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.

• Special Assignment Minister for Social Integration Karina Petersone: Latvian society is not divided along ethnic lines
• Security Police asked the Prosecutors Office to initiate a criminal process against a 15- year-old person for the incitement to ethnic hatred
• Queen of the Netherlands Beatrix visited the Latvian Centre for Human Rights
• Social and Employment Matters Committee supported to provide free Latvian language courses for the unemployed
• FHRUL proposes to grant the status of politically repressed person also to non-citizens
• 618 persons were granted citizenship

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Karina Petersone in an interview with

The Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration Karina Petersone in an interview with Telegraf stated that in reality Latvian society is not divided by ethnic lines and in fact all residents of Latvia live in peace and harmony: strong confrontation is a stereotype which is produced by politicians and distributed by the mass media. There are some oppositions, but neither must we nor the mass media must focus attention on them. First of all, we need to understand that we all live in one economic space.

The Security Police asked the Prosecutor’s Office to initiate a criminal process against a 15- year-old person for the incitement to ethnic hatred. The person published offensive statements towards Russians on the internet portal DELFI.

The Security Police asked the Prosecutors Office to initiate a criminal process against a 15- year-old person for the incitement to ethnic hatred. The person published offensive statements towards Russians on the internet portal DELFI. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Yesterday, Queen of the Netherlands Beatrix, in the framework of her official visit to Latvia, visited the human rights NGO Latvian Centre for Human Rights (LCHR). The main discussion subjects were the situation of minorities and development of civil society.

Yesterday, Queen of the Netherlands Beatrix, in the framework of her official visit to Latvia, visited the human rights NGO Latvian Centre for Human Rights (LCHR). The main discussion subjects were the situation of minorities and development of civil society. Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, the Saeima’s Social and Employment Affairs Committee reviewed the draft amendments to the Law on Support of the Unemployed and Job Seekers elaborated by the Saeima’s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL). FHRUL proposed to provide Latvian language courses and re-qualification courses for the unemployed not only in Latvian, but also in ethnic minority languages. The Committee supported the proposal to provide Latvian language courses for the unemployed free of charge. FHRUL believes that unemployment is one of the main problems which hinders development and integration of the society: “about a half of all unemployed are Russian-speaking residents… we believe, that the main obstacle for their re-integration in the labour market is that all re-qualification courses are only in Latvian.”

Yesterday, the Saeimas Social and Employment Affairs Committee reviewed the draft amendments to the Law on Support of the Unemployed and Job Seekers elaborated by the Saeimas faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL). FHRUL proposed to provide Latvian language courses and re-qualification courses for the unemployed not only in Latvian, but also in ethnic minority languages. The Committee supported the proposal to provide Latvian language courses for the unemployed free of charge. FHRUL believes that unemployment is one of the main problems which hinders development and integration of the society: about a half of all unemployed are Russian-speaking residents… we believe, that the main obstacle for their re-integration in the labour market is that all re-qualification courses are only in Latvian. Chas

FHRUL has elaborated draft amendments to the Law on Determination of the Status of the Politically Repressed Person. FHRUL proposes to grant the status of the politically repressed person also to Latvian non-citizens. Presently, non-citizens are not entitled to the status.

FHRUL has elaborated draft amendments to the Law on Determination of the Status of the Politically Repressed Person. FHRUL proposes to grant the status of the politically repressed person also to Latvian non-citizens. Presently, non-citizens are not entitled to the status. Chas

Yesterday, the government granted Latvian citizenship 618 persons who went through the naturalisation process.

Yesterday, the government granted Latvian citizenship 618 persons who went through the naturalisation process. Chas