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{{Infobox country|name=Republic of Latvia|native_name=Latvijas Republika<br>Latvejas Republika<br>Leţmō Vabāmō|image_flag=Flag of Latvia.svg|image_coat=Latvian coat of arms.svg|capital=Riga|largest_city=Riga|image_map=Latvia map.png|map_width=290|map_caption=Latvia (dark green) in the [[European Union]] (light green)|official_languages=Latvian|recognized_languages=Livonian<br>Latgalian|area_km2=64,589|population_estimate=1, | {{Infobox country | ||
| name = Republic of Latvia | |||
| native_name = Latvijas Republika<br>Latvejas Republika<br>Leţmō Vabāmō | |||
| image_flag = Flag of Latvia.svg | |||
| image_coat = Latvian coat of arms.svg | |||
| capital = Riga | |||
| largest_city = Riga | |||
|government_type=Unitary parliamentary republic|leader_title1=President|leader_name1=[[Edgars Rinkēvičs]]|leader_title2=Prime Minister|leader_name2=[[Evika Siliņa]]|leader_title3=Speaker of the Saeima|leader_name3=[[Daiga Mieriņa]]| image_map = Latvia map.png | |||
| map_width = 290 | |||
| map_caption = Latvia (dark green) in the [[European Union]] (light green) | |||
| official_languages = Latvian | |||
| recognized_languages = Livonian<br>Latgalian | |||
|demonym=Latvian|legislature=Saeima| area_km2 = 64,589 | |||
| population_estimate = 1,842,226 | |||
| population_estimate_year = 2022 | |||
}} | |||
'''Latvia''', officially the '''Republic of Latvia''', is a country in the Baltic region of [[Eastern Europe]]. It is | '''Latvia''', officially the '''Republic of Latvia''', is a country in the [[Baltic]] region of [[Eastern Europe]]. It is bordered by [[Republic of Estonia|Estonia]] to the north, [[Republic of Lithuania|Lithuania]] to the south and [[Russian Federation|Russia]] to the east. Modern Latvia is an [[Imperialism|imperialist]] country with membership of the [[European Union]] and [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]]. Latvia is currently ruled by an [[Ethnonationalism|ethnonationalist]] [[Dictatorship of the bourgeoisie|bourgeois dictatorship]] and has outlawed celebrating the victory of the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] in the [[Second World War]].<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=Azərbaycan24|title=EU state bans WW2 victory celebration|date=2023-04-20|url=https://www.azerbaycan24.com/en/eu-state-bans-ww2-victory-celebration/|retrieved=2023-04-22}}</ref> | ||
== History == | == History == | ||
=== Early history === | === Early history === | ||
Like | Like Estonia but unlike Lithuania, Latvia did not exist as an independent entity until the [[Russian revolution of 1917|October Revolution]]. Between the 13th and 18th centuries, [[Holy Roman Empire (800–1806)|Germany]], [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth|Poland]], and [[Swedish Empire|Sweden]] controlled various parts of the region, and the [[ruling class]] consisted of German [[Nobility|nobles]]. The [[Russian Empire (1721–1917)|Russian Empire]] gradually conquered Latvia between 1721 and 1795.<ref name=":02">{{Citation|author=Albert Szymanski|year=1984|title=Human Rights in the Soviet Union|chapter=The European Nationalities in the USSR|page=81–83|pdf=https://cloudflare-ipfs.com/ipfs/bafykbzaceazdmtb2y3qq27fve5ib3gk7uv2unt6ae2xss74xmfpur7k5uhl5m?filename=Albert%20Szymanski%20-%20Human%20Rights%20in%20the%20Soviet%20Union_%20Including%20Comparisons%20with%20the%20U.S.A.-Zed%20Books%20Ltd.%20%281984%29.pdf|city=London|publisher=Zed Books Ltd.|isbn=0862320186|lg=https://libgen.rs/book/index.php?md5=C597B1232D9EA6B0F3DCB438D7E15A81}}</ref> | ||
=== Revolution and interwar period === | === Revolution and interwar period === | ||
| Line 12: | Line 27: | ||
=== Second World War and Soviet era === | === Second World War and Soviet era === | ||
{{Main article|Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (1940–1990)}} | |||
The Red Army entered Latvia in 1939 to defend the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922–1991)|Soviet Union]] from the oncoming [[German Reich (1933–1945)|German]] invasion. The Soviets removed the Latvian fascists from power and established a communist government that requested incorporation into the USSR. When the Nazis invaded in 1941, Latvia had less Nazi collaborators than the other Baltic states.<ref name=":02" /> | The Red Army entered Latvia in 1939 to defend the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922–1991)|Soviet Union]] from the oncoming [[German Reich (1933–1945)|German]] invasion. The Soviets removed the Latvian fascists from power and established a communist government that requested incorporation into the USSR. When the Nazis invaded in 1941, Latvia had less Nazi collaborators than the other Baltic states.<ref name=":02" /> | ||
