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.

• Latvijas Avize reports about a study “How Democratic is Latvia? Democracy Audit 2005-2014”
• Vesti Segodnya: performance of controversial musical "Cukurs. Herberts Cukurs" will be shown in the building near the former border of Riga Ghetto
• Leader of the political party Russian Union of Latvia Miroslavs Mitrofanovs: we have overestimated the importance of “Russian matters” for voters
• Russia’s President Vladimir Putin accused Latvia in manifestations of neo-Nazism
• Former National-Bolshevik Ajo Beness is prosecuted for public call to the violent overthrow of the existing power in Latvia
• Saeima’s Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee approved the draft amendments on significant increase of state language proportion in radio broadcasts

Latvijas Avize reports about a study “How Democratic is Latvia? Democracy Audit 2005-2014” conducted by 19 different experts, including experts from the Social and Political Studies Institute of the Social Sciences Faculty of the University of Latvia, centre for public policy “Providus”, Latvian Centre for Human Rights (LCHR) and Vidzeme University. The study consists of four thematic sections: citizenship, law and rights; representative and accountable government; civil society and popular participation; democracy beyond the state. The newspaper outlines sections conducted by the experts of the LCHR about language policy, naturalisation and non-citizens. Latvian language was further strengthened in law and in practice in many areas; however, its protection is still a topical issue. At the same time, concerns are expressed about the attempts to limit distribution of written information in Russian language by state institutions when the law allows it, as well as about regulation of language usage in private sector. Sections on naturalisation and non-citizens describe activities of the Congress of Non-Citizens and highlight the serious obstacle for naturalisation which is lack of motivation of non-citizens to receive Latvian citizenship. The Democracy Audit is available in Latvian at: http://www.szf.lu.lv/fileadmin/user_upload/szf_faili/Petnieciba/Demokratijas_audits_2014_kopaa.pdf   English version of the study also will be available.

Vesti Segodnya reports that today’s performance of controversial musical "Cukurs. Herberts Cukurs" will be shown in the building of the Academy of Sciences in the centre of Riga near the place where the border of Riga Ghetto was. The newspaper blames Latvian academics for silence concerning to this event. The newspaper notes that this time, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Justice Janis Iesalnieks, who is known for nationalistic views, also condemned the musical in his Twitter profile saying that glorification of the member of "Arajs Kommando" is foolish and insensitive towards the victims of genocide. The only high official who condemned the musical was the Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkevics. As reported, 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.

Vesti Segodnya interviews the leader of the political party Russian Union of Latvia Miroslavs Mitrofanovs about the reasons of the party’s failure at the parliamentary elections and about the party’s future. Mr. Mitrofanovs believes that the main reason for the party’s failure is that it put too much emphasis on the content of pre-election campaign, while for a campaign to be successful, it also needs funding and time. He believes that the party most likely has overestimated the importance of “Russian matters” for the voters. He also wants to believe that those voters who gave their votes to the party “Concord” see this party as a better version of the Russian Union of Latvia: stronger and more solid. “Otherwise, the party’s vision of the last 23 years of the new Latvian history should be totally revised: discriminated Russian community disappears. And it is replaced by a crowd of individuals who do not care about issues regarding language, Russian education etc” – says Mitrofanovs. He also says that the party plans to conduct a research about the change in the values of Russian voters with a view to decide what to do next.

The Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in his interview to a Serbian newspaper “Politika” stated that he is concerned about rebirth of Nazism in Europe. Mr. Putin especially highlighted Latvia and other Baltic States, where, to his opinion, manifestation of neo-Nazism is everyday phenomenon. Latvijas Avize

The prosecutor’s office forwarded to the court charges against National-Bolshevik Ajo Beness for public call to the violent overthrow of the existing power in Latvia. According to the accusation, Ajo Beness has published different statements and materials on the Internet calling for the violent overthrow, liquidation of state’s independence, and undermining Latvian territorial integrity. Latvijas Avize

The Saeima’s Human Rights and Public Affairs Committee approved the draft amendments to the Law on Electronic Mass Media stipulating that radio stations which currently are broadcasting half of the content in state (Latvian) language will be obliged to broadcast in state language only. 90% of the broadcasting time should consist of original programmes produced by a radio station. Latvijas Avize