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.

• Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muiznieks will come to Latvia with official visit after the up-coming Saeima’s elections
• Diena interviews an ethnic Roma Roksana Rudevica who now works as a lawyer’s assistant in the Ombudsman’s Office
• Head of the Union of Citizens and Non-citizens Vladimirs Sokolovs calls residents to put a badge with title “My friend is a non-citizen” on 15 October

The Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe Nils Muiznieks during his public lecture at the Riga Graduate School of Law stated that he will come to Latvia with official visit after the up-coming Saeima’s elections in order to avoid politicisation of his visit. Mr Muiznieks mentioned that he will raise three main issues in Latvia: children with status of non-citizen, conditions in prisons, and living conditions of Roma in Latvia. Latvijas Avize

Diena interviews an ethnic Roma Roksana Rudevica who now works as a lawyer’s assistant in the Ombudsman’s Office on issues concerning Roma rights. According to Ms Rudevica, most often Roma face unequal treatment in the field of housing and employment in Latvia. Ms Rudevica says that during last few years large number of Roma have emigrated from Latvia to other EU countries, mainly United Kingdom. Ms Rudevica believes that Roma feel more comfortable in multicultural countries because their working abilities there are not judged by appearance. Ms Rudevica also believes that positives changes to the situation of Roma in Latvia will happen when the employers and other society members will learn to trust Roma.

Head of the Union of Citizens and Non-citizens Vladimirs Sokolovs calls all persons interested in overcoming the split in the society caused by division of Latvian residents into citizens and non-citizens to put a badge with title “My friend is a non-citizen” on 15 October. 15 October 1991 is the day when Latvian government took a decision to grant Latvian citizenship only to those residents who were Latvian citizens before 1940 and their descendants, while the rest of residents or those who arrived to Latvia during Soviet era were granted status of non-citizen or alien. Mr Sokolvs calls also leaders of public opinion including high state officials to join this action. Vesti Segodnya