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.

• About 183, 046 Latvian citizens signed for the Constitutional amendments on granting Russian language the status of a state language in Latvia
• Newspapers analyse the effect and consequences of the collection of signatures and probable referendum
• Saeima once again refused to establish the Orthodox and Old Believers Christmas as a bank-holiday

According to the latest preliminary data of the Central Elections Committee, 183, 046 Latvian citizens signed for the Constitutional amendments on granting Russian language the status of a state language in Latvia.

According to the latest preliminary data of the Central Elections Committee, 183, 046 Latvian citizens signed for the Constitutional amendments on granting Russian language the status of a state language in Latvia. This is more than 154,379 signatures required to forward the draft amendments to the Saeima. In order to be adopted by the Saeima, these amendments would require the support of qualified majority - 67 of 100 MPs. As reported, if the draft amendments are turned down by the Parliament a national referendum will be initiated and for the amendments to be supported they require the support of more than a half of Latvian electorate (771,893 citizens). Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga

Newspapers analyse the effect and consequences of the collection of signatures and probable referendum on granting Russian language the status of a state language in Latvia. The majority of the newspapers have no doubt that due to ethnic composition of Latvian citizenry the Constitutional amendments would not gather the required support in a national referendum. At the same time, the experts and the MPs interviewed by the newspapers agree that such initiative radicalises the society. Experts interviewed by

Newspapers analyse the effect and consequences of the collection of signatures and probable referendum on granting Russian language the status of a state language in Latvia. The majority of the newspapers have no doubt that due to ethnic composition of Latvian citizenry the Constitutional amendments would not gather the required support in a national referendum. At the same time, the experts and the MPs interviewed by the newspapers agree that such initiative radicalises the society. Experts interviewed by Diena, believes that huge responsibility at present lies on the politicians who with their statements or actions might provoke bigger ethnic tensions. According to Telegraf, in order to avoid the ethnic confrontation in Latvia, it is important to explain to ethnic Latvians that the majority of those who supported the initiative are fluent in Latvian language but by supporting the initiative Russian speaking residents of Latvia displayed their protest against the fact that they are ignored by the state authorities and that this was the only way of protest they could show. Another aspect of the protest is that part of the citizens wants to be officially acknowledged as minorities and to enjoy the rights stipulated by the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe. Diena, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Chas

Yesterday, the Saeima once again refused to establish the Orthodox and Old Believer’s Christmas (7 January) as a bank-holiday. The oppositional parties submit such proposal to the Saeima every year, however, every time it is refused by the Parliament. There are more than 400,000 of Orthodox and Old Believer’s in Latvia.

Yesterday, the Saeima once again refused to establish the Orthodox and Old Believers Christmas (7 January) as a bank-holiday. The oppositional parties submit such proposal to the Saeima every year, however, every time it is refused by the Parliament. There are more than 400,000 of Orthodox and Old Believers in Latvia. Chas, Vesti Segodnya