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.

26 August 2013

 

• Janis Iesalnieks: after the next parliamentary elections, many ethnically Latvian parties will be competing with each other to cooperate with the Concord Centre
• Doctor of Theology Guntis Kalme: "the red-brown pest has metastases" in Latvia
• Russian opposition: the USSR has already condemned the occupation and apologised

 

Latvijas Avize interviews the senior consultant to the Nationalist Union AFL!-FFF/LNIM Janis Iesalnieks. According to Mr.Iesalnieks, the most important goal of the nationalists is to restore the belief that ethnic Latvians are able to rule the state, that the power should not be given to ethnic Russians for positive changes. Mr.Iesalnieks understands ethnic Russians, who voted for the Concord Centre as a party which defends their interests. Ethnic Latvians voted for Nils Usakovs (Concord Centre) because he has more humane communication style, while the ruling parties demonstrate certain arrogance. On some issues, especially the social issues, MPs representing the Nationalists Union and the Concord Centre voted the same. However, he believes cooperation with the Concord Centre is impossible, alleging that this is "a branch office of Russia's ruling party". His pessimistic forecast is that after the next year's parliamentary elections, many ethnically Latvian parties will be competing with each other to cooperate with the Concord Centre. When asked about the request of the U.S.A. to extradite ethnic minority Latvian citizen Deniss Calovskis suspected of cyber crimes, Mr.Iesalnieks emphasises that he supports the concept of Latvia as ethnic, not civic state and that Latvia has to defend every ethnic Latvian regardless of citizenship; however, Calovskis perhaps made a crime and moreover, Calovskis on his Facebook page indicated he supports Nils Usakovs (Concord Centre). According to Mr.Iesalnieks, there is no conflict within the Nationalist Union when the "All for Latvia!" members on 15 May pay tribute to Karlis Ulmains, who organised coup'd'etat in 1934 and ruled Latvia personally until 1940. Their members are regularly conducting patriotic youth summer camps, which combine lectures and sports.

 

Latvijas Avize publishes article by Doctor of Theology Guntis Kalme about the German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact signed in 1939. Mr. Kalme writes that the "consequences of the war caused by the Pact are still to be overcome" and that "the red-brown pest has metastases". Namely, Mr.Kalve points at "ethnic Russian community".

 

Latvia's Radio journalist interviewed representatives of Russian opposition parties about the recognition of occupation of Latvia. Representative of the staff of the main opposition candidate to the position of the Mayor of Moscow Aleksey Navalny stated that this issue is not important in the context of these elections. Representative of the party "Yabloko" stated that he is informed about the human rights violations in Latvia, but emphasised that "Yabloko" is not going to exploit the issue for xenophobic purposes. The head of the "Left Front" highlighted that in 1990 the USSR has already condemned the occupation and apologised; he does not understand why Russia should constantly apologise. Vesti Segodnya