‘Campaigning to join Russia’: Eastern Latvia activists

[Óttar]

These Russians are as bad as Muslims. Calling for a new state every time a closet gets a numerical majority.

[Ars Moriendi]

These Russians are as bad as Muslims. Calling for a new state every time a closet gets a numerical majority.

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When Woodrow Wilson and the post WWI clique spoused "self-determination for all nations", the implicit message they sent to the world was that demographic warfare and ethnic cleansing were the strategy of the future (before that, political allegiances were the sole factor). Stalin did this in the Baltic States. Twisting nature of history.

Odd that the same people that usually worship the partitions of Trianon and Saint-Germain-en-Laye, made under the auspice of the Allies wielding demography as a prime tool, are the same ones that condemn this sort of event.

The modern and post-modern worlds were made over mob-rule. No wonder why African and Mid Eastern countries with their 4+ fertility rates have a brighter future than anyone else.

[Aviator]

If Russians don't like it in Latvia they can leave.

[Rugevit]

I saw this coming. Not Latvia specifically but I was wondering which ex-Soviet state would be next. I would have guessed Belarus.

Belarusians don't want to join Russia and Russians are not discriminated against in Belarus. In fact some Belarusian nationalists are Russian by descent. There is no need to join as the border between Belarus and Russia is opened. If it was going to happen it'd be eastern and northern Kazakhstan or eastern Estonia. Since Kazakhstan and Russia have economic and borders opened there won't be much happening in Kazakhastan.

[KawaiiKawaii]

Ars, Russia has already largely enough territory. Before being worried about some bits in Latvia or Estonia or whatever, maybe they should be worried about Siberia? I mean, it doesn't make sense, they are already the largest country. They don't like being part of Latvia? Fine, you have the immensity of Russia (and Ukraine and Belarus) next door. This is just typical Russian bullying of small nations.

[Ars Moriendi]

Ars, Russia has already largely enough territory. Before being worried about some bits in Latvia or Estonia or whatever, maybe they should be worried about Siberia? I mean, it doesn't make sense, they are already the largest country. They don't like being part of Latvia? Fine, you have the immensity of Russia (and Ukraine and Belarus) next door. This is just typical Russian bullying of small nations.

Yes, it's a pressure statement. The great game in Eastern Europe (as well as in Transcaucasia and the Mid East) is getting nastier and nastier every year.

Sanctions went into support for street protests, which then went into support for regime change, which then went into territorial partitioning, which then went into war-by-proxies. Who knows what will happen next if the tension keeps rising.

[Rugevit]

Charter97 is a known propagandistic site. Ukrainian UNIAN is engaged in information war currently.

I checked few Latvian newspapers. There are some alleged activists in eastern Latvia on the Russian border. One Latvian politician from eastern Latvia stated the situation is exaggerated . Those who agitates to join Russia are few elderly citizens.

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Moreover, Russia and Latvia will complete border demarcation next year. Latvia is a NATO member unlike Ukraine. Why would Russians of Latvia want to join Russia if Russians of Russia have been purchasing housing in Latvia to get Latvian citizenship to have access to Schengen countries?

Journalists in Ukrainian newspaper are exaggerating.

[Ars Moriendi]

Yeah, like I said before, at best, you can take this as some few people testing the mood of the public about the idea. Nothing really important. Just exploratory.

[Sarmatian]

[QUOTE=Lala4;3137772]Before Soviet rule, there weren't even any Russians there...

It's not exactly true. The bordering territories were a subject of contest for centuries with drastic population changes. Genocide and repopulation was a common occurence when a new power would take over the territory. Most infamous for that were Teuton knights, they depopulated vast spaces from Balts and Slavs to create room for Germanics. Things settled down for most part by the time Communists came to power and Russians were making up some significant numbers in these areas already.

So I don't get it. Plus they have it better in Latvia than in Russia.

I don't think it's for you or me to decide unless we have firsthand living experience in both countries.

[Sarmatian]

Ars, Russia has already largely enough territory. Before being worried about some bits in Latvia or Estonia or whatever, maybe they should be worried about Siberia? I mean, it doesn't make sense, they are already the largest country. They don't like being part of Latvia? Fine, you have the immensity of Russia (and Ukraine and Belarus) next door. This is just typical Russian bullying of small nations.

But Russian state doesn't express any interest in obtaining these territories so far. If I understood it correctly it's activists inside of Latvia speaking up their opinions. Even if they will succeed in the political process inside of Latvia there is no guarantee Russia will accept them into federation.