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Latvia 1988-2015: a Triumph of the Radical Nationalists

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Latvia 1988-2015: a Triumph of the Radical Nationalists The Baltic Centre of Historical and Socially Political Studies Victor Gushchin Latvia 1988-2015: a triumph of the radical nationalists Political support of the West for Latvian radical nationalism and neo-Nazismand the import of this ideology into Latvia after the West’s victory in the Cold War. Formation of a unipolar world led by the USA, revision of the 1945 Yalta and Potsdam treaties and the 1975 Helsinki Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe as main reasons for the evolution of the Republic of Latvia of May 4th, 1990,from elimination of universal suffrage to relapse of totalitarianism: establishment of the so-called «Latvian Latvia», Russophobia, suppression of ethnic minority rights, restriction of freedom of speech and assembly, revision of the outcome of World War Two and propaganda of neo-Nazism. Riga 2017 UDK 94(474.3) “19/20” Gu 885 The book Latvia 1988-2015: a triumph of the radical nationalists» is dedicated to Latvia’s most recent history. On May 4, 1990, the Supreme Soviet (Supreme Council) of the Latvian SSR adopted the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the Latvian Republic without holding a national referendum, thus violating the acting Constitution. Following this up on October 15, 1991, the Supreme Soviet deprived more than a third of its own electorate Latvia 1988 - 2015: of the right to automatic citizenship. As a result, one of the most fundamental principles of a triumph of the radical nationalists democracy, universal suffrage, was eliminated. Thereafter, the Latvian parliament, periodically re-elected in conditions where a signif- icant part of country’s inhabitants lack the right to participate in elections, has been adopting Book 1. laws on citizenship, language and education that discriminate against the national minorities Radical nationalism awakens, and lay the foundation for the construction of a so-called «Latvian Latvia», or Latvia for Lat- or Citizenship issue from 1988 till the Supreme Council vians». Simultaneously, there is an active campaign for establishing a new historical memory, resolution “On the restoration of the rights of citizens” the main aim of which is rehabilitation of Karlis Ulmanis’ ethnocratic regime (1934-1940), of 1991 rehabilitation of Nazism and denigration of Latvia’s history as part of the USSR (1940-1941, 1944-1945-1990). On November 8, 2002, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Eu- rope assessed the political development of the Latvian Republic and concluded that the coun- Book 2. try is prone to a «long-term democratic deficit». From the “long-term democratic deficit” to the restoration of ethnocracy Book 3. Formation of a new historical memory, or the Whitewashing of Nazism in Latvia The translation and publication of the book have been paid by a grant from the Fund to Support and Protect the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad. Contract No. 50/D-2013 of 28 June, 2013. The term of execution of the contract: 28 June, 2013 - 1 October, 2017. Photo on cover: The monument to the defenders of the barricades near the building of the Parliament of Latvia. Photo by Victor Gushchin. On the spine – flag of the Latvian SSR. ISBN 978-9934-8540-0-2 © Text – V. Gushchin © Translation – Renata Kazaka, Goodwield LTD, London, United Kingdom, Alexander Kuzmin (Photo captions and certain documents) © Photo - LETA, V. Gushchin, A.Pankratjev © Layout – Vlad Bogov Latvia 1988-2015: a triumph of the radical nationalists Book 1. Radical nationalism awakens The Freedom Monument in Riga Photo by Victor Gushchin 4 5 Latvia 1988-2015: a triumph of the radical nationalists Book 1. Radical nationalism awakens revanchist ideology of the radical Western Latvian emigration and claimed that international recognition of Latvia’s independence also confirms the recognition of the 50-year Soviet occupation of Latvia. This, in turn, allowed the Latvian political elite to demand de-occupation and de-colonisation, as well as adopt corresponding laws on citizenship, language and education. Author’s foreword On October 15, 1991, the Supreme Council – elected by all residents of the country – deprives more than a third of its electorate (893 412 people, or 34.28% of voters) of political rights. Soon thereafter, the Supreme Council The book “Latvia 1988 - 2015: a triumph of the radical nationalists” (in adopts new language and education laws, which together with citizenship 3 volumes) is dedicated to Latvia’s most recent history. Political development legislation form the foundation for the so-called “Latvian Latvia.” of the country in this period was defined by radical ideological views among All of these laws are aimed at ousting national minorities from