Latvian-Russian relations

In 1918, the RSFSR recognized the Soviet Government of Latvia ( SSRL ) and obliged “all military and civilian authorities of the Russian Soviet Republic who are in contact with Latvia, to render all possible assistance to the Soviet Government of Latvia in the fight against the Republic of Latvia” ^[2] . Diplomatic representatives of the Republic of Latvia during the civil war worked in Arkhangelsk, Vladivostok, Kiev and in the North Caucasus ^[1] .

However, in January 1920, with the support of Polish troops, the army of the Republic of Latvia dislodged the Red Army from Latvia, and in 1920 the RSFSR and the Republic of Latvia concluded the Riga Peace Treaty , where Russia recognized the independence of Latvia. The first representative of LR in the RSFSR was Janis Vesmanis, the first representative of the RSFSR in the LR - Yakov Ganetsky . Before Latvia joined the USSR in 1940, a number of agreements were concluded between Latvia and the RSFSR and the USSR, including: citizenship in 1921 ^[3] , trade in 1927 ^[4] and 1933 ^[5] , non-aggression in 1932 ^[6] and the Mutual Assistance Pact in 1939 ^[7] .

After the collapse of the USSR, diplomatic relations between Latvia and Russia were restored. Since 1991, the ambassadors of Russia were Alexander Rannih, Alexander Udaltsov, Igor Studennikov, Viktor Kalyuzhny , Alexander Veshnyakov and Evgeny Lukyanov , and the Latvian ambassadors Janis Peters , Imants Daudish, Norman Penke, Andris Teikmanis , Edgars Skuja, Astra Kurme and Maris Riekstins .

Until 2007, the issue of the border between Russia and Latvia remained unresolved (see Pytalovo ).

Russia has an embassy in Riga and consulates in Liepaja and Daugavpils . Russian Ambassador to Latvia from 2017 - E. V. Lukyanov . Latvia has an embassy in Moscow and consulates in St. Petersburg and Pskov . Latvian Ambassador to Russia since 2017 - Maris Riekstins .

At the beginning of 2016, there were 566,681 ethnic Russians in Latvia (of whom 62.5% are Latvian citizens) and 2,523 Tataris (32.7% of them are Latvian citizens) ^[8] . Among the inhabitants of Latvia, 55,989 citizens of Russia make up 2.6% of the country's population ^[9] (in 2010 their number increased by five thousand, or 16% ^[10] ; more than 5,000 former non-citizens of Latvia took Russian citizenship; also in 2011, more non-citizens of Latvia accepted Russian citizenship than Latvian) ^{[11] [12]} . The number of Latvian citizens who accepted Russian citizenship in 2010–2012 was from 168 to 194. ^[13]

In 2002, 2864 Latvian citizens lived in Russia ^[14] . In 2010, according to the census data, there were 18,979 ethnic Latvians living in the Russian Federation, including 1,089 Latgalians ^[15] .

During the visit of the President of Latvia Zatlers to Russia in December 2010, a number of agreements were signed ^[16] and a decision was made to create a joint commission of historians. ^[17]

In 2017, after a four-year break, a meeting of the Latvian-Russian intergovernmental commission was held. ^[18] In 2018, the countries exchanged blacklists. ^[nineteen]

Russia is an important trading partner of Latvia. Latvian exports to Russia in 2011 amounted to $ 1,262,397,831, Russian to Latvia - $ 1,301,764,737 ^[20] . Tourist visits to Latvia by Russian tourists are characterized by a seasonal rise around the New Year holidays. ^[21]

In 2012, the Russian Federation accounted for 9.5% of Latvian imports and 11.5% of Latvian exports (according to both indicators, Russia ranked 3rd among Latvia’s foreign trade partners) ^[22] .

There are disagreements between the two countries on the issues of the history of the 20th century. In particular, opinions differ in the qualifications of the events of 1940, which entailed the inclusion of Latvia in the USSR - Latvia considers them illegal occupation ^[23] , Russia - corresponded to the international law in force at that time ^[24] . In 2014, the Latvian side suspended the work of the Latvian-Russian commission of historians. ^[25]

From 2005 to 2009 in Latvia there was a commission for the calculation of damage from the Soviet occupation ^[26] , whose activities were criticized by Russia ^[27] . In 2013, the commission was resumed ^[28] . In April 2016, the commission announced the results of the work - the damage caused to the economy of Latvia during the occupation of the USSR amounts to 185 billion euros ^[29] .

