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.

• Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins called the Latvian notaries not to verify signatures of residents under the draft law on granting citizenship to all Latvian non-citizens
• Ombudsman Juris Jansons: employers have the right to set objective requirements for foreign language proficiency from potential employees

The Minister of Justice Gaidis Berzins called the Latvian notaries not to verify signatures of residents under the draft law on granting citizenship to all Latvian non-citizens. The Minister believes that this is an anti-state initiative and that such draft law contradicts Latvian constitution and legal acts, public morality, human honour and dignity. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

The Ombudsman Juris Jansons believes the employers have the right to demand objective requirements for foreign language proficiency from potential employees. According to the Ombudsman, the prohibition of discrimination does not prohibit the employers to evaluate skills of potential employees and to require specified level of foreign language proficiency. As reported, the Ombudsman’s Office was accused of discrimination of ethnic Latvians as one of the requirements for the post of lawyer in the Ombudsman’s Office is good Russian language proficiency. Vesti Segodnya