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 amended the Criminal Law provision on denial of genocide, crimesagainst humanity and peace or war crimes

Yesterday, the Saeima approved in the final reading amendments to the Criminal Law provision, which envisions criminal liability for gross belittling of genocide, crimes against humanity and peace, as well as war crimes against Latvia. The amendments introduce mentioning of the USSR and Nazi Germany to already existing provision. The new wording of the Article 74.1 of the Criminal Law envisions: “For public glorification of genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace or war crimes or for public glorification, denial, justification or gross belittling of genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace, or war crimes against Latvian Republic and its residents can be punished with up to five years of imprisonment or with short-term imprisonment or with community service or with pecuniary penalty.” According to one of the authors of the amendments MP Andrejs Judins (Unity), these norms clearly strengthen regulation against persons who justify crimes of mentioned political regimes. Mr Judins also noted that this regulation equated the USSR and Nazi Germany crimes. Neatkariga, Latvijas Avize, Diena, Vesti Segodnya