Russians In Latvia Must Take A Language Test To Avoid Being Expelled From The Country

 

Reuters: Russians take language test to avoid expulsion from Latvia 

RIGA (Reuters) - In a Stalinist skyscraper which dominates the skyline of Latvia's capital, dozens of elderly Russians wait to take a basic Latvian language test as a proof of loyalty to a country where they have lived for decades. 

Clutching red Russian passports, the participants, mostly women, read their notes for last minute revision, fearing they may be expelled from the Baltic country if they fail. 

Speaking Russian instead of Latvian has not been a problem until now, but the war in Ukraine changed the picture. Last year's election campaign was dominated by questions of national identity and security concerns. 

The government now demands a language test from the 20,000 people in the country holding Russian passports, mostly elderly and female, as the loyalty of Russian citizens is a worry, said Dimitrijs Trofimovs, state secretary at the Interior Ministry.  

Read more ....  

Update: Latvia's Russian diaspora face tests or expulsion (Reuters)  

WNU Editor: A quarter of the population is Russian speaking. Some have been living in the country for decades. This is ethnic cleansing, but the EU is silent, and with the exception of Reuters, the Western main-stream media is remaining silent.

Latvia Brings Back Military Conscription

DW: Latvia reintroduces compulsory military service  

The Baltic nation feels threatened due to the war in Ukraine. But, as a visit to a skatepark in the capital shows, many young men are not convinced that compulsory military service is the right reaction.  

Skateboarders are known for their rebellious ways. So it's hardly surprising that the Latvian government's recent decision to reintroduce compulsory military service has not gone down particularly well with the young people at a skatepark in central Riga, the country's capital. 

"I'd rather be skateboarding, I want to be a free person, not shooting," a 21-year-old shouted before heading down the ramp. 

Although he is unlikely to be drafted yet, military service will soon become mandatory again for all 18 to 27-year-old males in Latvia. Women will be allowed to participate voluntarily. The decision was made by the country's parliament on April 5.  

Read more ....  

Update: Latvia brings back mandatory military service (Meduza)  

WNU Editor: A quarter of Latvia's population is Russian speaking. I am sure many are not on board with being conscripted in an army that does not permit Russian to be spoken.

Latvian Revokes Independent Russian TV Station’s License

Dozhd TV Channel Studio. Alexander Miridonov / Kommersant  

Moscow Times: Latvian Decision to Revoke Russian TV Station’s License Sparks Fear, Disbelief 

Latvia’s decision Tuesday to withdraw the broadcast license of independent Russian television channel Dozhd caused disbelief and anger among the media outlet’s journalists and soul-searching among other Russian journalists in exile. 

The Baltic country’s media watchdog said in a statement announcing the revocation that Dozhd posed “threats to national security and social order” following a series of fines issued over the outlet’s coverage of the war in Ukraine.

 “I’ve been fighting for all these years to remain human in any situation… [but] I feel like a disgusting scoundrel,” Dozhd co-founder Natalia Sindeeva said between sobs in a video posted to her Telegram channel after the announcement.  “The entire TV channel is at stake.”  

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WNU Editor: The Dozhd office in Moscow was shut down in March for its coverage of the Ukraine war (they were critical of the "special operations"). In July, the television channel was relaunched from studios in Riga, Latvia. But yesterday, citing national security, Latvia decided to immediately end Dozhd's license to broadcast. Their excuse is that Dozhd's coverage of the war is not 100% anti-Russian/Kremlin/Putin. Latvia is also critical of recent reports from Dozhd on recent heavy Ukrainian military losses and how dire the situation is for many ordinary Ukrainians. A host was also recently fired for saying the network was helping Russian soldiers 

As to what is my take on the end of Dozhd.

Latvia can make all the justifications that they want. But the revocation of Dozhd's license is a huge victory for the Kremlin. One more independent Russian media outfit snuffed-out, and the Kremlin did not have to lift a finger to do it. 

 Update: The CEO of Dozhd speaks out .... We made a lot of stupid mistakes' TV Rain CEO Natalia Sindeeva on the news that Latvia is stripping the network's broadcast license (Meduza).  

 Latvian Revokes Independent Russian TV Station’s License  

Russian TV station in Latvia loses licence over Ukraine war coverage -- The Guardian 

 Latvia pulls plug on anti-Kremlin Russian TV station -- Euronews  

Latvia revokes license of Russia independent channel TV Rain -- DW  

Latvia switches off the liberal Russian TV channel it took in -- Al Jazeera  

Who's Helping Putin? Dozhd Controversy In Latvia Inflames Tensions Over Émigré Anti-War Russians -- RFE

Canadian Officer Commanding A NATO Battle Group In Latvia Says Russian Forces Would Be Routed If They Dared Launch An Attack

Canadian Press  

CTV News/Canadian Press: Canadian commander says NATO battle group in Latvia could beat back Russian attack 

RIGA, Latvia - The Canadian officer commanding a NATO battle group in Latvia says Russian forces would be routed if they dared launch an attack against Canadian troops and their allies stationed in the Baltic country on Russia's western border. 