the the Western Latvian emigration, which formed after 1940 and 1944-45 in country or forcibly assimilating them within a “Latvian Latvia” or politically the United States, Canada and other Western countries. This part of Western marginalise them by depriving them of most political rights. Latvian emigration inherited the ideology of Karlis Ulmanis’ ethnocratic Amazingly, decisions of the judiciary are now also based on political regime (1934 – 1940) and Nazi collaborationism during the Nazi occupation of statements about the 50-year occupation of Latvia rather than legal norms. Latvia (1941 – 1944-1945). Despite their anti-democratic political views, these This general policy in legislation, history and judicial practice means that Western Latvians enjoyed the support of the United States and other Western Latvia is quickly developing as an ethnocratic state. countries during the Second World War and contributed to these countries Meanwhile a number of signs also indicate that the Latvia is developing during the Cold War against the USSR. as a neo-Nazi state: Declaration on the Latvian Legionnaires in World War II It was the radical part of the Western Latvian emigration that defined the (29 October 1998), which despite historical facts claims that legionnaires were main provisions in the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the not involved in punitive actions against civilians and their actions were related Latvian Republic, which was adopted on May 4, 1990 by the Supreme Soviet to fighting for Latvia’s independence; annual processions of former Waffen SS (Council) of Latvian SSR. In fact, this declaration was adopted without a legionnaires and their sympathisers in Riga on March 16; misrepresentation of general referendum, i.e. in violation of the acting Constitution of the Latvian the truth about the Latvian volunteer legion of Waffen SS in Latvian-language SSR and the Constitution of the Soviet Union. Furthermore, the Supreme schools; radical and offensive rhetoric of certain Latvian political figures Council ignored the Helsinki Final Act (CSCE 1975) and other international towards Soviet veterans; desecration of monuments dedicated to Red Army agreements signed between 1945 and 1990 by declaring the legal continuity soldiers who died liberating Latvia from the Nazis; and others. of the Latvian state from 1918 to 1990. Based on this declaration, the period The basis of this ethnocratic, neo-Nazi ideology was laid in the Declaration between 1940 and 1990 was described as the period of the first Soviet occupation on the Restoration of Independence of the Latvian Republic, which suggests that (June 17, 1940 – 1990), followed by Nazi occupation (1941 – 1944-1945) and this declaration can be regarded as a political foundation for the construction of the second Soviet occupation (1944-1945 – 1990). an undemocratic and unlawful modern Latvian state. If the Soviet Union continued to exist after 1991, the Declaration on the Unfortunately, democratic Europe supported this political course of the Restoration of Independence of the Latvian Republic would have been nothing new Latvian elite. CSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Max van more than an inconsequential political statement in the eyes of the international der Stoel supported this course in a letter to the Latvian Minister of Foreign community. However, August 1991 changed everything. Latvia’s independence Affairs Georgs Andrejevs (April 6, 1993).1 As a result, the people of Latvia enjoyed international recognition, which allowed the new political elite in the were denied the right to decide the fate of their own country in a referendum, country to regard the May 4th document as a political and legal foundation while one of the most fundamental principles of democracy – universal suffrage of the Latvian state. By that time, the ruling elite had already adopted the – was eliminated (with consent of the democratic Europe!). 6 7 Latvia 1988-2015: a triumph of the radical nationalists Book 1. Radical nationalism awakens Since 1991, while maintaining visible features of a democratic state statehood. Many Russian-speaking NGOs, antifascists and human rights (regular elections to local and central governments, multi-party system, activists are being “blacklisted.” Their telephones are placed under surveillance Constitutional Court, etc.), Latvia started developing an undemocratic political and they are subjected to prolonged inspections when crossing the border when regime underneath. The government started representing not the majority, returning from Russia. Meanwhile, the Latvian state is actively discouraging but a smaller in numbers radical part of the population. Latvian parliament, the activity of antifascist organisations, tightening linguistic repressions, periodically re-elected in conditions where a significant part
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