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.

• Video imitating the blowing up of the Monument to Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders posted on Youtube.com
• Ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks: Russias officials may soon acknowledge that Latvia was occupied by the USSR
• Most popular parties in May: Unity and the Concord Centre

Chas reports that a video imitating the blowing up of the Monument to Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders was posted on Youtube.com on 9 May. The video is named Blowing up the Occupants Monument and is accompanied by text Future simulation – how it will look when this shit is finally removed. The persons nickname, who posted the video, is a Latvian internet slang abbreviation meaning No Russians – No Problems. Representative of the Security Police interviewed by the newspaper states that there are no grounds for opening a criminal case because there is no call to terrorism in the video and it is written that it is only simulation.

Ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks (Society for Different Politics) believes that Russia’s officials may soon acknowledge that Latvia was occupied by the USSR. Mr. Pabriks considers that strongly critical statements about Stalin’s regime recently made by the Russian President Dmitrij Medvedev indicate that Russia “ceases to hold on to the details of totalitarian regime.” Mr. Pabriks also believes that Latvian officials are not ready to hear that Russia acknowledges the occupation of Latvia.

Ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks (Society for Different Politics) believes that Russias officials may soon acknowledge that Latvia was occupied by the USSR. Mr. Pabriks considers that strongly critical statements about Stalins regime recently made by the Russian President Dmitrij Medvedev indicate that Russia ceases to hold on to the details of totalitarian regime. Mr. Pabriks also believes that Latvian officials are not ready to hear that Russia acknowledges the occupation of Latvia. Chas

According to the public opinion survey conducted by a company “GfK”, 15% of Latvian citizens would cast their votes for the political union “Unity” and 14,8% for the Concord Centre if the Saeima elections were held in the beginning of May. 6,6% would vote for the Union of Greens and Farmers. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of respondents.

According to the public opinion survey conducted by a company GfK, 15% of Latvian citizens would cast their votes for the political union Unity and 14,8% for the Concord Centre if the Saeima elections were held in the beginning of May. 6,6% would vote for the Union of Greens and Farmers. Other parties are supported by less than 5% of respondents. Vesti Segodnya