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.

• Organisers of Russian March have appealed in the Administrative Regional Court the decision of the Riga City Council to forbid the march
• Saeima will review draft amendments to the State Language Law prepared by the FHRUL concerning granting official status to ethnic minorities languages
• Member of the nationalistic party All for Latvia! Imants Paradnieks: Russian speaking residents in Latvia are a consequence of occupation
• Vesti Segodnya features an interview with representative of an advertising company which has created discriminating advertising posters
• Latvijas Avize prints opinions of Latvian linguists on situation of state language.
• Concord Centre - the most popular political party in August

NGO Motherland and the Latvian National Democratic Party have appealed in the Administrative Regional Court the decision of the Riga City Council to forbid Russian March on 8 September. As reported, the City Council did not issue permission to the organisers of the event taking into account police recommendations concerning security reasons. The Court has to review the appeal on 4 September. Chas, Latvijas Avize, Diena, NRA

Chas reports that on 6 September, the Saeima is planning to review draft amendments to the State Language Law prepared by the political party For Human in United Latvia (FHRUL), which stipulate granting official status to ethnic minorities languages in territories inhabited by ethnic minorities in substantial numbers.

A member of the nationalistic party All for Latvia! Imants Paradnieks in an interview with Vesti Segodnya has stated that large number of Russian speaking residents in Latvia is a consequence of occupation of Latvia by the U.S.S.R. Imants Paradnieks has stated we will come to mutual understanding only when Russian speakers will recognise the fact that Latvia was occupied and that they reside here because of the occupation.

Vesti Segodnya features an interview with Andris Zusts, representative of an advertising company Inorek&Grey which has created advertising posters for an enterprise Buvniecibas ABC. As reported, in April, the Centre for the Protection of Consumer Rights has fined Buvniecibas ABC in amount of LVL 5,000 (EUR 7,144) for discriminating advertisement which shows an African man who in broken Latvian says I to want building yours house and the text behind the advertisement says All for construction and repair work but foreign labour force. Andris Zusts believes that the advertisement does not contain any racial insults towards guest workers or black skinned people while scandal around it had political background. However, according to Mr. Zusts, Inorek&Grey after the scandal has decided not to use images of people with not-white skin colour in their advertisements.

Latvijas Avize prints opinions of Latvian linguists on situation of state language. Representative of the State Language Centre Antons Kursitis considers that positions of Latvian language could be strengthen by the following steps: legal acts have to set levels of state language proficiency for all workers in service sphere including both private companies and governmental institutions; law has to stipulate obligation for employers to determine language proficiency of employees; law should determine punishment for the refusal to hire someone because he/she is not capable to communicate in Russian, given that at least 50% of those already employed at the enterprise are speaking Russian; and state language proficiency requirements for naturalisation candidates has to be raised.

According to the latest public opinion survey conducted by the company "Latvijas fakti" in August, the Concord Centre is the most popular political party – 11.1 % of Latvian citizens would vote for them if the Saeimas elections were held in August. The Union of Greens and Farmers is supported by 10.9% of citizens; the Peoples Party by 10.3%, and the New Era by 7.2 %. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of the respondents. Diena