an open letter, calling the ECHR to evaluate the case of Kononov vs. Latvia on legal, not historical grounds. The authors of the letter believe that the last decision of the ECHR was fair and just, and see attempts to consider the case on historical grounds as an attempt to punish those who fought on the side of the anti-Hitler coalition and to justify those who fought on the side of Hitler’s Germany.

Council of Latvias NGOs, representing 50 organisations, addressed Jean Paul Costa, the President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) with an open letter, calling the ECHR to evaluate the case of Kononov vs. Latvia on legal, not historical grounds. The authors of the letter believe that the last decision of the ECHR was fair and just, and see attempts to consider the case on historical grounds as an attempt to punish those who fought on the side of the anti-Hitler coalition and to justify those who fought on the side of Hitlers Germany. Vesti Segodnya