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.

• Newspapers continue to report on possible redistribution of refugees to Latvia

 Newspapers continue to report on possible redistribution of refugees to Latvia. Neatkariga and Vesti Segodnya report that the Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma has signed a decree to establish a “high level inter-institutional working group for the resolution of the refugee issue” which would resolve legal and practical issues of admission, accommodation and integration of refugees. MP Rihards Kols (National Union), dismissed earlier this month from the post of the Prime Ministers’ Parliamentary Secretary, alleges the government violated official national position on the issue, and believes that before announcing “abstract number” (250 persons) the government did not provide answers to essential questions, such as assessment of how many refugees Latvia is capable to accommodate in reality, preparedness of Latvian migration officials, social, education and healthcare specialists, security risk assessment (Latvijas Avize 21.07.2015). Vesti Segodnya interviews political scientist Kristians Rozenvalds, who believes that part of the reason why the society is opposed to the redistribution of refugees is that many Latvians still perceive the leadership as “them”, as an external force which always works against “us”, hurts “us” and thus “we” are always on a defensive. He also believes Latvia should follow the example of Denmark and be proactive.