17 going on 90: Latvia confused over independence
Published: 18 November, 2008, 22:57
Edited: 25 July, 2010, 04:25
Latvian soldiers march during a military parade on November 18, 2008 to celebrate Latvia's anniversary of independence (AFP Photo / Ilmars Znotins)
(8.9Mb) embed videoThousands have gathered in the Latvian capital of Riga to watch the display of their nation's armed forces. The military parade is part of the celebrations to mark 90 years since the creation of the Latvian republic. Fes
The country's leader stood next to his counterparts from Latvia's Baltic neighbours of Lithuania and Estonia, as well as Poland.
“Today we have many allies,” the Latvian president said. “Today, we feel protected and confident in Latvia's future. We are sure that Latvia will forever be a free and democratic republic”.
Vladimir Kremlev for RT
However, the “free” and “democratic” status is very much a novelty for the Latvian statehood. Many historians argue that it only became a truly independent state with the structure of a republic as late as 1991.
Since the 18th century all of what is now Latvia, Estonia and most of Lithuania were part of the Russian Empire. Before the end of the First World War, the Empire had collapsed and in 1918 Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn proclaimed their independence, but this independence was short-lived.
In 1940, after a pact between Stalin and Hitler, the Baltic States entered the Soviet Union. Nazi forces pushed the Soviets back in 1941 but the Red Army returned in 1944 to make the countries part of the USSR once again. Its independence was reestablished only with the collapse of the Soviet Union.
So, despite the fact that in relation to Russia, Latvia calls itself a republic with a 90 year history, there are essentially no documented facts to prove this.
As historian Vladimir Simindey points out, “Russia recognized Latvia's independence after the collapse of the USSR just like it did with all the other former Soviet republics”.
Even whilst taking into account current affirmations that Latvia retained its independence throughout the years of Moscow rule, on paper it officially held the status of a Soviet republic.
 Soldiers from NATO member countries marchduring a military parade on November 18, 2008 to celebrate Latvia's anniversary (AFP Photo / Ilmars Znotins) |
Since the collapse of the USSR Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania went from Communism to NATO and EU membership. Now, they are keen to break away from their Soviet past. The Museum of Occupation in Riga makes little difference between Nazi occupation during WW2 and Latvia's years within the USSR and grudges over history continue to poison Latvia's relations with Moscow.
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confused? what braindead russian wrote this? Latvians have thousands of years culture seperate from the slav masses oppressing them. In the brief years of freedom 1918-1939 we achieved the highest college graduate percentange in all of europe.. the russians came in , tortured to death tens of thousands, sent hundreds of thousands off to die in siberian snows, then after wwII continued with cultural genocide by importing millions of russsians into our little country until we are barely a majority. Through all those fifty years, no mention was made of Latvian rights ... but suddenly now that we're free.... what about the rights of the russian invaders? I'm proud to say that as American Special Forces operative I killed a lot of communists, terrorist and hopefully some of the brain dead
Russian News seems to be confused about Latvian Independence, and Baltic & Soviet history: In 1918, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia proclaimed their independence from Russian Empire, and in 1920 the Treaty of Tartu was signed in which Russia FOREVER gave up all claims to Estonia. This "FOREVER" was indeed short lived when in 1940, Soviet Troops illegally invaded and occupied Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in violation of this peace treaty of Tartu of 1920. Three republics were occupied by the USSR forcably, as well as parts of Estonia (Petserimaa) and of Latvia (Abene) were occupied by Soviet Russian republic. Estonians, Latvians and Lithuania count their independence from 1918 (Lithuania 1917) declaration of Independence. The Soviet period was a seen as an illegal Soviet occupation, in the eyes of Baltic people, as well as the USA, UK, and western nations. In August 1991, during the abortive soviet coup, the Baltic countries against redeclared their independence and regained their independence in August 1991, recognized by the Soviet Union and the Russian republic (for a second time, the first time being in 1918) . In December 25, 1991 the Soviet Union officially collapsed.