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.

• Saeima Speaker appeals the decision of the Security Police on the refusal to initiate a criminal process for incitement to ethnic hatred in a documentary Baltic Nazism
• Executive Director of the Riga City Council: there are no reasons to refuse permissions to organize public activities on 16 March
• Security Police have initiated 13 criminal cases for incitement to ethnic hatred in 2005
• Academician Ilga Apine: Latvians are not democrats
• Security Police initiated a criminal process against former deputy of the Riga City Council for anti-governmental statements
• Professor of the Baltic Russian Institute: citizens from ethnically mixed families must unite in a political force
• Results of the festivity Russian Culture and Education in Latvia

Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre appealed the decision of the Security Police on the refusal to initiate a criminal process for incitement to ethnic hatred in a documentary “Baltic Nazism” produced by a Russia’s TV company. Ingrida Udre has also asked to the President’s Committee of Historians to evaluate the documentary and to give their conclusion.

Saeima Speaker Ingrida Udre appealed the decision of the Security Police on the refusal to initiate a criminal process for incitement to ethnic hatred in a documentary Baltic Nazism produced by a Russias TV company. Ingrida Udre has also asked to the Presidents Committee of Historians to evaluate the documentary and to give their conclusion. Chas, Latvijas Avize

The Executive Director of the Riga City Council Eriks Skapars stated that there are no reasons to refuse a permission to the political party Union of National Forces to hold a procession on 16 March, the unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WW II legionnaires. Eriks Skapars said that a special committee will review all applications and will take a decision. As reported, the left-wing party For Human Rights in United Latvia asked the Riga City Council not to issue any permissions to hold public actions in Riga on this day.

The Executive Director of the Riga City Council Eriks Skapars stated that there are no reasons to refuse a permission to the political party Union of National Forces to hold a procession on 16 March, the unofficial commemoration day of Latvian WW II legionnaires. Eriks Skapars said that a special committee will review all applications and will take a decision. As reported, the left-wing party For Human Rights in United Latvia asked the Riga City Council not to issue any permissions to hold public actions in Riga on this day. Chas, Latvijas Avize, Telegraf, Diena

In 2005, the Security Police have initiated the highest ever number – 13 - of criminal cases for incitement to ethnic hatred.  The Head of the SP stated that increase in the number of such cases should be evaluated positively, because it shows that measures are taken to deal with the phenomena. The official also noted that the number of applications from members of society asking to evaluate alleged calls to ethnic hatred, has increased and that proves that the attitude of society towards the phenomena has changed.

In 2005, the Security Police have initiated the highest ever number – 13 - of criminal cases for incitement to ethnic hatred. The Head of the SP stated that increase in the number of such cases should be evaluated positively, because it shows that measures are taken to deal with the phenomena. The official also noted that the number of applications from members of society asking to evaluate alleged calls to ethnic hatred, has increased and that proves that the attitude of society towards the phenomena has changed. Chas

Professor ethnologist Ilga Apine stated that Latvians are not democrats. According to

Professor ethnologist Ilga Apine stated that Latvians are not democrats. According to Vesti Segodnya, Ilga Apine reached the conclusion on the basis of the research on interethnic relations. Among other results, the research revealed that the majority of Latvian respondents consider the low number of Russians in governmental institutions a positive tendency. Participation of Russians in the ruling coalition is a main principle of parliamentary democracy, unfortunately, Latvians do not understand what equality is… Our politicians are responsible for such perception, because they follow principles of ethnic democracy, said Ilga Apine.

The Security Police have initiated a criminal process against the former member of the Riga City Council Aleksandrs Gilmans for his statements made on the discussion forum of the NGO’s Headquarters for the Defense of the Russian Language Schools in Latvia homepage. As reported, the right-wing political party FF/LNIM believes that the Gilmans’ statements are anti-governmental. In an interview with the news agency LETA, Aleksandrs Gilmans stated that his statements were “philosophical meditations in an abstract discussion.”

The Security Police have initiated a criminal process against the former member of the Riga City Council Aleksandrs Gilmans for his statements made on the discussion forum of the NGOs Headquarters for the Defense of the Russian Language Schools in Latvia homepage. As reported, the right-wing political party FF/LNIM believes that the Gilmans statements are anti-governmental. In an interview with the news agency LETA, Aleksandrs Gilmans stated that his statements were philosophical meditations in an abstract discussion. Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Telegraf, Latvijas Avize, Diena

In

In NRA, the professor of the Baltic Russian Institute Pavels Tyurins stated that citizens from mixed Russian-Latvian families must unite in one political force. Pavels Tyurins considers that these families are a good example of integration. He believes that children who grow up in ethnically mixed families are genetically tended to be neutral to people of other ethnicities, as well as such children present interests of both ethnicities.

The Latvian Association for Support of Russian-language Schools (LASHOR in its Russian acronym) reported on the first results of the festivity “The Russian Culture and Education in Latvia.”

The Latvian Association for Support of Russian-language Schools (LASHOR in its Russian acronym) reported on the first results of the festivity The Russian Culture and Education in Latvia. The organizers expressed their satisfaction with the results of the essays competition on themes concerning Russians and the Russian culture. The final festive meeting will take place on 28 January. Chas, Vesti Segodnya