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.

• MPs did not support inclusion of the proposal on transition of all municipal kindergartens into Latvian language on the plenary session’s agenda
• Minister of Defence Artis Pabriks: service in foreign army is a betrayal of the own state
• Researcher compares celebration of 9 May by Russian speaking residents with “pride” of sexual minorities

Yesterday, the majority of the MPs did not support inclusion of the proposal on transition of all municipal kindergartens into Latvian language on the plenary session’s agenda. The draft amendments to the Education Law urgently prepared nationalists’ union All for Latvia/FF-LNIM stipulating transition of education in all municipal kindergartens into Latvian language only starting with 1 September 2014 gain support of the MPs from the Unity and the nationalists’ union. The main opponents of the proposal were the MPs from the governing coalition party Reforms Party and from the oppositional party Concord Centre. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize reports about the two scandals around a Latvian citizen who served in Russia’s Army and participation of young people from Latvia in an international youth military sports camp in Russia. Recently, one of the newspapers published an interview with the Latvian citizen who said that he applied to serve in Latvia’s army but was refused and therefore he applied for service in Russia’s army. Commenting this case, the Minister of Defence Artis Pabriks stated that Latvian citizens have no right to serve in foreign armies and the oath to the other state means betrayal of the own state. According to Latvijas Avize, the case with the participation of young people in the Russia’s military camp also is about the loyalty to the state because these young people have signed a decree according to which, in case of a conflict in the states where participants of the camp come from they will rush for rescue one another. Head of the Latvian Recruiting and Youth Guard Centre who was aware of the camp and allowed the young people to use uniforms of Latvian recruits after the scandal resigned from the post.

In an interview with Latvijas Avize, researcher of social memory Martins Kaprans compares celebration of 9 May or Victory day by Russian speaking residents in Latvia with “pride” of sexual minorities. Mr Kaprans believes that in such way Russian speakers publicly show their pride about their identity and their existence. Thus 9 May, primarily, becomes a self-affirmations creating foundation for collective memory and self-esteem.