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 print various comments about the procession of Latvian Waffen SS legionaries held on 16 March in Riga
• Ombudsmans Office has asked a company selling computers to withdraw racially discriminating advertisement
• Diena reports on a case of Palestinian man who has requested asylum in Latvia

The Simon Wiesenthal Centre has stated that Latvian authorities distort historical events by allowing processions of Waffen SS legionaries. The Simon Wiesenthal Centre argues that there were many legionaries who committed crimes against humanity. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also criticised the procession on 16 March stating that Nazi organisation Waffen SS was condemned by the Nuremberg Tribunal. Activist of the nationalist political party “All for Latvia!” Raivis Dzintars stated that the procession in honour of Latvian Waffen SS legionaries on 16 March has demonstrated that ethnic Latvians are masters in Latvia. Raivis Dzintars believes that Latvians should be Latvia’s masters every day and they should finish the battle what Latvian Waffen SS legionaries started. Representatives of the right-wing radical organisation “The National Power Union” (NSS in its Latvian acronym) stated that activists of the German National Democratic Party (NPD) who also took part in 16 March events were invited by the NSS.

The Simon Wiesenthal Centre has stated that Latvian authorities distort historical events by allowing processions of Waffen SS legionaries. The Simon Wiesenthal Centre argues that there were many legionaries who committed crimes against humanity. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also criticised the procession on 16 March stating that Nazi organisation Waffen SS was condemned by the Nuremberg Tribunal. Activist of the nationalist political party All for Latvia! Raivis Dzintars stated that the procession in honour of Latvian Waffen SS legionaries on 16 March has demonstrated that ethnic Latvians are masters in Latvia. Raivis Dzintars believes that Latvians should be Latvias masters every day and they should finish the battle what Latvian Waffen SS legionaries started. Representatives of the right-wing radical organisation The National Power Union (NSS in its Latvian acronym) stated that activists of the German National Democratic Party (NPD) who also took part in 16 March events were invited by the NSS. Vesti Segodnya, Chas

The Ombudsman’s Office has asked a company selling computers to withdraw its advertisement from mass media which pictures two laptops – black against white background and white against black background and has a slogan “While the whites are resting, the blacks are working” The Ombudsman’s Office believes that the advertisement is racially discriminating.

The Ombudsmans Office has asked a company selling computers to withdraw its advertisement from mass media which pictures two laptops – black against white background and white against black background and has a slogan While the whites are resting, the blacks are working The Ombudsmans Office believes that the advertisement is racially discriminating. Telegraf

Diena reports on a case of a Palestinian man who has requested asylum in Latvia. The man received a Latvian visa and arrived in Latvia with his wife, a Latvian citizen, in August 2007. Initially he applied for a residence permit however he was refused the permit on account that Latvia does not recognize Palestinian passports. Later, the man applied for asylum, however, the Citizenship and Migration Affairs Office (CMAC) refused the claim and ordered the man to leave Latvia arguing that he has requested asylum in order to legalize his residence in Latvia. The man and his spouse have appealed the decision of the CMAC in the Riga Administrative Regional Court which will announce its decision tomorrow. The Ombudsman Romans Apsitis has stated that in this case the Minister of Interior could grant the Palestinian man a residency permit by special order considering the rights to family.