During the conflict between Russia and Estonia in 2007, Latvia expressed support for Estonia ^[30] . During the conflict between Russia and Georgia in 2008, Latvia expressed support for Georgia. ^{[31] [32]} During the conflict between Moscow and Kiev in 2014, Latvia expressed support for Ukraine. ^[33]

According to a Russian public opinion poll conducted in 2012 by the Levada Center , Latvia ranked third in the list of the most unfriendly states in Russia, which is one place lower than in 2011 ^{[34] [35]} .

Starting in 2014, Latvia denied entry to a number of Russian journalists: in 2014, to the RIA Novosti correspondent, in 2017, the operator of the REN TV channel was not allowed into the country, in 2018 the TVC employee was declared persona non grata and expelled the VGTRK correspondent from the country ^[36] .

Human Rights Issues

There are disagreements on human rights issues between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Latvia, mainly concerning the situation of the Russian-speaking population of Latvia.

Russia participated in a number of complaints cases against Latvia in the European Court of Human Rights as a third party: Slivenko v. Latvia , Kononov v. Latvia , Vikulovy v. Latvia ^[37] , Sysoev and others v. Latvia ^[38] and Vasilevsky v . Latvia . ^[39] Russia blames Latvia for discrimination on the basis of nationality and language ^{[40] [41]} ; in 1996–2012 A number of statements by the State Duma of Russia noted concern about the situation of the Russian-speaking population of Latvia ^{[42] [43] [44]} .

In 2004, on the initiative of Russia, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly adopted a resolution on national minorities, containing recommendations to Latvia and Estonia ^[45] . Also in 2004, a group of Russian delegates to PACE initiated a draft resolution ^[46] on education reform in Latvia . An assembly committee decided to consider in the wider issue of mother tongue in school education; a report was prepared on it ^[47] and a resolution was adopted. ^[48] On April 3, 2018, the Russian State Duma adopted a statement “On the inadmissibility of eliminating school education in the languages ​​of the national minorities of Latvia” in connection with the amendment of the Latvian law on education. ^[49] Also in 2018, the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the ban on teaching in Russian in private universities in Latvia. ^[50]

In March 2012, the State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted a statement “On human rights violations in the Republic of Latvia and the inadmissibility of the rehabilitation of Nazism” ^[51] .

In turn, Latvia as a third party participated in the Baklanov v. Russia case ^[52] . In 1992, Latvia formed a commission of experts to assess the compliance of Russian laws with human rights norms ^[53] , and also criticized Russia for ignoring the resolution of the UN Human Rights Commission on Chechnya. ^[54]

• Latvija un Krievija. Vesturiskie un kultūras sakari. Rīga: Zinātne, 1987.
• Regional dimension of Russian-Baltic relations (inaccessible link) Ed. L.A. Karabeshkin. SPb, 2004. ISBN 5-901981-09-X
• Gushchin V.I. Non-citizens of Latvia and the position of Russia “Strategy of Russia” № 12, 2010
• Aleksandrov M. V. On the “Left Bias” in the Movement of Russian Compatriots in Latvia Institute of CIS Countries, 2011
• Latvian-Russian Relations: Domestic and International Dimensions Ed. N. Muižnieks Riga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2010. ISBN 9984-802-10-8
• The Geopolitics of History in Latvian-Russian Relations Ed. N. Muižnieks Riga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2011
• The “Humanitarian Dimension” of the Russian Foreign Policy in Georgia (Unreachable Link) Ed. G. Pelnēns. Riga: 2009. ISBN 978-9984-39-908-9 - pp. 137–190
• Outside influence on ethnic integration in Latvia (not available link) Riga: Center for East European Political Studies, 2007 ISBN 978-9984-39-356-8
• Muižnieks N. Latvian-Russian Relations: Dynamics Since Latvia's Accession to the EU and NATO. Riga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2011

• Latvian Embassy in Russia
• Russian Embassy in Latvia
• 1991 Treaty (not entered into force)
• Border Treaty (2007) (Latvian)
• Agreement on cooperation in the field of social security (2007, in force since January 2011) and an agreement on its application
• The list of the main claims and recommendations of international organizations and NGOs to Latvia on the rights of national minorities of the Russian Foreign Ministry, 2003
• Latvia // On the situation with human rights in a number of countries of the world Foreign Ministry of Russia , 2011. Pp. 56-61