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.

 

 

• Vesti Segodnya reports about a web site on patriotic education of school students
• Security Police warns about possible provocations on 9 May
• Vice Rector of the Riga Technical University Mareks Zeltins calls ethnic Latvian young people to learn Russian

 Vesti Segodnya reports about a web site www.audzinasana.lv on patriotic education of school students which was created following the idea of the head of the Saeima sub-committee on patriotic education Raivis Dzintars (nationalists’ union All for Latvia!-FF/LNIM). According to the newspaper, the majority of voters on the web site believe that in order to promote patriotic education the school students should be shown films about Soviet regime crimes and heroic deeds of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires. It was also proposed that schools should invite former Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires to speak with students about patriotism. 

 According to the Security Police, provocations might take place on 9 May (the end of WWII or Victory Day) in Riga. The Security Police prepared an action plan in case of any provocations expected mostly from ethnic Latvian and Russian national radicals. In Riga, NGO 9maja.lv organises concerts and open festive events attended mostly by Russian speaking residents. The Victory Day was official celebration day during Soviet era in Latvia and many people in the former Soviet Union continue to celebrate the victory over the Nazi Germany. The 9 May is also controversial day for Latvia as it is put in opposition to 16 March – the unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires.Vesti Segodnya

 The Vice Rector on international co-operation of the Riga Technical University Mareks Zeltins believes that ethnic Latvian young people loose their competitiveness due to low proficiency in Russian language which is highly demanded in Latvian labour market. Mr Zeltins believes that Russian speakers have competitive advantage over the majority of ethnic Latvians, because the Russian speakers are proficient in three languages – Latvian, Russian and English. Therefore, Mr Zeltins calls ethnic Latvian young people to learn Russian language more actively.Vesti Segodnya