Latvia next Putin target?

[tavernier]

This was just sent to me by a Latvian friend. I think it nicely explains why Latvians are particularly nervous about what is presently developing in Eastern Europe:




Ukraine dilemma.
The common denominator for most of the geopolitical crisis is Russia, Soviets, Bolsheviks, Communists, etc. The obsessive desire to restore the former USSR, despite all national and international laws and agreements which today's Russia has signed off on, predominates Putin's agenda. What is absurdly astounding is that no one asks, why are there such large contingents of Russians in the former USSR republics. In case of Ukraine, there is no mention that during Stalin era, genocide against Ukrainians was committed in form of starving 8 million people to death. Ukraine was the bread basket of USSR, and Stalin had watch towers erected in grain fields, and any Ukrainian who took even a pocket full of grain to feed his child was shot on the spot. The population of my native country Latvia, has the largest percentage of non nationals, than any other country in the world, i.e. 40%, who are mostly Russians. Since the population of Latvia did increase since 1918, when Latvia was granted independence internationally and a non aggression agreement by the Soviets, which was short lived, the obvious another question which rarely asked, what happened to the 40% of missing Latvians. Surely they do not happily ski the slopes in Siberia. . The large contingent of non nationals in Latvia, who are mostly Russians, are the ones who themselves or their fore bearers are the ones, who arrested, tortured, executed and deported thousands of innocent Latvians to Siberian labor camps, where chances of survival were minimal. The modus operandi was as follows, i.e. a military officer or any Russian of significant standing, prior to retirement was asked where he would like to spend his retirement. Latvia was the most desirable destination, for various reasons. The retiree was told to go and find an apartment in Latvia, mostly in Riga. Upon finding a desirable location, building and apartment, he ordered any Latvian family ejected and took over the living quarters. The dissatisfaction the Russians have in Latvia, is that they have been demoted from landlords to tenants. The spineless Latvian government offered the Russians permanent residency, and eventual citizenship, providing they learn Latvian language and swear allegiance to Latvia. During USSR times all Latvians had to learn Russian language which most, including myself did, but Russians are either unwilling or incapable to learn Latvian language, hence they demand that Russian is enacted as the second or even the primary language of Latvia. Latvia's neighboring countries, Estonia and Lithuania have much smaller contingents of Russians, hence their problems are more manageable. It is obvious, that next item on Putin's menu after Ukraine may be Latvia, a country which belongs to NATO and EU, which will not deter Putin from pursuing his grandiose plans.

[Louisiana1976]

1. Excellent post. K&R

[pampango]

2. 60% of residents are ethnic Latvians, 27% ethnic Russians.

Using "Crimea rules" (59% of Crimeans were ethnic Russians) Latvians should have nothing to worry about from a Russia that emphasizes what an ethnic majority wants with respect to its nationality.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Latvia

The fact that Latvia does belong to the EU and NATO is, I suspect, a significant difference from Ukraine.

[arely staircase]

3. that would be playing with fire

literally.

[Cha]

4. thanks tavernier

[tavernier]

5. My uncle was one of the males sent to Siberia

during the war. His mother and father and sister (my mother) were thrown out of their home which was made into a government building, and ended up in a displaced persons camp in Germany where I was born. My uncle did survive Siberia, as we learned years later, but his parents never saw him or their home again.

This is really personal for me and all the people in the Baltics, as you can imagine.

[Cha]

7. Wow.. no words to describe how awful for your uncle, your mom and her family and all those

who had to endure. I can only imagine.

[NuclearDem]

6. My grandparents both had family members sent off to Siberia for resisting the Soviet occupation.

They both resisted themselves, and then they ended up in a DP camp in West Germany after the war.

My grandmother never got to see Latvia again, and my grandfather only went back twice to visit.

So Putin can very kindly go fuck himself.

[tavernier]

8. ^^^^^

[awoke_in_2003]

9. "So Putin can very kindly go fuck himself"

+1000

[davidpdx]

10. Thanks for posting this

It puts some perspective on what is going on in the countries that were part of the Soviet Union.

I had a penpal from Latvia when I was much younger (this would have been about the time people were allowed to start traveling freely). Unfortunately I lost contact with her for some reason.