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.

• High officials declined to come with a common statement regarding their position about state language
• President of Latvia Andris Berzins: Latvian language will remain the only state language in Latvia as far as the state exists
• Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis: ministers participating in 16 March processions will be dismissed
• Language inspections on the basis of anonymous complaints

Latvian high officials declined to come with a common statement regarding their position about the state language. Yesterday, the media reported that high officials – the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Saeima and the President – are preparing the statement which clearly says that Latvian language is the only state language in the country. However, the President of Latvia Andris Berzins refused to get involved in such initiative stating that he will not discuss manipulative actions around language issues provoked by ethnic Latvian nationalists and activists who support granting Russian language status of official in Latvia.

Latvian high officials declined to come with a common statement regarding their position about the state language. Yesterday, the media reported that high officials – the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Saeima and the President – are preparing the statement which clearly says that Latvian language is the only state language in the country. However, the President of Latvia Andris Berzins refused to get involved in such initiative stating that he will not discuss manipulative actions around language issues provoked by ethnic Latvian nationalists and activists who support granting Russian language status of official in Latvia. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya prints an interview with the President of Latvia Andris Berzins. According to the President, Latvian language will remain the only state language in Latvia as far as the state exists, but if this fact changes Latvia will not exist anymore. The President believes that the common factors for consolidation of the society are the state language and the shared territory of residence.

The Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis stated that those ministers who will take part in the events on 16 March will be dismissed from their posts. 16 March is unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Every year nationalists hold processions in the centre of Riga on this day.

The Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis stated that those ministers who will take part in the events on 16 March will be dismissed from their posts. 16 March is unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. Every year nationalists hold processions in the centre of Riga on this day. Diena, Neatkariga

Vesti Segodnya reports about language inspections on the basis of complaints submitted anonymously at the forum section of the web site of the Ministry of Justice. The State Language Centre investigates complaints which name concrete organisations or persons accused of insufficient state language usage. The author compares the situation to Stalins era, when people were repressed on the basis of anonymous informants and believes the present activity is caused by high unemployment and the anonymous informants are trying to get rid of the employees in order to get the jobs themselves. Four persons complained to the Latvian Human Rights Committee about the language inspections on the basis of anonymous informers, including cases when the employers try to dismiss employees who successfully worked several years. According to the Committee, two recent amendments to legislation represent additional incentives for the language inspectors: the number of professions in private sector requiring state language was increased 25-fold, while the fine for failing to use the state language in required amount was increased four-fold.