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.

• The Saeima adopts amendments to the Citizenship Law
• Newspapers report about Victory Day celebrations in Riga

Yesterday, the Saeima adopted amendments to the Citizenship Law. The amendments grant the right to Latvian citizenship to those ethnic Latvians and Livonians (autochthonous Finno-Ugric population), who can prove their knowledge of Latvian language, as well as to those former citizens and their descendants, who escaped or were deported from Latvia and failed to restore citizenship during the 1990s. The amendments allow dual citizenship for selected countries: EU, NATO, Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, as well as countries concluding treaties on recognition of dual citizenship with Latvia. MPs of the Concord Centre alleged differential approach, such as the amendments exclude Russia, Byelorussia and Israel from the dual citizenship option. The amendments also simplify bureaucratic procedure on registration of non-citizens’ children born in Latvia as Latvian citizens.

Newspapers report about the celebration of the end of the WWII or “Victory Day” on 9 May in Riga, at the Monument to Liberators from Nazi Invaders. The mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs and some diplomatic representatives, including the ambassador of Russian Aleksander Veshyakov, laid flowers to the Monument in the morning. The celebrations included on-stage performances by various folk cultural groups, and on-screen memoir interviews of the WWII veterans, as well as a concert and fireworks. Tens of thousands of people attended the event. Commentators had various opinions about the 9 May. The Chairwoman of the Saeima's Human Rights Commission, Inara Murniece (AL!-FF/LNIM) believes 9 May is one of the saddest days in Latvia's history and there is nothing to celebrate on the end of the war. Senior Consultant of the parliamentary group AL!-FF/LNIM Janis Iesalnieks believes hundreds of thousands of Latvian residents are hostile to Latvia and therefore, the war is not over. Guntis Belevics (Green Party) stated that those who believe the war is not over yet could use the services of a psychiatric clinic, which also hosts alive Napoleon. Diena, Latvijas Avize, Neatkariga, Vesti Segodnya