Latvia 1988-2015: a Triumph of the Radical Nationalists
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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 Book 2. From the “long-term democratic deficit” to the restoration of ethnocracy 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 of the right to automatic citizenship. As a result, one of the most fundamental principles of Latvia 1988 - 2015: democracy, universal suffrage, was eliminated. a triumph of the radical nationalists 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 laws on citizenship, language and education that discriminate against the national minorities Book 1. and lay the foundation for the construction of a so-called «Latvian Latvia», or Latvia for Lat- Radical nationalism awakens, vians». Simultaneously, there is an active campaign for establishing a new historical memory, or Citizenship issue from 1988 till the Supreme Council the main aim of which is rehabilitation of Karlis Ulmanis’ ethnocratic regime (1934-1940), resolution «On the restoration of the rights of citizens» rehabilitation of Nazism and denigration of Latvia’s history as part of the USSR (1940-1941, of 1991 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- try is prone to a «long-term democratic deficit». Book 2. From the «long-term democratic deficit» to the restoration of ethnocracy Book 3. Formation of a new historical memory, The translation and publication of the book have been paid by a grant from the Fund to or the Whitewashing of Nazism in Latvia 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: 18 November, 2005. Celebration of the 87th anniversary of declaration of Latvian independence. During the flower-laying at the Freedom Monument, activists from the Russian-speaking community have put a placard on the Hotel Roma building, with an inscription «Burial of Democracy». On the spine – A symbol of Latvia being split in parts. ISBN 978-9934-8540-1-9 © Text – V. Gushchin © Translation – Goodwield LTD, London, United Kingdom, Alexander Kuzmin (Photo captions and certain documents) © Photo - V. Gushchin © Layout – Vlad Bogov Book 2. From the “long-term democratic deficit” to the restoration of ethnocracy Book 2. From the «long-term democratic deficit» to the restoration of ethnocracy 3 May, 2005. The fifteenth anniversary of the adoption of the declaration «On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia» by the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR. Activists of the Russian community of Latvia protesting against division of Latvian population into citizens and «non-citizens». 5 Latvia 1988-2015: a triumph of the radical nationalists Book 2. From the “long-term democratic deficit” to the restoration of ethnocracy Russia’s role ...................................................................................................47 Role of the European community ..................................................................50 CONTENTS Part Two. The main vectors of Latvian ethnic policy Part One. Latvian Supreme Council Decree ‘On the restoration Chapter 1. The discriminatory citizenship law .........................................53 of the rights of citizens and on the basic conditions of naturalisation’ and Andrejs Pantelejevs on Russians in Latvia ....................................................54 its political and legal impacts in the establishment of the Latvian state. CSCE position on citizenship ........................................................................56 Permanent Representative of Latvia to the UN Aivars Baumanis Chapter 1. Latvian Supreme Council Decree ‘On the restoration on Russia’s position regarding human rights violations in Latvia .................61 of the rights of citizens and on the basic conditions of naturalisation’. ....9 Opinion poll in Diena .....................................................................................63 How did deputies vote? ..................................................................................12 Western media on parliamentary elections with absence Could it have been different? .........................................................................15 of universal suffrage.......................................................................................66 U.S. Helsinki Commission criticises the Supreme Council Decree Citizenship in party manifestos ......................................................................66 ‘On the restoration of the rights of citizens and on the basic conditions The citizenship law ........................................................................................67 of naturalisation’ ............................................................................................19 Citizenship law as a measure of affirmative action .......................................71 Differences between the rights of citizens and non-citizens ..........................71 Chapter 2. Legal assessment and legal impacts of the Latvian Continuation of Nazi repressions ...................................................................72 Supreme Council Decree ‘On the restoration of the rights Reproduction of mass statelessness ...............................................................74 of citizens and on the basic conditions of naturalisation’. ........................23 «You’re not second class citizens, you’re nobody!» ......................................24 Chapter 2. Changes to the Russian language status .................................76 Legal status of stateless persons ....................................................................26 «The special legal status of persons without citizenship derives Chapter 3. Gradual elimination of Russian-language education. ...........86 from the specific history and political situation in Latvia» ............................28 Law on Education, 29 October 1998 .............................................................91 Verdict of the Constitutional Court ................................................................29 Dzintars Abikis: «Studying in Latvian language is a privilege!» ..................94 Conclusions of Russian Latvian experts ........................................................96 Chapter 3. Political assessment and political impacts of the Conclusions of international experts ..............................................................96 Latvian Supreme Council Decree ‘On the restoration of the rights Who are these experts ....................................................................................97 of citizens and on the basic conditions of naturalisation’ .........................31 Expert opinion ................................................................................................97 Ensuring the dominance of Latvians in politics and economics ....................34 Ideology behind the ‘school reform’ ............................................................100 Course towards the «Latvian Latvia» ............................................................35 «Jurkans’ Demarche» or expulsion of dissent................................................38 Chapter 4. «Non-citizens must leave!» .....................................................109 Barriers to a united civil society ....................................................................41 Petropalovsky should to be given citizenship! .............................................115 Supreme Council Decree ‘On the restoration of the rights of citizens Obstruction of naturalisation ........................................................................117 and on the basic conditions of naturalisation’ led to massive tragedies.........43 Development of amendments to the citizenship law ...................................119 Gyorgy Frunda’s recommendations ............................................................121 Chapter 4. «Mistakes during the Yeltsin euphoria» Eizenia Aldermane should be relieved of her post! .....................................122 and Europe’s double standards ..................................................................46