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.

 

• Aleksandrs Gilmans: Jews had to wait nineteen centuries and no one knows how long would Latvia’s Russians have to wait for political solution
• Latvian Anti-fascist Committee plans to conduct a protest action against rebirth of fascism in Latvia

Vesti Segodnya prints second part of the article by Aleksandrs Gilmans about Latvia’s Russians. Mr.Gilmans highlights important difference between Russians in the USA and in Latvia: Russians in the US are emigrants, who relocated to the US with the purpose to become Americans and for their children to assimilate; Russians in Latvia did not move anywhere and therefore they do not want themselves or their children to assimilate. He believes that self-preservation is a problem which will face Russians throughout many generations and he reminds that the Jews had to wait nineteen centuries and Armenians – six centuries for political solution of their problems and no one knows how long Russians will have to wait. He also warns that self-preservation leads to certain tension with the neighbours, but this is the price to pay if one wants to be oneself.

Vesti Segodnya reports that a controversial musical "Cukurs. Herberts Cukurs" will be shown in Riga on 16 October. Before the beginning of the performance, the Latvian Anti-fascist Committee will conduct a protest action against rebirth of fascism in Latvia. As reported, on the day of premiere of the musical in Liepaja on 11 October, association "Russian Dawn" protested against it by placing bloodied dolls next to the entry of the theatre. Herberts Cukurs was Latvian aviation pioneer during the 1930s, yet during 1941-1944 also took part in the "Arajs Kommando", which was responsible for the mass murders in Latvia during the Nazi occupation.