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.

• MP Janis Dombrava labels part of the population as “civil occupants” and calls the U.S. Ambassador to support their repatriation before speaking about granting of citizenship to children

Vesti Segodnya reports about reaction of Latvian nationalists to the statement about automatic granting of citizenship to children at birth made by the Council of Europe Commissioner for  Human Rights Nils Muiznieks and the U.S. Ambassador’s to Latvia Mark Pekala’s proposal to discuss the issue. The MEP from Latvia Krisjanis Karins stated he would support such proposal only if children of non-citizens would study in Latvian language solely. The MP Janis Dombrava (nationalists’ union), in his turn, labelled part of Latvia’s population as “civil occupants” and called the U.S. Ambassador to support their repatriation before discussions on granting of citizenship to children. As reported earlier, the Commissioner Nils Muiznieks stated that states should grant citizenship automatically at birth to children born in their territory who would otherwise be stateless and not permit parents to choose an option that is clearly not in the child’s interest.