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.

• Ombudsman Juris Jansons presented the Annual Report 2014 in the Saeima
• Diena interviews a Latvian non-citizen who recently also gave an interview to the German daily Die Welt about non-citizenship problem in Latvia
• Lutheran pastor Guntis Kalme: Latvia will come to a success story only when the Security Police will kick out the fifth column
• President thanked the members of the Ethnic Minorities Advisory Council for cooperation

Vesti Segodnya reports that the Ombudsman Juris Jansons presented the Annual Report 2014 in the Saeima. According to the Ombudsman there is no discrimination of ethnic Russians and ethnic Latvians inLatvia. There were sharp and offensive discussions in radically minded media and comments on Internet portals, but in daily life, labour market, access to goods and services there is no discrimination, said the Ombudsman. There is very little information in Latvian-language media about national minorities and their problems and this deepens the split between the groups. At the same time, the Ombudsman received several complaints on discrimination of Roma and Turks and representatives of other ethnicities living inLatvia. However, not all the complaints have been confirmed. According to the Ombudsman, Roma still face discrimination in the labour market. He also proposed to involve Roma in show-business inLatvia as singing and performance is close to these people.

Diena interviews a Latvian non-citizen named Dmitrijs who recently also gave an interview to the German daily Die Welt about non-citizenship problem inLatvia. Dmitrijs criticizesLatvia for mass scale non-citizenship problem comparing it to other former Soviet republics in which after the restoration of independence such problem does not exist or is less significant. Dmitrijs is well proficient in Latvian language and is ready to pass the naturalisation examination at any time, however, he believes it will not solve the problem as such. Dmitrijs says that practical problem of non-citizens face are connected to travelling and lack of voting rights, however, what is more important is that they do not feel belonging to the state. And the naturalisation cannot change this feeling. He also criticizes government for cultivating an opinion that the problem of non-citizenship does not exist inLatvia, but it isRussia’s effort to actualise the problem. Dmitrijs also does not see any organisation protecting non-citizens’ rights, even the Congress of Non-citizens is not effective as it is not officially registered and it is viewed as anti-state organisation.

Lutheran pastor Guntis Kalme who every year is taking part in the commemorative procession on 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires) in Riga stated that Latvia will come to a success story only when “the Security Police will kick out the fifth column out of the country and when Russia’s war propaganda will be restricted in the media.” Mr Kalme also does not agree that the Latvian legionnaires are victims and believes they are heroes and therefore should be honoured.

Latvijas Avize reports about a meeting of the President’s Ethnic Minorities Advisory Council. The President Andris Berzins thanked the members of the Council for cooperation and promised to continue it if he’s elected to the President’s post repeatedly.