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.

• General Prosecutor Eriks Kalnmeiers: the number of criminal proceedings on incitement to ethnic hatred grows

• Head of the Centre of Arabic Culture in Latvia Hosam Abu Meri: Muslim community in Latvia is very traditional
• About 15,000 Latvian residents took part in the elections to the Parliament of Unrepresented

 Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the General Prosecutor Eriks Kalnmeiers. According to Mr Kalnmeiers, the number of criminal proceedings on incitement to ethnic hatred grows in Latvia – there were six cases in 2009, seven cases in 2010, eleven cases in 2011, and 17-18 cases in 2012. The General Prosecutor explains the growing number of cases by more precise monitoring of hate speech and more strict approach for investigation of such cases. The main target groups of hate speech on the Internet are ethnic Latvians or Latvian state, ethnic Russians and Russian speakers, and Jews. There were also few cases of incitement to ethnic hatred against Arabs and Estonians. Mr Kalnmeiers believes that the roots of the hateful expressions mostly come from the past – Soviet occupation, repressions, deportations as these events left deep effect which still has an impact, and many identify the past Soviet regime with the present day Russian speakers. Mr Kalnmeiers suggests that those who disseminate hatred could be sent to history re-education lessons as part of the probation measures, similarly to traffic safety lessons, which are mandatory for those drivers, who made too many traffic violations. Mr Kalnmeiers also notes that there are cases when persons publish anonymous hateful expressions in the online discussions with an aim to provoke conflict among the internet users. For instance, there was a case when the authors of hateful expressions against ethnic Latvians were nationalistically minded ethnic Latvians.   

Head of the Centre of Arabic Culture in Latvia Hosam Abu Meri in an interview with Neatkariga denies the assertion made by the Security Police that Muslim community in Latvia might become more radical. Mr Abu Meri says that the Muslim community in Latvia is very traditional and formed by people without radical mindset – Arabs (the fewest number), Azerbaijanis, Tatars, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Chechens  - people who speak Russian and Latvian language with Latvian or the CIS countries’ mentality. Mr Abu Meri believes that Latvia does not have such a political impact worldwide to become a target of Islamic radicals. Mr Abu Meri also says that Latvia is not a traditional country of destination of immigrants from the Middle East because refugees and immigrants here do not have jobs and social benefits. Therefore large influx of immigrants from the Middle East is not expected in Latvia in the near 20-30 years.

According to the representative of the Congress of Non-Citizens Elizabete Krivcova, about 15,000 Latvian residents took part in the elections. About 10,000 voted at the polling stations and 5,000 on the Internet. The results of the election will be published soon. Vesti Segodnya