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.

• 600 signatures collected during one day in support of granting Russian language the status of official
• Court repeatedly cancelled ban on 16 March events
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent to the governments structures and officials a paper with advises on how to speak about 16 March in the public sphere
• Concord Centre ask the new Ombudsman Juris Jansons to evaluate a draft law raising fines for insufficient Latvian language proficiency
• Latvijas Avize reports about two days international conference Aspects of Education and Social Life of Baltic Jews before the WWII

600 signatures were collected during one day in support of granting Russian language the status of official in Latvia. The organisers of the action believe that they will collect 10,000 signatures required for initiation of state funded collection of signatures by summer. In an interview with Vesti Segodnya Vladimirs Lindermans, one of the actions initiators stated that one of the aims of the action is to draw attention of ethnic Latvians towards the issue. 

600 signatures were collected during one day in support of granting Russian language the status of official in Latvia. The organisers of the action believe that they will collect 10,000 signatures required for initiation of state funded collection of signatures by summer. In an interview with Vesti Segodnya Vladimirs Lindermans, one of the actions initiators stated that one of the aims of the action is to draw attention of ethnic Latvians towards the issue. Telegraf, Chas, Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, the Administrative District Court cancelled decision of the Riga City Council to ban events planned to be held by organisation “Hawks of Daugava” in commemoration of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires on 16 March.

Yesterday, the Administrative District Court cancelled decision of the Riga City Council to ban events planned to be held by organisation Hawks of Daugava in commemoration of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires on 16 March. Chas, Diena, Neatkariga

Latvijas Avize reports that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent to the governments structures and officials a paper with advises on how to speak about 16 March (unofficial commemoration day of Latvia Waffen SS legionnaires) in the public sphere. The Ministry provides Latvias general position and explanation about legionnaires and 16 March events and advises state officials to express definite and identical position regarding this day. According to the paper, the legionnaires were called into service by force; the legionnaires never fought for fascists ideology but only against the USSR military forces; and that Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires did not take part in repressive operations. The paper also stated that 16 March is used by radicals to voice their views and by local and foreign politicians to increase their popularity.

The Saeima’s deputies of the Concord Centre ask the new Ombudsman Juris Jansons to evaluate a draft law which envisages raising fines for insufficient Latvian language proficiency elaborated by the nationalists’ union All for Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM. The draft law stipulates raising of fines up to five times. Yesterday, the Saeima’s Legal Affairs Committee hindered revision of the draft law due to poor quality and inaccuracy. 

The Saeimas deputies of the Concord Centre ask the new Ombudsman Juris Jansons to evaluate a draft law which envisages raising fines for insufficient Latvian language proficiency elaborated by the nationalists union All for Latvia-For Fatherland and Freedom/LNIM. The draft law stipulates raising of fines up to five times. Yesterday, the Saeimas Legal Affairs Committee hindered revision of the draft law due to poor quality and inaccuracy. Vesti Segodnya

Latvijas Avize reports about two days international conference Aspects of Education and Social Life of Baltic Jews before the WWII held by the centre of the Holocaust research and tolerance of the Riga Ghetto and Holocaust Museum and others Jewish NGOs. Israeli, Belorussian, American, Ukrainian, Russian and Latvian experts took part in the conference.