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.

• Draft amendments Criminal Law criminalising different actions and activities against Latvia’s independence or sovereignty passed the first reading in the Parliament

Media report about the draft amendments to the Criminal Law criminalising different actions and activities against Latvia’s independence or sovereignty or actions undermining territorial integrity, overthrow of the state power or change of the state system. The draft amendments elaborated by the Legal Committee and National Security Committee stipulate criminal liability for merging in organised groups with an objective to perform actions against Latvia, public calls against the state, helping foreign states or foreign organisations in performing harmful actions against Latvia’s security and spying. According to the authors, the proposed amendments would help to address threats of hybrid warfare and to ensure fundamental national interests. The MPs agreed on the urgency of these amendments and decided to consider them in the second and the final reading on 7 April. However, the President Raimonds Vejonis criticized the draft amendments saying that those may be interpreted extremely widely and lead to infringement of fundamental rights. The President called to elaborate clear and unambiguous regulations that do not threaten freedom of speech and freedom of assembly and association. Different experts also expressed their concerns about the proposed regulations.