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.

• Governing coalition does not support mandatory refugee quotas for Latvia
• Neatkariga prints an article about integration of third country nationals in Latvia
• Russia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry criticizes the detention of Aleksandrs Gaponenko

All the governing coalition members do not support mandatory refugee quotas for Latvia. The coalition partners wanted to stress that Latviasupports solidarity with Europebut does not support mandatory quotas for accommodation of asylum seekers and refugees. As reported, the initial proposal of the European Commission for redistribution of asylum seekers and refugees foresees accommodation of 737 persons in Latvia. Latvijas Avize

Neatkariga prints an article about the social campaign “Your People” aimed on integration of third country nationals conducted by the Society Integration Foundation. According to an expert of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights Sigita Zankovska-Odina, public opinion surveys show thatLatvia is the most unfriendly country towards immigrants in the European Union. Latvians are more likely to accept people fromRussia,Ukraine,Belorussia orMoldova, than immigrants from theMiddle East, Asian or African countries due to unfamiliar culture, traditions, religion, says Mrs. Zankovska-Odina. She also believes that the reason for intolerance towards foreigners is caused by the lack of communication with them. Director of the research centre SKDS Arnis Kaktins stresses that the majority of Latvians are very sceptical about the influx of guest workers to Latvia seeing it as a threat, competing for vacancies in the labour market.

The Russia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry criticizes the detention of an activist of the Congress of Non-citizens Aleksandrs Gaponenko. As reported, Gaponenko was detained by the Security Police for 14 hours in relation to a criminal proceeding on incitement to ethnic hatred. The Russiaconsiders that Latvia’s reaction on Gaponenko’s activities is too strong comparing with insufficient response to activities by national radicals who called to place Latvian non-citizens and disloyal Russians to ghetto. Vesti Segodnya