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.

• Latvijas Avize: new Latvian Ambassador in the UN, OSCE and other international organisations Bahtijors Hasans is an example of integration
• 585 persons got fined by the State Language Centre for violation of the State Language Law
• Court refused a claim on Latvianisation of a name Mark

Latvijas Avize reports about the appointment of the new Latvian Ambassador Bahtijors Hasans to the United Nations (UN), the Organisation for Cooperation and Security in Europe (OSCE) and other international organisations in Vienna. According to the newspaper, Mr Hasans arrived to Latvia in 80’s from Uzbekistan as a student of Latvian language and literature and stayed here for residence. Mr Hasans made a diplomatic carrier and received Latvian citizenship for special merits. (Latvijas Avize, 23 July)

585 persons got fined by the State Language Centre for violation of the State Language Law during first six months of 2013. In total, the Centre received 661 complaints about violations during the same period. Vesti Segodnya

The Administrative District Court refused a claim on Latvianisation of a child’s name Mark. As reported, parents of a child who was born in Germany and registered there as Hugo Mark complained, that the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs registering the child in Latvia added Latvian ending –s to the name, thus, he became Marks. The Court argued that there are no reasons to consider that ending –s somehow complicates life of the child, especially because the original spelling of the name is written in his Latvian passport in a special column. Vesti Segodnya (23 July)