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.

• Building of an NGO Russian Community in Liepaja attacked on 26 December
• Prime Minister: bilingual education has proven its efficiency
• The Ministry of Interior proposes to grant the Cabinet of Ministers rights to evaluate impact of temporary residence permits on national security or economic development

Vesti Segodnya reports about attack on a building of an NGO Russian Community in Liepaja (city in the South-Western part of Latvia) in the early morning of 26 December. Unknown persons knocked out the front doors’ glass and placed in it Latvia’s flag. Representatives of the Russian Community in Liepaja believe that it was not only act of hooliganism and vandalism but also desecration of the state flag and attempt of incitement of ethnic hatred.

Vesti Segodnya interviews the Prime Minister of Latvia Laimdota Straujuma. The Prime Minister believes that bilingual education has proven its efficiency and there is no need for major changes. Mrs Straujuma believes that ethnic minority schools are better aware how to improve education system and how to consolidate ethnic Latvians and non-Latvians. She also believes that it is important to consider how to establish common informative space in order to inform Russian speaking residents about events happening in the state. 

The Ministry of Interior proposes to grant the Cabinet of Ministers rights to evaluate impact of temporary residence permits on national security or economic development and to set restrictions for issuing of permits for a specified time frame in case of potential risks. The draft law stipulates that the Cabinet of Ministers will evaluate impact of the number of third country nationals or their concentration on a specific territory on national security or economic development. The restriction would apply only to those foreigners who want to receive residence permits in return for investments in Latvian economy or purchase of expensive real estate. According to the Ministry, some of the potential risks are division of the civil society, formation of closed self-sufficient communities of a specific ethnic group of third country nationals whose integration could be embarrassing or even impossible. The Ministry stresses that growing migration intensity increases risks of ethnic conflicts and hate crimes. Diena