"I think we'd win by a fair margin," Lt.-Col. Jesse van Eijk, head of the Enhanced Forward Presence Latvia battle group, said in an interview Wednesday. 

The threat is constant in the context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and on Tuesday tensions mounted when a missile strike killed two people in Poland, another NATO member. There were initially fears the missile had been fired by Russia, but Poland said Wednesday it was probably launched by air defences in neighbouring Ukraine.  

Read more ....  

Update: Canadians show support for Latvian allies on tense Independence Day in Baltic country (Canadian Press)  

WNU Editor: There are 700 Canadian soldiers in Latvia.

Latvia Prime Minister's New Unity Party Wins General Election

 

Euronews/Reuters: Latvia prime minister's New Unity party wins general election — early results 

RIGA (Reuters) -The centre-right New Unity party of Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins won Saturday's election, according to provisional results, with its 19% of the vote putting him in a position to head another coalition government. 

The results - with 96% of districts counted - mean Latvia should remain a leading voice alongside its Baltic neighbours Lithuania and Estonia in pushing the European Union for a decisive stance against Russia. 

Karins' party was again the party with the most support following the election. Members of the current coalition were on track to receive 42 seats in the 100-seat parliament, so Karins needs to draft additional allies to stay as a prime minister. As many as nine parties could win sufficient votes to secure seats in parliament.

Read more ....  

Update: Latvian premier's party emerges on top in general election (AP)  

WNU Editor: Even though he won about 20% of the vote, being the party that won the most votes means that he will receive 42 seats in the 100-seat parliament. A coalition will need to be formed with other parties. The energy crisis and high inflation will be the first issues the new government will need to face.

Latvia Bans Russian TV And Other Media Outlets

Krievijas televīzijas kanāls "Rossija RTR". Photo: Scanpix, Raul Mee 

Public Braodcasting Of Latvia: Latvia's broadcast regulator bans Russian channel for a year 

Latvia's broadcast regulator, the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) has announced that it is banning the retransmission and distribution of the Russian “Rossija RTR” channel in the territory of Latvia for a full year. 

The decision was made because four significant violations of the law were identified, related to incitement to hatred, incitement to violence and provocation of military conflict, the NEPLP said in a statement. 

The ban on retransmission of Rossija RTR in the territory of Latvia will come into force on February 15 this year, giving cable operators a week to withdraw the channel from their broadcast packages. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: This ban is expanding and will be backed with stiff fines .... Latvia goes further than a simple ban on Russian TV news – Riga will FINE citizens for watching ‘illegal’ cross border channels (RT). More here .... Latvia’s ban on 16 Russian TV channels an 'air cleanup,' Journalist Union says (TASS). I also expect Latvia will be moving to ban streaming and other internet services.

I personally do not think this is going to work. Almost a third of the population in Latvia are Russian, and they are not going to give up on their language nor on their access to Russian programming.

Update: Latvia is not the only country banning Russian TV .... Ukraine strikes back against Russian infowar with ban on Kremlin-linked TV channels (Atlantic Council).

Pro-Russia Party Wins Latvia Election. Coalition Talks With Other Parties Have Begun

BBC: Pro-Russia party wins Latvia election

A pro-Russia party has won the most votes in Latvia following Saturday's general election.

The Harmony party polled 19% with the pro-EU For Development party taking 12% and two populist parties, the KPV LV and the New Conservatives winning 27% between them.

In the past, parties have formed pacts to keep Harmony out of government.

Commentators say Harmony might now be able to form a government if it joins forces with the populist parties.

It will hold 24 seats in the 100-seat parliament, with the New Conservatives on 16 and KPV LV on 15.

Read more ....

WNU editor: This pro-Russian party is going to have a problem in forming a coalition. I expect these talks are going to take a few weeks/months before a coalition agreement is finally reached .... Newcomers Winners in Latvian Election; Tough Coalition Talks Ahead (VOA/Reuters)

More News On Latvia's Election

Latvia election puts pro-Russia Harmony party on top -- DW
Russian minority party wins Latvian vote; populists surge -- AP
Pro-Russia party wins Latvia election -- BBC
Populist Wave Hits Latvia, Lifting Pro-Russia Party in Election -- The New York Times
Dissatisfied Latvians turn to newcomers in parliamentary election -- Reuters
Pro-Russian, populist parties garner most votes in Latvian election -- Politico.eu
Latvia elections: Pro-Russia, Pro-Europe parties see gains -- Al Jazeera
Populist Surge Fails to Oust Latvia’s Pro-Western Centrists -- Bloomberg

Latvians Go To The Polls Today

RFE: Russia-Friendly Party Hoping Latvian Election Will Propel Them To Power

Latvia holds parliamentary elections on October 6 in a vote that could propel a populist, Russian-friendly coalition to power.

Latvia, a member of the European Union and NATO, shares a 270-kilometer border with Russia.

It has a sizable ethnic-Russian minority of around 25 percent, a legacy of nearly 50 years of Soviet occupation that ended in 1991, when the nation regained its independence.

Latvia's mainstream parties have kept pro-Russian politicians from power as they sought ever closer ties with the West.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Latvia has a large Russian ethnic population who have always felt that they are being discriminated against .... Latvia Pushes To Limit Russian Language In Effort To Strengthen National Identity (NPR). But they are going to send a message in today's election.

More News On Today's Election In Latvia

Latvia exit polls put pro-Russia Harmony party ahead -- DW
Latvia's pro-European parties perform strongly in exit poll -- Reuters
Ethnic Russians have big influence in Latvian election -- AP
Pro-Russia party looms large at Latvia elections -- DW
Populists threaten to topple status quo in Latvia election -- Euronews
Latvia's Pro-Russian SDPS Party Leading in Parliamentary Election - Exit Poll -- Sputnik

Latvia's Banking System Reeling After Its Third-Largest Bank Failed

A security guard speaks on her mobile phone at the head office of the ABLV Bank in Riga, Latvia February 18, 2018. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo

Reuters: Latvia calls emergency meeting after third-largest bank fails

RIGA (Reuters) - Latvian authorities will gather for an emergency meeting on Monday following the failure of the country’s third-largest bank, the Prime minister said on Saturday, as the country kept watch for any fallout on other banks.

ABLV Bank is failing or likely to fail and will be wound up as saving it is not in the public interest, the European Union’s Single Resolution Board and the European Central Bank (ECB) said separately on Saturday.

Accused by U.S. authorities of large-scale money laundering, ABLV scrambled this week to come up with a survival plan, but failed as customers fled and management could not come up with sufficient cash, despite offers of emergency central bank liquidity.

Latvia’s Finance Minister Dana Reizniece-Ozola said the situation in other banks was stable and that the level of deposits at around 20 billion euros ($25 billion) had not changed significantly.

Read more ....

Update #1: Europe to Wind Down Latvian Bank Targeted by U.S. Over Sanctions (Bloomberg)
Update #2: European authorities move to liquidate Latvian lender after US accusations (The National)

WNU Editor: The Latvian bank that has failed .... ABLV Bank .... was accused of laundering money for North Korea. This bank failure falls on the heels of another crisis where Latvia's central banker has been accused of accepting bribes .... Latvian minister urges central bank chief to quit over graft probe (Times of Malta).

An Arms Buildup In The Baltics

Baltic States Spend Big On Defense As Russia Buzzes Borders -- The Telegraph

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania strike £240 million of arms deals as they watch Vladimir Putin's Ukrainian adventure with alarm.

Russia's meddling in Ukraine has delivered a wake-up call on defence spending to small Baltic states which spent half a century under Soviet occupation and now fear the Kremlin's territorial ambitions.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are on heightened alert as Russian military planes and warships skirt their airspace and sea borders on a daily basis in what they call "unprecedented" Russian activity.

Nato said its Baltic air patrol intercepted more than 30 Russian aircraft on Monday alone over the Baltic Sea and off the coast of Norway.

That same day Lithuania put its military on higher alert after 22 Russian warships were spotted in the Baltic Sea, including a heavily-armed corvette within three miles of Latvia's sea border.

Read more ....

My Comment: Spending £240 million on arms deals is not going to deter Russia nor will it placate the restive Russian communities in these countries.

Anti-government Rioting Hits Riga

From The BBC:

Hundreds of demonstrators have clashed with riot police in Latvia's capital, Riga, after an anti-government protest.

Police used mace and truncheons to disperse rioters who smashed shop windows and overturned a police van after failing to storm parliament.

The violence followed a peaceful rally in which some 10,000 people accused the government of economic mismanagement and demanded new elections.

Latvia's economy is expected to contract by at least 5% this year.

Until last year, it was one of the fastest growing economies in Europe.

Read more ....