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.

• Constitutional Court accepted a claim on unjustified language requirements
• Latvijas Avize interviews a candidate for the post of Riga Mayor Sarmite Elerte

The Constitutional Court has accepted a claim of an ex-deputy of Liepaja City Council Valerijs Kravcovs and deputy of Jekabpils City Council Natalja Cehova on unjustified language requirements.  Three years ago both deputies got fined for insufficient state language proficiency. In both cases the fines were imposed on the basis of a legal act on language requirements which was approved a month after elections in which they got elected to the local councils. The applicants believe the requirement to the deputies of local councils for the highest level of state language proficiency does not correspond with Latvian Constitution because it limits the rights to be elected for the majority of Russian speaking residents of Latvia. Vesti Segodnya

A candidate for the post of Riga Mayor Sarmite Elerte (the Unity) states that elections to the city council will not be ethnic – ethnic Latvians against ethnic Russians; instead the municipal elections will focus on the state principles– whether residents support Latvian state as it was established in 1918. According to Mrs Elerte, the most important task for her is to prevent strengthening of the Concord Centre in Riga because it is an obstacle for common development. Mrs Elerte criticizes the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs for his support of referendum on status of Russian language initiated by Vladimirs Lindermans considering that such action demonstrates his disloyal attitude towards Latvian state. Latvijas Avize