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’s European Affairs Committee approved the government’s position on accommodation of 776 asylum seekers in Latvia
• NGO "Memorial of Žanis Lipke" organises series of lectures about old phobias and their impact on modern Latvian society
• Security Police presented a report on possible risks concerning accommodation of asylum seekers in Latvia

The Saeima’s European Affairs Committee approved the government’s position on accommodation of 776 asylum seekers in Latvia. The Committee had to meet twice to approve the position because the first session of the Committee was interrupted due to the lack of quorum as representatives of the governing coalition parties from the National Union and the Union of Greens and Farmers left the session. The quorum was reached following the second call for session few hours later and thus the second meeting of the Committee approved the position. The position was supported by the votes of the representatives of the governing coalition party the Unity and the oppositional parties the Concordand Latvia’s Reforms Party. Tomorrow, on 22 September, the Minister of Interior Rihards Kozlovskis will present the Latvia’s position at the meeting of the Council of the European Union Justice and Home Affairs ministers.  Latvijas Avize, Diena, Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports about a public lecture by a historian Kaspars Zellis about the historical perspective of racism inLatvia andEurope.  The lecture was organised by an NGO "Memorial of Žanis Lipke" in the framework of the series of lectures about old phobias and their impact on modern Latvian society. The first lecture was about the usage of dehumanizing metaphors talking about arrival of refugees toEurope. Other lectures are planned, including topics on Islamophobia and Homophobia.

At the session of the Saeima’s National Security Committee, the Security Police (SP) presented its report on the possible risks concerning accommodation of asylum seekers in Latvia. According to the SP, the two main risks concern arrival of radically minded persons together with asylum seekers and radicalisation of asylum seekers who might face integration problems in Latvia. The way to avoid these risks is to ensure comprehensive check of arriving persons and implementation of effective integration measures. Vesti Segodnya