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.

• Riga City Council banned all the events on 16 March
• Diena prints an article on children non-citizens
• Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the judge of the European Court of Human Rights Inta Ziemele
• Saeimas subcommittee on statist education discussed education in ethnic minority schools

Yesterday, the Riga City Council banned all the events on 16 March (un-official commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires) in the centre of Riga. Several applications were submitted to the City Council for public events on this day from those who wanted to commemorate legionnaires by procession as well as by those who wanted to protest against such procession. The City Council based its decision on conclusions of the Security Police about possible incidents during the events. Most likely the decision will be appealed in the court. As reported, last year the City Council also banned all the events on 16 March, however, the court allowed all the events.

Yesterday, the Riga City Council banned all the events on 16 March (un-official commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires) in the centre of Riga. Several applications were submitted to the City Council for public events on this day from those who wanted to commemorate legionnaires by procession as well as by those who wanted to protest against such procession. The City Council based its decision on conclusions of the Security Police about possible incidents during the events. Most likely the decision will be appealed in the court. As reported, last year the City Council also banned all the events on 16 March, however, the court allowed all the events. Chas, Latvijas Avize, Diena, Vesti Segodnya

Diena reports that 13,500 children born in the families of Latvian non-citizens could have become Latvian citizens if their parents would only submitted application to register their child as citizen. The reasons why parents do not register their children as citizens in the majority of cases is the belief that the children who born in Latvia should be registered as citizens automatically and lack of knowledge about such option. Part of the parents face difficulties to receive agreement from both parents for childs registration as it is required by legal acts. Presently, the Saeima discusses how to relief the process of registration of a child as Latvian citizen and one of the proposals is that it would be enough with agreement of only one childs parent. The Zatlers Reforms Party also proposed to register all children born in Latvia as citizens automatically, however the Saeimas Legal Committee refused it.

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with the judge of the European Court of Human Rights Inta Ziemele. Mrs Ziemele believes that the results of the national referendum on the status of Russian language in Latvia clearly showed that the majority of citizens that the identity of the Latvian state with Latvian language as the only state language remains and will remain the same as in the times of foundation of Latvia as independent state. Mrs Ziemele also believes that in 1918 only nation of ethnic Latvians needed to have Latvia as independent state. Ethnic minorities who lived in Latvia did not need Latvian Republic. But Latvian politicians being very democratic evaluated that it will be impossible to exist without inclusion of ethnic groups which live in the territory of Latvia historically, and therefore, proclaimed Latvia as inclusive state.

The Saeima’s subcommittee on statist education discussed education in ethnic minority schools. Head of the subcommittee Raivis Dzintars (nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM) believes that it is disturbing that many young people who graduated Latvian schools voted for Russian language as a state language at national referendum and regularly attend the events of 9 May (Victory over Fascism Day). Mr Dzintars believes that reasons for that should be searched in the education system and how students are taught in minority schools especially about history of Latvia. It was also suggested to reprimand those teachers whose students participate in Victory over Fascism commemoration.

The Saeimas subcommittee on statist education discussed education in ethnic minority schools. Head of the subcommittee Raivis Dzintars (nationalists union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM) believes that it is disturbing that many young people who graduated Latvian schools voted for Russian language as a state language at national referendum and regularly attend the events of 9 May (Victory over Fascism Day). Mr Dzintars believes that reasons for that should be searched in the education system and how students are taught in minority schools especially about history of Latvia. It was also suggested to reprimand those teachers whose students participate in Victory over Fascism commemoration. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya