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 prints opinion of kindergarten teachers about transition of education into Latvian language
• MP Vineta Porina sent a letter to the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic clarifying the aim of the draft amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating punishment for public denial of aggression
• Case about online hate speech against Jews forwarded to the court
• Newspapers warn about possible repeated disorders during events on 16 March in Riga

Vesti Segodnya prints opinion of kindergarten teachers about the statement of the Minister of Education Ina Druviete about the common education system in Latvian language starting with kindergartens. Head of one of the Riga Russian language kindergartens supports the Ministry’s proposal to increase hours of Latvian language learning in kindergartens as the present 15 minutes per day funded by the state is not enough. Head of the kindergarten highlights that already now teachers try to teach children more Latvian language than it is foreseen and to form positive attitude towards the language. Heads of different kindergartens also believe that if the Ministry will transfer kindergartens into Latvian language it will face big difficulties to find so many teachers as wages are very small.

Vesti Segodnya reports that the MP Vineta Porina (nationalists’ union) sent a letter to the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic clarifying the aim of the draft amendments to the Criminal Law stipulating punishment for public denial, justification, glorification of USSR and Nazi German aggression against Latvia. On 14 February 2014, Mrs Mijatovic expressed concern about proposed amendments saying that any legislative provisions criminalizing public expression and speech should be restricted to instances of intentional and dangerous incitement to violence only, in line with the international media freedom standards and principles. The Latvian MP Porina in the letter criticizes such statements asserting that such amendments go in line with the European directive against racism and xenophobia.

The Prosecutor’s Office of the Riga Court Region forwarded a case about online hate speech against Jews to the court. The accused man published hateful statements against Jewish people commenting an article about political processes in Israel. The Prosecutor asked for one year of suspended imprisonment. Latvijas Avize

Latvijas Avize and Diena warn about possible repeated disorders during events on 16 March in Riga (unofficial commemoration day of Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires). As reported, several organisations submitted applications to hold events on 16 March in the centre of Riga including protest against the procession of legionnaires. Last year, the 16 March events were disturbed by loud protest against legionnaires’ procession and minor clashes between opposite parties involving also the MPs’ members of the nationalists’ union.