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.

• Nationalists’ union proposes to introduce voluntary helpers of state language inspectors
• Government discussed with the security bodies possible risks of confrontations during public events in March
• Latvijas Avize questions whether the presence of relatively large number of Russian citizens in Latvia endangers state’s security

In order to increase control over compliance with the State Language Centre, the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM proposes to increase funding for the State Language Centre and to introduce voluntary helpers of state language inspectors. Such volunteers would have rights to control compliance with language usage regulations in public places and institutions and report about violations immediately to the State Language Centre. Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, in the context of disorders in Ukraine, the government at a closed session discussed with the security bodies possible risks of confrontations during public events in March. Officials discussed protests actions planned by pensioners, by the Congress of Non-citizens against the language reform in Russian language schools on 6 March, and events on 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires.) Diena

According to the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs, about 48,000 Russian citizens have residence permits in Latvia. Latvijas Avize notes that this number could be bigger as some non-citizens who accepted Russian citizenship did not inform Latvian authorities and kept the status of non-citizen. The newspaper questions whether the presence of such relatively large number of Russian citizens in Latvia endangers state’s security as, for instance, Russia uses protection of its citizens in other countries as justification for military intervention (war between Georgia and South Ossetia in 2008 and presently in conflict in Ukraine and Crimea). According to the head of the Saeima’s National Security Committee Valdis Zatlers, the number of Russian citizens is not the most essential factor as four years ago Russia has approved a military doctrine which says that Russia use military intervention in order to protect not only its citizens but also other Russian speaking residents regardless of their nationality. Mr Zatlers believes that presently there are no direct military threats towards Latvia, but, anyway, bigger attention should be paid to internal stability in the country and the most effective way to ensure it is political, economic and social stability.