Discrimination of Russians in the Baltic States

[Hors]

A comprehensive yet concise study by James Hughes

http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/643/1/Hughe...roof1.2005.pdf

[Hors]

International and European organizations (including Council of Europe) acknowledge and condemn discrimination of Russians/Russophones in the Baltic States.

Here I'm going to post official reports of such organizations, as well as articles confirming non-European nature of Estonians and Latvians as evidenced by their discrimination of ethnic minorities.

[Hors]

http://www.developmentandtransition....DocumentID=586

Estonia and Latvia have been described as cases of ‘ethnic democracy’, where the state has been captured by the titular ethnic group and then used to promote ‘nationalising’ (see box) policies and discrimination against Russophone minorities. The ‘rationality’ of such policy regimes is often stressed, as exclusivist citizenship and language policies allow the reproduction of power by titular ethnic groups through a near-monopoly of career opportunities in government, public administration, the professions, and the economy – especially through privatisation. In Lithuania, where the titular nationality was an overwhelming majority, a so-called ‘zero-option’ of a civic and inclusive citizenship for all Soviet citizens resident in the state was implemented. In contrast, in Estonia and Latvia where the ethnic balance was much closer, and the perception of threat for the titular nationalists was much greater, citizenship was reconstructed along ethno-national lines.

The Russophones of Estonia and Latvia are one of the largest minority groups in Europe. Many Russophones have been denied citizenship and are stateless (Table 1 and Table 2). According to EU data, just prior to the enlargement of May 2004 over 523,00 (22.4 per cent) of the 2.34 million population of Latvia were stateless, and in Estonia the corresponding figure was 172,000 (12.5 per cent) of a population of 1.37 million (EU, 2002). While many Russophones migrated to Estonia and Latvia in the decade after 1945, in Latvia in particular there is a much longer settled Russophone population. While the Soviet-era migration was planned and reflected a different systemic logic, migrants were attracted by the better than average socio-economic conditions in Estonia and Latvia, and the cultural proximity to Europe. Significant numbers of Russophones also originated as pensioners from the Soviet military.


Sophisticated and extensive policy regimes of discrimination have been established in both states based on restrictions under three policy pillars - citizenship, language, and participation. These policies are constrained only by economic dependence on Russophone labour, and international criticism. Such ethnic privileging and discrimination must be understood in the context of two important factors. Firstly, both titular ethnic groups experienced a half century of Soviet repression and occupation. Secondly, the influx of large numbers of Russophone migrants in the first decades of occupation, partly as an attempt to ‘sovietise’ Estonia and Latvia, dramatically shifted the ethnic balance. By the time of independence in 1991, and despite widespread Russophone support for independence, the political mood among the titular ethnic groups was dominated by nationalists who were against a Lithuanian-style ‘zero option’, as such a policy, assuming an ethnification of politics, would have meant that ethnic Estonian and Latvian elites would have been compelled to share decision-making on the political, economic and nation-building aspects of transition with Russophones. In effect, the policies of discrimination were a kind of collective punishment, as the Russophone minority was blamed and mistrusted because of Soviet policies.

[EWtt]

According to European Network of Excellence organized by a group of 45 universities publication the alleged discrimination of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia has served as a pretext of trying to lock the region within the sphere of influence of Russia. Moscow's attempts to take political advantage over the issue of the Russophone minority in Estonia have been successful as Kremlin has used every international forum where the claims of the violations of human rights in Estonia have been presented.[25]

According to the representatives of the Russian speaking communities in Estonia the most important form of discrimination in Estonia is not ethnic, but rather language-based.[26]

The 1993 United Nations Human Rights Council 48th Session's Mission on the situation of human rights in Estonia and Latvia found no evidence of discrimination along ethnic or religious grounds. Also, the 2008 United Nations Human Rights Council report noted the existence of political will by the Estonian State authorities to fight the expressions of racism and discrimination in Estonia.[26]

