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: large number of non-citizens in Latvia is not violation of any rights
• Russian Union in Latvia conducted a protest action against Latvian foreign policy towards Russia

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Ombudsman Juris Jansons proposes to stop using the word “non-citizens.” Instead of that, the Ombudsman proposes to call persons who have Latvian non-citizen’s passports - “former citizens of the USSR.” The Ombudsman argues that there is certain group of residents who voluntarily chose to keep Latvian non-citizen’s passports in order to obtain a number of advantages provided by Latvia and Russia. Therefore, the large number of non-citizens in Latvia cannot be viewed as violation of any rights, says Mr Jansons.

Newspapers report about a protest action conducted by the members of the political party Russian Union in Latvia against Latvian foreign policy which harms relations between Latvia and Russia. The picket was held near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its members demanded for resignation of the Minister Edgars Rinkevics for his “radical” actions turned against Russia and support for anti-Russian sanctions. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize