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.

• Ombudsman Juris Jansons: citizenship is not a Christmas sale
• Vesti Segodnya interviews an academician Juris Rozenvlads
• Discussion on existence of Russian culture in Latvia conducted in Riga

Latvian high officials support the decision taken by the Central Elections Committee (CEC) to cancel the next stage of initiation of referendum on non-citizens. The Speaker of the Saeima Solvita Aboltina believes thus the CEC prevented instability in the country. The Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis agrees with the Speaker and believes the CEC’s decision will remove tension in society. The Ombudsman Juris Jansons, in his turn, stated citizenship is not a Christmas sale and persons should earn it. Chas

An academician Juris Rozenvlads believes the decision taken by the Central Elections Committee to cancel to next stage of initiation of referendum on non-citizens is a blow not only for its initiators but also for Latvian democracy. At the same time, Mr Rozenvalds does not support that ethnic issues are solved on referendum, because those should be solved trough public and political discussions searching for compromises. Mr Rozenvalds believes that reaction of the society on both referendums – on status of Russian language and on non-citizens would be different if the question would be put not so radical. Instead of demanding to grant Russian language status of state language it could be asked to grant Russian language some specific status instead of foreign language status in Latvia as it has now, but regarding non-citizens it could be asked to grant them voting rights in municipal elections as Estonia did years ago – believes Mr. Roznevalds. Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya reports about discussion on existence of Russian culture in Latvia outside the politics and state funding. Participants of the discussion – Russian cultural figures, professors, teachers, representatives of NGOs – discussed their vision on development and promotion of Russian culture.