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.

• 35 persons were detained during a procession in commemoration of Latvian legionnaires
• Interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration Ainars Latkovskis
• A young man is detained on suspicions about the possibly racially motivated assault against an Indian man in the Old Town of Riga
• Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis condemns the expressions of the head of Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins regarding Russian minority in Latvia
• Intergroup for the Defence of Traditional National Minorities, Constitutional Regions and Regional Languages of the European Parliament suspends the review of recommendations regarding minority rights in Latvia
• Naturalisation Board has received more than 4,000 naturalisation applications during January and February of this year
• Director of the Marketing and Public Opinion Centre SKDS Arnis Kaktins talks about the ethnic aspects of voting in the context of recent municipal elections

Yesterday 35 persons, among them several representatives of the political union For Human Rights in United Latvia, were detained after the organisation

Yesterday 35 persons, among them several representatives of the political union For Human Rights in United Latvia, were detained after the organisation Dzimtene (the Motherland), gathered and attempted to block a procession in commemoration of Latvian WW II legionnaires. The procession was organised by the national-radical youth organisation Klubs 415 (Club 415) and had received the legally required authorisation by the Riga City Council, while the opponent protestors had been denied authorisation on grounds of planning the event later, but for the same place and time, thus allegedly posing a risk of clashes. The representatives of Dzimtene, some of whom were wearing striped clothes and yellow stars of David in a reference to the SS atrocities, cried out anti-fascist slogans. An additional controversy was raised when Latvian news agency LETA yesterday made public shots of amateur video, in which the head of FHRULs parliamentary group Jakovs Pliners was seen giving money to an elderly man shortly before the conflict. Jakov Pliner denies giving money to attract participants to the unauthorised anti-fascism protest action. In interviews to LETA, Latvian daily Diena and Russian-language newspapers the MP declares that he simply answered a call of a retired journalist to donate money for the publishing of newspaper devoted to the 60th anniversary of the victory in World War II. In an interview to Latvian Television, Pliners said that the money was provided for persons in need. Newspapers report that a similar procession in Liepaja took place without excesses. No state officials, with the exception of one MP from the union For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM, participated in these processions. The President of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has stated that the events of the Day of the Legionnaires are an example how democratic freedoms could be employed against the interests of the democracy and that Latvia, like any other democratic state, has to face this problem. Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis believes that FHRUL should bear the responsibility for clashes during the procession as they have provoked the actions. The Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry as well as Simon Wiesenthal Centre have publicly condemned the processions in commemoration of Latvian legionnaires. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize, Latvijas Avize, Rigas Balss, Vesti Segodnya, Chas, Telegraf

Latvijas Vestnesis features an interview with the Special Assignments Minister for Society Integration Ainars Latkovskis about societal integration in Latvia and the results of the recent municipal elections. The minister points to the necessity to move forward such values as welfare and the rule of law, which are common for all the ethnic groups, to prevent ethnic voting in future. Commenting the development of the ‘minority definition, Ainars Latkovskis mentions the experience of the other European countries where only those nationalities having ties with the state for at least one century and the citizenship of this state are recognised as minorities. ‘In the sense of Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities the Romany people and Livs could be national minorities, adds the ministers, at the same time stressing that Latvia already guarantees all the rights for minorities living in Latvia. The minister mentions the development of the Programme for the Support of Roma as a big challenge for the Society Integration Secretariat, because the Romany community is not united and there are many problems to be solved, among them, the schooling of Romany children and the integration of Romany people in the labour market.

A 20-year-old man has been detained on suspicions about the possibly racially motivated assault against a man of Indian origin in the Old Town of Riga. A criminal case of hooliganism has been initiated by the police. The police concede that the young man belongs to a group of skinheads – an informal youth group with racist supremacist views. According to the police, in total four persons was involved in the assault.

A 20-year-old man has been detained on suspicions about the possibly racially motivated assault against a man of Indian origin in the Old Town of Riga. A criminal case of hooliganism has been initiated by the police. The police concede that the young man belongs to a group of skinheads – an informal youth group with racist supremacist views. According to the police, in total four persons was involved in the assault. Diena, Neatkariga Rita Avize

Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis (People’s Party) has condemned the recent expressions of the head of Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins (People’s Party). As reported, in his interview to the Latvian daily

Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis (Peoples Party) has condemned the recent expressions of the head of Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee Aleksandrs Kirsteins (Peoples Party). As reported, in his interview to the Latvian daily Latvijas Avize Aleksandrs Kirsteins stated that Latvia should promote the repatriation of all ‘civil occupants to their native country. The Peoples Harmony party is planning to propose to recall Aleksandrs Kirsteins from his post. Diena

Latvijas Avize reports on suspension of the review of recommendations regarding minority rights observation in Latvia at Intergroup for the Defence of Traditional National Minorities, Constitutional Regions and Regional Languages of the European Parliament. According to Latvijas Avize, among the recommendations to Latvia about the necessity to grant the rights for Russian-speaking minority to get education in Russian and to choose the form of Latvian language learning as well as recommendations to grant the rights for non-citizens to travel inside the European Union without a visa. The intergoup also has called on Russia to apologise to Latvia for the occupation in order to facilitate the reconciliation process. The review of recommendations is reported to have been temporarily suspended due to the municipal elections in Latvia.

Keeping up the increased rate since EU accession, the Naturalisation Board has received more than 4,000 naturalisation applications during January and February of this year. 2,500 persons have been naturalised.

Keeping up the increased rate since EU accession, the Naturalisation Board has received more than 4,000 naturalisation applications during January and February of this year. 2,500 persons have been naturalised. Vesti Segodnya

Chas features an interview with the director of the Marketing and Public Opinion Centre SKDS Arnis Kaktins about the ethnic aspects of voting in the context of recent municipal elections. According to the sociologist, the results of the municipal elections is indicative of the deepening of the ethnic divide and the possible formation of a two-community state in Latvia, as the voting patterns show that there is little voter demand for moderate parties.