=== Capitalist counterrevolution === | === Capitalist counterrevolution === | ||
Latvia seceded from the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922–1991)|Soviet Union]] in 1991. As a result of the [[Bourgeoisie|bourgeois]] [[counterrevolution]], Latvia's poverty rate increased from 1% in the late 1980s to 22% in 1995.<ref>{{Citation|author=Branko Milanovic|year=1998|title=Income, Inequality, and Poverty during the Transition from Planned to Market Economy|chapter=Poverty|section=By How Much Has Poverty Increased?|page=68|pdf=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314180055/https://www.gc.cuny.edu/CUNY_GC/media/CUNY-Graduate-Center/PDF/Centers/LIS/Milanovic/papers/Income_ineq_poverty_book.pdf|city=Washington, D.C.|publisher=World Bank|isbn=082133994X}}</ref> Latvia joined the European Union in 2004.<ref name=":0">{{Web citation|author=Gilbert Doctorow|newspaper=[[Monthly Review]]|title=Republic of Latvia, Apartheid State within the EU|date=2018-08-04|url=https://mronline.org/2018/08/04/republic-of-latvia-apartheid-state-within-the-eu/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804194315/https://mronline.org/2018/08/04/republic-of-latvia-apartheid-state-within-the-eu/|archive-date=2021-08-04|retrieved=2022-08-08}}</ref> | Latvia seceded from the [[Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1922–1991)|Soviet Union]] in 1991. As a result of the [[Bourgeoisie|bourgeois]] [[counterrevolution]], Latvia's poverty rate increased from 1% in the late 1980s to 22% in 1995.<ref>{{Citation|author=Branko Milanovic|year=1998|title=Income, Inequality, and Poverty during the Transition from Planned to Market Economy|chapter=Poverty|section=By How Much Has Poverty Increased?|page=68|pdf=https://web.archive.org/web/20210314180055/https://www.gc.cuny.edu/CUNY_GC/media/CUNY-Graduate-Center/PDF/Centers/LIS/Milanovic/papers/Income_ineq_poverty_book.pdf|city=Washington, D.C.|publisher=World Bank|isbn=082133994X}}</ref> In 1995, communist activist [[Alfrēds Rubiks]], was arrested and jailed. Latvia joined the European Union in 2004.<ref name=":0">{{Web citation|author=Gilbert Doctorow|newspaper=[[Monthly Review]]|title=Republic of Latvia, Apartheid State within the EU|date=2018-08-04|url=https://mronline.org/2018/08/04/republic-of-latvia-apartheid-state-within-the-eu/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804194315/https://mronline.org/2018/08/04/republic-of-latvia-apartheid-state-within-the-eu/|archive-date=2021-08-04|retrieved=2022-08-08}}</ref> | ||
== Anti-Russian discrimination == | == Anti-Russian discrimination == | ||
In 1992, Latvia passed a law revoking citizenship for more than half of its | In 1992, Latvia passed a law revoking citizenship for more than half of its Russian population. 300,000 people, or 15% of the total population, are not allowed to own land or work in law or banking. Despite a quarter of Latvia's population being Russians, the Russian language is not allowed in public schools,<ref name=":0" /> and people can be sent to prison for 3 to 25 years for speaking in favor of Russia.<ref>{{Web citation|author=Patricia Gorky|newspaper=[[Liberation News]]|title=East European governments pledge loyalty to U.S. war drive|date=2022-06-19|url=https://www.liberationnews.org/east-european-governments-pledge-loyalty-to-u-s-war-drive/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220630072432/https://www.liberationnews.org/east-european-governments-pledge-loyalty-to-u-s-war-drive/|archive-date=2022-06-30|retrieved=2022-08-08}}</ref> | ||
===Destruction of Soviet Monument=== | ===Destruction of Soviet Monument=== | ||
In 25 August 2022, the Latvian government destroyed the [[Monument to the Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga from the German Fascist Invaders|Victory Monument]] obelisk.<ref name="Demolition">{{News citation|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/demolition-of-soviet-victory-monument-in-riga.a470869|title=Demolition of Soviet Victory monument in Rīga |date=2022-08-25|publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]]|access-date=2022-08-25}}</ref><ref name="Demolition (3)">{{News citation|url=https://www.baltictimes.com/largest_soviet_monument_in_baltics_dismantled_in_riga/|title=Largest Soviet monument in Baltics dismantled in Riga|date=2022-08-26|newspaper=The Baltic Times|access-date=2022-08-26}}</ref> | In 25 August 2022, the Latvian government destroyed the [[Monument to the Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga from the German Fascist Invaders|Victory Monument]] obelisk.