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.

• Vesti Segodnya reports about a survey of the views of ethnic Latvians and non-Latvians on Latvia’s development
• 10,000 signatures are collected for support of demolition of the Monument to the Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders
• MP Dzintars Rasnacs: aim of the Preamble to the Constitution is to unite the Latvian nation

According to a public survey “Latvian barometer DNB”, ethnic Latvians would like to see Latvia as prosperous and wealthy, green and ecologically clean state. Ethnic non-Latvians, in their turn, want to see social equality, sufficient support to poor and socially insecure people in Latvia. Ethnic Latvians more frequently said they want to Latvia to have strong ethnic Latvian identity. For ethnic non-Latvians it is more important that Latvia is multicultural state. Vesti Segodnya

10,000 signatures are collected for support of demolition of the Monument to the Liberators of Riga from Nazi Invaders. The signatures are collected through the social initiatives internet platform manabalss.lv Thus, this initiative now might be forwarded for revision to the Saeima. Vesti Segodnya notes that such provocative initiative most likely will not go further, because the installation and demolition of monuments is managed not by the Saeima but by the municipality and also this Monument is protected by an agreement between Latvia and Russia about protection of monument and war burials. The Mayor of Riga Nils Usakovs also criticized such initiative arguing that it will provoke ethnic tensions in the society. 

The MP Dzintars Rasnacs (the nationalists’ union All for Latvia!/FF-LNIM) in an interview with Latvijas Avize states that the aim of the draft Preamble to the Constitution of Latvia is to unite the Latvian nation, to unite the state nation (ethnic Latvians) and ethnic minorities who understand that both groups constitute Latvian nation, body of citizens. According to Mr Rasnacs, those who criticize the draft Preamble are radically minded persons resisting other values.