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.

• State Language Centre criticizes the Riga City Council for using Russian language in communication with residents through social networks

The State Language Centre (SLC) asked the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs to explain why representatives of the Riga City Council communicate with residents in the Russian language in social networks. The SLC also asked for a written explanation on how information is selected for publishing in social networks. In response to the SLC’s request, the Mayor Usakovs pointed to a lack of legal provisions regulating the Latvian (state) language usage by state or municipal institutions in communication through foreign social networks. The SLC emphasized that, according to the legal provisions, the local government can exceptionally provide information in a foreign language in cases related to the international tourism and events, security measures, epidemic or inflectional diseases, free movement of goods in the EU, rights and obligations of detained foreigners, and emergency situations. According to a representative from the SLC, providing all information in Latvian and Russian by the local government legalises bilingualism in Latvia. Diena.lv, news agency LETA