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.

Press Review

More than two thousand people yesterday in downtown Riga participated in legionary commemoration procession. The peaceful event was only disturbed by sharp exchange of words between the participants of the procession (in Russian-language papers called ex-nazis) and those who rallied against the procession (anti-fascists). One legion veteran suffered a heart attack. The state officials did not participate in the event, roughly 20 MPs from Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK and People’s Party attended the event although the majority of the Saeima did not support introducing the break during the regular Thursday session. In response to the event the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that it sees the event as attempts of certain Latvia’s political forces to revise the results of the WW2. The president of Latvia believes that March 16 as a day of commemoration was wrongly picked and there are enough other days to remember the killed Latvian soldiers.

More than two thousand people yesterday in downtown Riga participated in legionary commemoration procession. The peaceful event was only disturbed by sharp exchange of words between the participants of the procession (in Russian-language papers called ex-nazis) and those who rallied against the procession (anti-fascists). One legion veteran suffered a heart attack. The state officials did not participate in the event, roughly 20 MPs from Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK and Peoples Party attended the event although the majority of the Saeima did not support introducing the break during the regular Thursday session. In response to the event the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that it sees the event as attempts of certain Latvias political forces to revise the results of the WW2. The president of Latvia believes that March 16 as a day of commemoration was wrongly picked and there are enough other days to remember the killed Latvian soldiers. Diena, Neatkariga, Jauna Avize, Chas, Vesti, Panorama Latvii, Respublika

In an interview on Latvian TV Vaira Vike-Freiberga admitted that people who have committed crimes in the name of occupation regimes should be tried and Latvia should not wait longer to do that. She reminded that the Soviet side committed enough terrible things and people here should not feel happy that the Red Army entered Latvia or that it won the WW2. After the end of the war the whole Eastern Europe was left under power of the Stalinist terror.

In an interview on Latvian TV Vaira Vike-Freiberga admitted that people who have committed crimes in the name of occupation regimes should be tried and Latvia should not wait longer to do that. She reminded that the Soviet side committed enough terrible things and people here should not feel happy that the Red Army entered Latvia or that it won the WW2. After the end of the war the whole Eastern Europe was left under power of the Stalinist terror. Neatkariga, Vesti

State Secretary of the Latvian Foreign Ministry Maris Riekstins announced yesterday that Latvia cannot accept the current Russian policy toward Latvia. He said that it would be in the interests of Russia to finally recognize the occupation of the Baltic states and repressions against the civilian population jointly planned by the USSR and Nazi Germany.

State Secretary of the Latvian Foreign Ministry Maris Riekstins announced yesterday that Latvia cannot accept the current Russian policy toward Latvia. He said that it would be in the interests of Russia to finally recognize the occupation of the Baltic states and repressions against the civilian population jointly planned by the USSR and Nazi Germany. Diena

The Council of the Russian State Duma ruled yesterday that the Duma will have the third reading of the draft law on economic sanctions against Latvia March 29.

The Council of the Russian State Duma ruled yesterday that the Duma will have the third reading of the draft law on economic sanctions against Latvia March 29. Diena

Yesterday, the Saeima supported passing over to commissions the draft law allowing all former KGB and other special Soviet service staff members and agents to report on their past to the Constitution Defense Office, in the opposite case their names will be published in the official paper Latvijas Vestnesis and they will be forbidden to take certain positions.

Yesterday, the Saeima supported passing over to commissions the draft law allowing all former KGB and other special Soviet service staff members and agents to report on their past to the Constitution Defense Office, in the opposite case their names will be published in the official paper Latvijas Vestnesis and they will be forbidden to take certain positions. Vesti

More than 40 deputies of the European Council Parliamentary Assembly from the Socialists and Liberal Democrats suggested that the EC countries introduce visa-free regime for Latvian and Estonian non-citizens. From Latvia, the suggestion was signed by the left-wing MP Boriss Cilevics and Social Democrat Gundars Bojars.

More than 40 deputies of the European Council Parliamentary Assembly from the Socialists and Liberal Democrats suggested that the EC countries introduce visa-free regime for Latvian and Estonian non-citizens. From Latvia, the suggestion was signed by the left-wing MP Boriss Cilevics and Social Democrat Gundars Bojars. Diena

After information provided by the DCMA, 20 stateless persons are registered in Latvia. During the last month 8 people, all of them former USSR citizens, obtained the status.

After information provided by the DCMA, 20 stateless persons are registered in Latvia. During the last month 8 people, all of them former USSR citizens, obtained the status. Jauna Avize