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.

• Experts: state is too passive in condemning manifestations of intolerance in society
• Interview with the editor-in-chief of the national radical newspaper DDD Liga Muzikante and the secretary of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Liene Apine

‘The state is too passive in condemning manifestations of intolerance in society, which is interpreted as positive signals by extremists,’ believe a number of human rights experts interviewed by

‘The state is too passive in condemning manifestations of intolerance in society, which is interpreted as positive signals by extremists, believe a number of human rights experts interviewed by Diena. The candidate for the post of the director of the Latvian National Human Rights Office Nils Muiznieks believes that the situation would be improved if the following 3 measures are adopted 1) training of police prosecutors and court staff; 2) adoption of provisions which provide that manifestations of racism are subject of the Administrative Violation Code; and 3) racial or ethnic motivation of a crime should be treated as aggravating circumstances. The director of the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies Ilze Brands Kehris in general agrees with Nils Muiznieks, however, argues that additional provisions should be introduced in the Criminal Law rather than Administrative Violation Law. The newspaper reports that the Latvian Centre for Human Rights and Ethnic Studies plans to develop the necessary amendments, while responsible state institutions – the Ministry of Interior and the Saeima Legal Committee – have not considered the development of such amendments. Diena

Latvijas Avize prints a long interview with Liga Muzikante, editor-in-chief of the national radical newspaper DDD, and Liene Apine, the secretary of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee and the member of the national radical organisation Latvian National Front, who both are accused in incitement to ethnic hatred in their articles. Both interviewees believe that ethnic integration is ‘an extreme experiment and crime against the Latvian nation. They are convinced that decolonisation is the only possible solution. When asked to comment on criminal charges brought against them, Liene Apine notes that the word ‘occupant may not be regarded as incitement to ethnic hatred as ‘the occupant is not a nationality.