"They make us ashamed to be Russians": Pressure on Russian-speakers in Latvia to show loyalty to the country & More Latest News Here – Up Jobs

If Deryugin had to defend his country, he would fight for Latvia, even if there were Russian-speakers like him on the other side of the front: “If a thief or a murderer comes to your house, no matter what ethnicity you are, or whether or not you speak Russian. It doesn’t matter where it comes from.”

But most Russian-speakers in Latvia have spent most of their lives watching Moscow’s state television because of the lack of Russian-language content in their own country.

And that is why many see life through the narrative of a Russian world united around the Kremlin.

Before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, many Russian and Ukrainian families were sent to Latvia as part of a forced labor relocation program.

Others are descendants of Russians who moved to Latvia centuries ago, originally from Belarus, or descendants of Jews.

Latvian and international leaders are wary of Vladimir Putin’s plans in the Baltic republics.

His justification for invading Ukraine was that the eastern Donbas region was home to Russian-speakers who needed the Kremlin’s protection.

Latvia fears that Russian President Vladimir Putin you can apply the same logic there.

NATO has responded by doubling the size of its forces in Latvia, which will grow even larger, and the government in Riga is even considering conscription.

Russian media channels have been banned and any public support for the war in Ukraine or Russian attacks can now lead to criminal prosecution.

Symbols that glorify the former Soviet Union will be removed, starting with the imposing Victory Monument in a Riga park.

Latvians are not allowed to have dual Russian citizenship.

And life is getting harder for Russian citizens living in Latvia, after the country’s president, Egils Levits, claimed that those who support the war should lose their residence permit.

“Patriotism and the attitude of defending your own country have nothing to do with the language you speak,” says Deryugin.

Deryugin commands the 34th “Zemessardze” volunteer national guard infantry battalion of Latvia, based near the eastern city of Daugavpils, 30 km from the border with Belarus.

In this region 90% of the population speak Russian as their mother tongueincluding many military personnel.

For the Latvian authorities, the loyalty of its citizens is as important as its tanks and soldiers.

The question being debated behind closed doors is who the Russian-speaking Latvians really believe: in the Latvian, Western and Ukrainian leaders, or in russian propaganda which circulated on the radio waves of Latvia for 30 years.

Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the SKDS polling company has been assessing trends among Russian-speakers in Latvia.

In March, 22% supported Ukraine after the invasion initiated by Russia, and in June the figure had increased to 40%.

The ban on Russian state media clearly played a role, but there are more factors behind this change.

Until 2017 the local social democratic Harmony party, which represents the interests of the Russian minority, was widely seen as pro-Russian and had ties to the ruling United Russia party in Moscow.

But Harmony has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and one of its parliamentarians, Boris Cilevics, claims to have become completely disillusioned with the Kremlin’s expansionist ideology.

Putin’s Russia, he believes, “is totally analogous to Nazi Germany politics: the only possibility of normalization is a military defeat of Russia”.

Her parents are Russian teachers, so Russian literature and culture are important to her whole family. But, since the invasion of Ukraine, he confesses that he finds it hard to love his Russian heritage.

“The aggression in Ukraine completely discredited all this and made everything related to the Russian word toxic,” he laments.

“But for many Russian-speaking people in Latvia Russian identity is very important. For many of them admitting that Russia is the aggressor is very difficultIt’s a psychological breakdown.”

Alexander, 19, was arrested after wave a russian flag and give a speech in front of the massive Soviet War Memorial on May 10 in Riga.

He was attending an unofficial gathering to celebrate Victory Day, an annual holiday commemorating the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

Official celebrations were banned because they were seen as a glorification of Russia, prompting protests like the one Alex attended.

“I saw the flag as a symbol of unity, I consider Victory Day a day of unity. There was an incredible atmosphere, a feeling of togetherness that I haven’t seen in Latvia for a long time,” he told the BBC.

The Latvian police saw his action as a sign of support for Russian aggression in Ukraine, although Alexander and his family argue that this was not the case.

He was charged under a law that prohibits advocacy of genocide and war crimes and is awaiting sentencing. The maximum penalty is five years in prison.

“My grandfather fought in the war. We believe this is a memory that should be honored and respected,” said his mother, Svetlana, who was with him when he was arrested.

Both have since received death threats on social media.

“They force us to to be ashamed, to be afraid of being RussianAnd that’s wrong too.”

Victory Day has always been important to most Russian-speakers in Latvia, although many condemn Russian aggression and consider themselves patriotic Latvians.

But the more they feel that they are required to give up their identity out of loyalty to the West, the more Latvian society could be divided.

Meanwhile, the Latvian government believes it must prepare for possible military aggression from its powerful neighbor.

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