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Lithuania was never under German rule. Most of present day territories of Lithuania were in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania state. Eastern Latvia (the territory that is discussed by the newspaper) known as Latgale was in Gerzika principality, which was under rule of Polotsk principality between XI-XIII. Polotsk principality was on territories of present day Belarus.
After Livonian war in 1561 Latgale joined Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It joined the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (Lithuanian & Belarusian territories) to be more precise. After separation of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Latgale joined Vitebsk Governate of the Russian empire. Vitebsk Governate was on the territories of northern Belarus and eastern Latvia. It remained in Vitebsk governate till 1918.
Latgale was a multi-ethnic region of Latvia having Latgalians, Belarusians, Polish, Jews and Russian Old believers. Latgalians were subjected to cultural assimilation throughout history. It's incredible how a small group of Latgalians managed to keep their language and culture. Many Russians moved in eastern Latvia after WWII, when Latvia became part of USSR.
Latgale is part of Latvia today and it should remain part of Latvia. Not Russiaa or Germany. I don't believe Russia wants to annexe it. Latgale does not have sea ports or natural resources. Motives of a small group of people is exaggerated in media, as we see in the case of UNIAN newspaper.
Last edited by Rugevit; 11-13-2014 at 05:30 AM.
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I doubt it will escalate.
Russian will never be made a second official language as long as Latvians make up the majority of all citizens.
Making Russian an official language would not make Russians more pro-Latvian. It would most likely end in more demands and increased segragation.
Just because someone is distributing leaflefts agitating to join Russia, does not mean something big will bgrow out of this. It's not a secret there are quite a few Russians who hold these views in private, but they're not taking any actions precisely because they'd be sentenced to jail. Besides, not everyone wants to sacrifice his health or life for something with highly dubious results.
Processes in Crimea and East Ukraine were largely excetuted by forces from Russia which would be impossible to repeat in Baltic States.
Last edited by Raven_; 11-13-2014 at 07:37 AM.
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Caedite eos. Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius.
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