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.

• Reforms Party proposes to allow choosing one additional day in a year for celebrating important religious events
• Candidate for the post of the Mayor of Riga Baiba Broka: power in Riga should be overtaken by ethnic Latvians
• Chairman of the Union of Politically Repressed Persons: Russian community of Latvia is not responsible for the Communist repressions

The Reforms Party (RP) proposes to allow employees to choose one additional day in a year for celebrating important religious events. The RP proposed similar draft amendments in March 2012, however, it was not even discussed at the coalition’s meeting. Diena

A candidate for the post of the Mayor of Riga from the nationalists union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM Baiba Broka in an interview with TV channel LNT stated that “After (municipal) elections it is necessary to establish a coalition of ethnic Latvian parties and the power in Riga should be overtaken by ethnic Latvians.” At present, the Mayor of Riga is Nils Usakovs who represents party the Concord Centre and is ethnic Russian. The Ex-Minister of the Regional Development Edgars Zalans, in his turn, an interview with Chas, stated Riga has always been multinational city and it is wrong to say that it should be returned to ethnic Latvian. Mr Zalans also stated that at the moment, none of the parties is capable to propose a successful alternative to compete against Nils Usakovs at present. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

Yesterday, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Monument to the Victims of the Communist Repressions the chairman of the Union of Politically Repressed Persons Gunars Resnais stated that the politicians are setting up against each other ethnic Latvians and ethnic Russians, which is unfair, because the Russian community of Latvia is not responsible for the Communist repressions and in everyday life the people get along well with each other. He believes the Monument could become a bridge which unites the society, because the Communist repressions impacted all communities. In the meantime, he also believes that those Russian speakers, who arrived during the Soviet era and lost their identity and language, are a “plaque, which paddles on our ethnic feelings”. The monument was funded by the Riga City Council and the opening ceremony was attended by various politicians. Chas, NRA