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.

• MEP from Latvia Aleksandrs Mirskis will have to pay the nationalists’ union’s MPs moral compensation for calling them “Nazis”
• Saeima’s Committee refused to recognise that the MPs Raivis Dzintars and Janis Dombrava violated the deputy’s code of ethics by their actions on 16 March
• MPs discussed differences in the attitude of Latvian residents towards the WWII events
• Interview with the head of the Education, Culture and Sports Department of the Riga City Council Eizenija Aldermane

The Riga Regional Court partially satisfied a claim of the leaders of the Nationalists’ Union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM, MPs Gaidis Berzins and Raivis Dzintars against the MEP from Latvia Aleksandrs Mirskis. The Court ruled the MEP Mirskis to pay both MPs LVL 1,000 as a moral compensation. The MPs complained on the MEP Mirskis for his statement made at the European Parliament calling them “Nazis” Diena

The Saeima’s Committee on Mandate, Ethics and Submissions refused to recognise that the leaders of the Nationalists’ Union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM Raivis Dzintars and Janis Dombrava violated the deputy’s code of ethics by their actions on 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires.) The complaint about the MPs’ actions was submitted by the MP Nikolajs Kabanovs (Concord Centre). As reported, during the procession of legionnaires, the two mentioned MPs got involved in a conflict with the protestors against the procession and police officers; the MPs tried to tear the protesters’ installations and turn off loudspeakers. The member of the Committee who did not support the opinion that the MPs violated the code of ethnics argued they did it because they are young and they have already apologised to police officers, while the protest action was a sacrilege towards the members of the processions. Latvijas Avize

 

The Saeima’s Society Consolidation Committee discussed differences in the attitude of Latvian residents towards the WWII events and how to overcome the conflicting views in this area. According to researchers for the Riga Stradins University, analysis of the internet comments shows that the peak of aggressive comments every year occurs in the middle of March and is connected with controversial date – 16 March events when the differences in comprehension about the history is the most visible. According to the mass media expert Anda Rozukalne, the biggest responsibility lays on politicians who make statements increasing confrontation and on journalists who distribute these statements. Latvijas Avize, Vesti Segodnya

Vesti Segodnya interviews the head of the Education, Culture and Sports Department of the Riga City Council Eizenija Aldermane (ex-head of the Naturalisation Board.) According to Mrs Aldermane, for many years the state had no clear integration policy but the integration program elaborated by the ex-Minister of Culture Sarmite Elerte is based on national and language issues. The Riga City Council, in its turn, has wider approach to integration viewing this process as sense of belonging of every resident to the city and the state, says Mr Aldermane. The task of the Riga Council is to ensure representatives of various ethnicities, social status, people with disabilities, and of different age to be able to use the city’s infrastructure, take part in the work of NGOs and city’s activities. Mr Aldermane also notes that Riga was the first municipality who granted funding for free-of-charge Latvian language learning courses which are highly demanded among the residents.