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.

• Saeima’s Legal Committee approved the Introduction  to the Constitution of Latvia
• Russian Union of Latvia held a picket in support of Crimea
• Statement claming to be a joke in support of reuniting Latvia with Russia put on facebook
• Prime Minister called the Ministers not to take part in the procession commemorating Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires on 16 March

Yesterday, the Saeima’s Legal Committee approved the Introduction (in previous versions called “Preamble”) to the Constitution of Latvia. According to the author of the Introduction Igils Levits, fathers of the Latvian Constitution could not imagine what changes will happen in Latvia. Mr Levits said that if those times there were no necessity to put emphasis on the meaning and the essence of the existence of a Latvian state, today there is such necessity. The Introduction to the Constitution says “Latvia was established uniting ethnic Latvians in historical land, based on a firm state will of ethnic Latvian nation and its irrevocable rights for self-determination in order to guarantee existence and development of ethnic Latvian nation, its language and culture through centuries, insure freedom of every person and all nations and promote welfare.” Vesti Segodnya, Diena

Yesterday the Russian Union of Latvia (former political party For Human Righs in United Latvia (FHRUL)) held a picket in support of Crimea. According to representatives of the picket’s organisers, after takeover by Western Ukrainian extremists in Kiev, the people of Crimea took initiative into their hands in order to survive, preserve their dignity and protect their interests.  About 150 persons took part in the picket. Vesti Segodnya, Neatkariga

Vesti Segodnya reports that a facebook group “Russians in Latvia” published a statement about collection of signatures in support of reuniting Latvia with Russia stressing benefits Latvia would gain from it. As the post scriptum of the statement it is said that it is just a joke.

The Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma called the Ministers not to take part in the procession commemorating Latvian Waffen SS legionnaires on 16 March in Riga. Earlier, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Regional Development Einars Cilinskis representing nationalists’ union stated that he will take part in the procession as he has done it in all previous years. According to Diena, if the Minister decides to take part in the procession he might be dismissed from the post.