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.

• Newspapers report about three persons from Latvia taking part in the military action in the Eastern Ukraine
• Protest action “Remember Odessa” held in Riga
• Facebook.com blocked photos of a young woman from Latvia dressed in Nazi uniform

The newspapers report about videos placed on the Internet by three men from Latvia taking part in military action in the Eastern Ukraine on the side of Lugansk’s people’s militia. These men say that they are from Latvian town Ludza (town in the eastern part of Latvia) and explain why they decided to join separatists. They call themselves Russian patriots and appeal to Latvian men to go to Donbas and fight against Ukrainian militaries. According to Latvijas Avize, the Security Police (SP) yesterday initiated criminal proceedings against these persons arguing that such calls can be qualified as public call for terrorism. The SP also asks residents to report information about Latvian residents who take parts in the military actions in Ukraine, or expressed desire to do it, or who distributes calls to join illegal armed groups. According to the information provided to Vesti Segodnya by a leader of the party For Native Language Vladimirs Lindermans, on 1 September, management of the 2nd Ludza secondary school hold a conversation with students about those men on the video as they are graduates of this school. V. Lindermans criticizes the school for reproaching these men in lack of conscience and says “we should be proud of them as they went to defend a city that is being destroyed by barbarians.” V. Lindermans also says that the number of militiamen from Latvia has grown during last couple days and it will grow more. Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Yesterday, 50 to 100 people took part in a protest action in Riga called “Remember Odessa” in memory of the May 2 tragedy in the Ukrainian city of Odessa, in which nearly 50 anti-government activists were burned alive in a trade union house. The action was organised by the party Russian Union in Latvia joining anti-fascists’ action across Europe. The aim of the action in Riga was to say no to violence, to support peace in Ukraine, and call for investigation of the tragedy in Odessa and punishment of the perpetrators.  Vesti Segodnya, Latvijas Avize

Vesti Segodnya continues to report about young woman who posts on her profiles in different social networks the photos of herself dressed in Nazi uniform and with swastika on the sleeve. According to the newspaper, following a complaint about such photos administration of Facebook.com blocked such photos. However, other social networks have not reacted.