Latvia, Lithuania Ban Russian State TV Broadcasts

Complicated issue, don't knee-jerk. These countries were heavily colonized while part of the Soviet Union, so the "native" population is scared that the Russians might decide to "rescue" the Russians living there or to stir up unrest.

But also, Russians that have lived there since before the collapse of the Soviet Union are discriminated against, mostly by denying them access to society/citizenship if they don't prove they speak the local language.

Re: Latvia, Lithuania Ban Russian State TV Broadcasts

#5

Post by Zigurd » Thu, Apr 10, 2014, 2:21 AM UTC

sentenza wrote: post #4

Complicated issue, don't knee-jerk. These countries were heavily colonized while part of the Soviet Union, so the "native" population is scared that the Russians might decide to "rescue" the Russians living there or to stir up unrest. But also, Russians that have lived there since before the collapse of the Soviet Union are discriminated against, mostly by denying them access to society/citizenship if they don't prov…

Many Russians, especially retail workers and taxi drivers, speak Latvian passably, though it's easy to spot them as Russians. The language requirement for citizenship is easy to pass and normal in many European countries. There is no discrimination against Russians in law. If you Google "discriminatory laws in Latvia" what you get are many articles on the state of gay rights in Latvia.

What bothers the Russians is that they are marooned in a country to which they were brought to colonize, and everyone knows that. Retired Russian military officers and mobsters both liked living in Latvia. The town of Jurmala is like a 1950's Elmwood Park, but with way more bling. The Russians in Latvia used to have a privileged position. Now they don't.