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 upheld the decision to punish the deputy of the Liepaja City Council Valerijs Kravcovs
• Liquidation of the Naturalisation Board will be completed by 1 March 2010

The State Language Centre upheld the decision to punish the deputy of the Liepaja City Council Valerijs Kravcovs for insufficient Latvian language proficiency fining him with LVL 35 (EUR 50). As reported, Mr. Kravcovs appealed the decision because he believes that a deputy cannot be considered a worker of municipal institution; therefore, the State Language Law does not apply to him. Head of the Language Control Department Antons Kursitis asserts that the state language proficiency requirements for deputies are stipulated by law. Mr. Kursitis also considers that the deputy cannot use interpreters because it is not stipulated by law. Valerijs Kravcovs is planning to appeal the decision of the State Language Centre in the court. Chas

Chas reports that liquidation of the Naturalisation Board (NB) by handing its functions to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs will be completed by 1 March 2010. As reported, the NB was subordinated to the Ministry of Interior since 1 January 2010.