A number Russian activists continue to allege job, salary and housing discrimination on account of Estonian-language requirements. Russian government officials and parliamentarians echo these charges in a variety of forums. Such claims have become more frequent during times of political disagreements between Russia and these countries and waned when the disagreements have been resolved.[27][28][29][30][31]

Both the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) mission in Estonia and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities have declared that they cannot find a pattern of human rights violations or abuses in Estonia. [32]

Amnesty International, in its 2006 report, claimed that Russian-speaking linguistic minority living in Estonia often find themselves de facto excluded from the labour market and educational system. The report says that the current policies fail to constitute a coherent framework within which these rights can be guaranteed for such persons. Amnesty International cites as evidence the high unemployment rate — 12.9% in 2005 — among people belonging to Russian-speaking linguistic minority, in contrast to only 5.3% among ethnic Estonians during the same period.[33] However, The Economist says the Amnesty International report is "a bad piece of work" which is both ahistorical and unbalanced, and criticized the organization's use of limited resources as bizarre when there are real human rights abuses in Belarus and Russia.[34]

According to veteran German author, journalist and Russia-correspondent Gabriele Krone-Schmalz, there is deep disapproval of everything Russian in Estonia. She contends that the alleged level of discrimination regarding ethnic Russians in Estonia would have posed a barrier to acceptance into the EU; however, Western media gave the matter very little attention.[35] However the European Commission conducted close monitoring of these countries compliance with the acquis in regard to minority rights prior to accession to the EU, the Commission concluded that there is no evidence that these minorities are subject to discrimination.[36]

The European Centre for Minority Issues has also examined Estonia's treatment of its Russophone minority. In its conclusion, the centre notes that while all international organisations agree that no forms of systematic discrimination towards the Russian-speaking population can be observed and praises the efforts made thus far in amendments to laws on education, language and the status of non-citizens, there nevertheless remains the issue of the large number of such non-citizens.[37] As of May 2, 2009, 103 999, or 7.6%[23], of Estonia's population remain non-citizens, dropping from 30% in the 1990s.[22]

The think-tank Development and Transition, sponsored by the United Nations, published an article in 2005 alleging Latvia and Estonia employ a "sophisticated and extensive policy regime of discrimination" against their respective Russophone populations[38]; however, Development and Transition also published a responding article disputing those allegations as simplistic, particularly the conclusion that "in the absence of an end to discrimination and a state commitment to integration," Russophones will "seek justice through violence, or will exit by out-migration", given that the majority of Russophones were already citizens[39]. Development and Transition also published a counterpoint article disputing those allegations as simplistic, particularly the conclusion that "in the absence of an end to discrimination and a state commitment to integration," Russophones will "seek justice through violence, or will exit by out-migration" — questionable, given that the majority of Russophones were already citizens[40].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History...ans_in_Estonia

[finironcross]

The Baltic states have nothing to be ashamed of. The Russians took from them everything for over 40 years.

[SwordoftheVistula]

It's their own country, so what's the problem? If things are that bad for Russians there, they can go to...Russia

[Tabiti]

And what is your attitude towards all the immigrants in Russia nowadays?

[Inese]

Estonia and Latvia have been described as cases of ‘ethnic democracy’, where the state has been captured by the titular ethnic group

Hm yes and where is the problem??? Are you a internationalist?? You know every European country should be a ethnic democracy!! Ethnic minoritys can move out ------ like Russians out of Latvia! You are not welcome in our country!! I will never set a foot on Russian ground again and i dont want Russian dirty feet in my country no more need for discussion!!

[Redar14]

Poles from lithuania have worse problems than Russians from Latvia or Estonia. Lithuanian chauvinistic government forbids use polish surnames, destroy polish schools and forbids bilingual street names. In lithuania anti- polish hate are cool. I'm not surprised this behavior because lithuanians is the most primitive and crude nation in Europe.

I think that Poles and Russians should create alliance against baltic haters!




Anti Polish reality show in lithuania:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa9C643IZsY

[Mordid]

I think that Poles and Russians should create alliance against baltic haters!

Are you serious? :