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.

• Highs state officials stress that the government’s representatives should not take part in the events commemorating Latvian legionnaires on 16 March in the centre of Riga
• Daugavpils’ academics: Daugavpils’ residents would never support the reunification with Russia
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs
• Vesti Segodnya: Ombudsman Juris Jansons provided the President misleading information

According to the President of Latvia Andris Berzins, all the state officials including ministers have no place at the events commemorating Latvian legionnaires on 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Waffen SS legionnaires) in the centre of Riga. The Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma also said that she does not want to hear any reproaches by the allies regarding the participation of the Latvian ministers in the procession of legionnaires. “I don’t want to make excuses for issues we have never supported. It is clear, we do not support any totalitarian regime – neither fascism nor Nazism” – said Straujuma. As reported, the only minister who announced that he will take part in the procession is Einars Cilinskis. And yesterday, in the live interview with Latvian Radio, Mr Cilinskis approved that he will take part in the procession, thus breaking the decision of the government prohibiting it. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize prints an article about Daugavpils (city in the Eastern part of Latvia) with one of the biggest proportion of ethnic non-Latvian population and whether it is possible that someday its residents would express their will that the region reunites with Russia. Academics from Daugavpils interviewed by the newspaper are confident that the majority of Daugavpils’ residents would never support the reunification with Russia and that the majority of its residents are well educated and loyal towards Latvian state. The academics also note that there are a lot of stereotypes about Daugavpils among other Latvian residents who do not understand the real situation. Also the Mayor of Daugavpils Janis Lacplesis categorically refuse that situation in Ukrainian Crimea may be replicated in Daugavpils.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs. According to Mr Usakovs, in order to promote consolidation of the society it is important to grant greater support to the Latvian regions. As the situation in Latgale region (Eastern part of Latvia) much differs from Riga and other regions, it would be important to ensure Latgale residents with free of charge Latvian language courses. The other action would be to grant support for producing more of analytical and news programs on public radio and TV channels in Russian language. Mr Usakovs also believes that there were always some radically minded persons in the society and there will always be such persons, but it is important that the majority of the society would not follow such ideas.

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Ombudsman Juris Jansons provided the President Andris Berzins misleading information writing about the proposal to transfer education in ethnic minority schools into Latvian language. In the letter to the President, the Ombudsman claimed that the Article 13 of the Hague Recommendations Regarding the Education Rights of National Minorities says that the number of school subjects taught in state language should be significantly increased in secondary schools and the research findings suggest that the more significant the increase, the better for the child. However, the newspaper draws the attention, that instead of the word “significantly” and “significant” the Recommendations use word “gradually” and “gradual” and it changes all the meaning.