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.

• Vesti Segodnya reports about voting rights in Latvia and in other EU member states

Vesti Segodnya, reports that inLithuania, not only Lithuanian and the EU citizens but also third country nationals permanent residents ofLithuania have voting rights in the upcoming municipal elections. The newspaper notes, that such practice exists in 20 out of 28 the EU member states.Latvia is one of the member states where not only non-EU nationals but also Latvian non-citizens do not have voting rights or rights to be elected. According to the Latvian MP Boriss Cilevics (political party “Concord Centre”), the majority of the Parliament members strongly objects widening of the number of voters giving such rights to Latvian non-citizens and moreover to third country nationals. Mr Cilevics believes that it is an absurd situation when voting rights are granted to those EU citizens who resided inLatvia for six months but Latvian non-citizens who were born and lived here all their life are deprived of such rights.