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.

• Minister of Interior Rihards Kozlovskis publicly apologised to Latvian legionnaires
• Ainars Latkovskis will not resign yet
• Latvijas Avize prints an article about the Congress of Non-citizens
• Vesti Segodnya reports about inspections on state language proficiency in Riga kindergartens

 

The Minister of Interior Rihards Kozlovskis publicly apologised to the members of the procession commemorating Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires on 16 March. The Minister recognised that the loud noise produced by the anti-fascists insulted and disturbed the members of the procession.  The Minister also stated that it is important to create a legal mechanism how to prevent such situation in future. Following the Minister’s apologies, the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM is considering to withdraw its demand for the resignation of the Minister. Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, the Saeima’s Society Consolidation Committee gave a vote of confidence to its head Ainars Latkovskis and persuaded him to stay on the post at least until the summer break. As reported, Mr Latkovskis wanted to resign from the post of the head of the Committee due to a pressure from coalition and opposition MPs who pushed him during the session to reveal how he will vote regarding the proposal to grant 16 March status of official commemoration day of Latvian legionnaires. Diena, Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize prints an article about the Congress of Non-citizens – a movement which plans to be the official representative of non-citizens or “parliament of not represented”. The Congress of Non-citizens will hold its founding session on 23 March. On 1 June – the day of municipal elections - the activists are planning to organise parallel elections to the Congress. According to the information provided by the Security Police to the newspaper, the Congress most likely will be used for wider expansion of activities around issues concerning non-citizens and create political and society tensions. The Speaker of the Saeima Solvita Aboltina believes that the Congress activities might be provocative and hinder non-citizens from learning of Latvian language, integrating in the society and demanding for privileged status. According to the Advisor to the Minister of Justice Janis Tomels, plans of the Congress to conduct protest actions, including on 18 November – Independence Day – show that it is anti-state organisation which does not respect Latvian state.

Vesti Segodnya reports about inspections on state language proficiency in Riga kindergartens. Deputies of the oppositional party Unity discussed with the Committee on Education, Culture and Sports of the Riga City Council and representatives of kindergartens problem with insufficient state language proficiency by the teachers. According to the information presented by the State Language Centre, the inspections identified 36 workers of preschool education establishments with insufficient level of state language. The majority of them attend the courses improving the language proficiency but some retired. Representatives of the kindergartens complained to the Committee about the shortage of personnel as the main reason mentioning low salary.