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 discuss the President’s initiative on integration of society through reconciliation between the veterans of the two sides of the WWII
• “For Native Language” registers political party and protests against bank’s refusal to open bank account 

Newspapers continue to discuss the President’s initiative on the integration of society through the reconciliation between the veterans of the two sides of the WWII. According to article in Latvijas Avize, not the war, but ideology is at the basis of the divisions: those who fought under the red banner have betrayed Latvia, while those who fought under a different foreign banner have hoped and believed that Latvia will be free again. Very few veterans remain alive today, and they should not be burdened with responsibility over the issues, which they cannot resolve. Vesti Segodnya alleges that the President’s letter to the veterans is based on the view of historic events endorsed by the veterans of the Latvian Waffen SS Legion, while the veterans of the 130th Latvian Riflemen Corpse are offered to subscribe to this view. Vesti Segodnya also argues that current issues (minority schools, the status of language, non-citizens) need more attention, while “Stalin and Molotov can wait”; however, the politicians see it more convenient to discuss and condemn Stalin, instead of solving real issues.  

Leaders of the newly established political party “For Native Language” sent a letter to the head office of the Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (SEB) in Stockholm, regarding the decision of the SEB subsidiary bank in Latvia to deny bank account services to the party. The party leaders decided to raise the issue once they learned that Latvian SEB provides bank account services to the radical nationalist union “All for Latvia! / For Fatherland and Freedom - Latvian National Independence Movement”, therefore, they allege the bank is not politically neutral and the bank’s decision was discriminatory. The letter requests SEB to explain its policies. As reported, the movement “For Native Language” initiated a referendum on Russian as a state language in Latvia, held in February 2012. The political party was established on the basis of the movement and was officially registered in July 2012. NRA