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.

• State Language Centre has registered 708 violations in 2015

The State Language Centre has registered 708 violations of the State Language Law and collected fines in amount of EUR 21,160 in 2015. The majority of violations concerned insufficient level of Latvian language proficiency required for various posts or professions. The number of inspections conducted by the SLC has increased in 2015 as compared to 2014, but the number of initiated proceedings has decreased. Last year, the SLC hired nine so-called “public assistants” evaluating, on a voluntary basis, the usage of the state language in provision of public information and providing consultations on correcting the situation; identifying situation with regard to the use of the state language in regions and reporting to the SLC identified problems; providing consultations concerning the Latvian language use. The SLC is planning to increase the number of public assistants up to 150 during 2016. Latvijas Avize