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 has adopted draft amendments to the Criminal Code stipulating punishments for instigation of ethnic or racial hatred
• Saeima has ratified the border agreement with Russia
• Candidate for the post of the President of Latvia Karina Petersone: non-citizens should not be prevented from participating in social and state affairs
• Head of the Naturalisation Board Eizenija Aldermane on the decrease of naturalization applications
• Ombudsman Romans Apsitis replied to a request of the political party The Concord Centre to explain his statement on integration policy

Yesterday, the Saeima has adopted amendments to the Criminal Code stipulating that instigation of ethnic or racial hatred might be punished with up to three years imprisonment, community works or pecuniary penalty of up to 60 minimal wages. An accident which has severe consequences, involves violence or is made by a group of people or a public official might be punished with up to 10 years imprisonment. The pecuniary penalty of up to 30 minimal wages might be applied in cases if discrimination act is repeatedly committed during a year.

Yesterday, the Saeima has adopted amendments to the Criminal Code stipulating that instigation of ethnic or racial hatred might be punished with up to three years imprisonment, community works or pecuniary penalty of up to 60 minimal wages. An accident which has severe consequences, involves violence or is made by a group of people or a public official might be punished with up to 10 years imprisonment. The pecuniary penalty of up to 30 minimal wages might be applied in cases if discrimination act is repeatedly committed during a year. Diena

Yesterday, the Saeima has ratified the border agreement with Russia. The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has supported the Saeima’s decision and stated that the law will be announced without delay. The government of the Russian Federation is planning to ratify the agreement during the summer months.

Yesterday, the Saeima has ratified the border agreement with Russia. The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has supported the Saeimas decision and stated that the law will be announced without delay. The government of the Russian Federation is planning to ratify the agreement during the summer months. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Diena, Latvijas Avize, NRA

In an interview with

In an interview with Vesti Segodnya, the candidate for the post of the President of Latvia from the political party Latvias Way, MP Karina Petersone has stated that Latvian non-citizens should not be prevented from participating in social and state affairs. According to Karina Petersone, any parliamentary discussion on the issue whether non-citizens should be granted voting in municipal elections would be populist. Therefore, according to the MP, a national referendum would be the best way to take a decision on the issue

In an interview with

In an interview with Telegraf, the Head of the Naturalisation Board (NB) Eizenija Aldermane believed that decreasing number of applicants for naturalisation is not a negative trend. According to Eizenija Aldermane, the slow naturalisation rate has caused the decrease of the NB staff and several local branches of the NB will be closed due to the small number of non-citizens.

The Ombudsman Romans Apsitis has replied to the request of the political party “The Concord Centre” to explain his statement made after the Estonian events over the removal of the Red Army war memorial from the centre of Tallinn. In the interview with

The Ombudsman Romans Apsitis has replied to the request of the political party The Concord Centre to explain his statement made after the Estonian events over the removal of the Red Army war memorial from the centre of Tallinn. In the interview with Diena, Romans Apsitis has stated that Latvia should review its integration policy taking into account lessons learnt from the Estonian experience and to prioritize the interests of ethnic Latvians. In the reply to The Concord Centre, Romans Apsitis has noted that his words were interpreted in a wrong way. According to the Ombudsman, he meant that the process of integration should be more comprehensive and multidimensional in order to prevent peoples negative attitude and aggression towards the state. Telegraf