<ref name="Demolition">{{News citation|url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/demolition-of-soviet-victory-monument-in-riga.a470869|title=Demolition of Soviet Victory monument in Rīga |date=2022-08-25|publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]]|access-date=2022-08-25}}</ref><ref name="Demolition (3)">{{News citation|url=https://www.baltictimes.com/largest_soviet_monument_in_baltics_dismantled_in_riga/|title=Largest Soviet monument in Baltics dismantled in Riga|date=2022-08-26|newspaper=The Baltic Times|access-date=2022-08-26}}</ref> | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
[[Category:Countries]] | [[Category:Countries]] | ||
[[Category:Imperialist countries]] | |||
[[Category:Global north]] | [[Category:Global north]] | ||
[[Category:European countries]] | |||
<references /> | |||
[[Category:Apartheid states]] | |||
Latest revision as of 20:11, 29 October 2024
| Republic of Latvia Latvijas Republika Latvejas Republika Leţmō Vabāmō | |
|---|---|
 Flag
 Coat of arms
| |
 Latvia (dark green) in the European Union (light green) | |
| Capital and largest city | Riga |
| Official languages | Latvian |
| Recognized languages | Livonian Latgalian |
| Demonym(s) | Latvian |
| Government | Unitary parliamentary republic |
• President | Edgars Rinkēvičs |
• Prime Minister | Evika Siliņa |
• Speaker of the Saeima | Daiga Mieriņa |
| Legislature | Saeima |
| Area | |
• Total | 64,589 km² |
| Population | |
• 2022 estimate | 1,842,226 |
Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in the Baltic region of Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south and Russia to the east. Modern Latvia is an imperialist country with membership of the European Union and NATO. Latvia is currently ruled by an ethnonationalist bourgeois dictatorship and has outlawed celebrating the victory of the Allies in the Second World War.[1]
History[edit | edit source]
Early history[edit | edit source]
Like Estonia but unlike Lithuania, Latvia did not exist as an independent entity until the October Revolution. Between the 13th and 18th centuries, Germany, Poland, and Sweden controlled various parts of the region, and the ruling class consisted of German nobles. The Russian Empire gradually conquered Latvia between 1721 and 1795.[2]
Revolution and interwar period[edit | edit source]
The Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party was founded in 1904 and had 14,000 members by 1905. During the 1905 revolution, Latvia had a higher percentage of striking workers than any other part of the empire. Germany invaded Latvia in the spring of 1918 and overthrew the Soviets. The Red Army returned to Latvia in 1919 after the German defeat, beginning a civil war between communists and nationalists. Western-funded anti-communist forces defeated the Red Army in 1920, leading many Latvians to flee to Soviet Russia. A fascist dictatorship inspired by Mussolini's Italy took power in Latvia in 1934.[2]
Second World War and Soviet era[edit | edit source]
See main article: Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic (1940–1990)
The Red Army entered Latvia in 1939 to defend the Soviet Union from the oncoming German invasion. The Soviets removed the Latvian fascists from power and established a communist government that requested incorporation into the USSR. When the Nazis invaded in 1941, Latvia had less Nazi collaborators than the other Baltic states.[2]
Capitalist counterrevolution[edit | edit source]
Latvia seceded from the Soviet Union in 1991. As a result of the bourgeois counterrevolution, Latvia's poverty rate increased from 1% in the late 1980s to 22% in 1995.[3] In 1995, communist activist Alfrēds Rubiks, was arrested and jailed. Latvia joined the European Union in 2004.[4]
Anti-Russian discrimination[edit | edit source]
In 1992, Latvia passed a law revoking citizenship for more than half of its Russian population. 300,000 people, or 15% of the total population, are not allowed to own land or work in law or banking. Despite a quarter of Latvia's population being Russians, the Russian language is not allowed in public schools,[4] and people can be sent to prison for 3 to 25 years for speaking in favor of Russia.[5]
Destruction of Soviet Monument[edit | edit source]
In 25 August 2022, the Latvian government destroyed the Victory Monument obelisk.[6][7]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "EU state bans WW2 victory celebration" (2023-04-20). Azərbaycan24. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Albert Szymanski (1984). Human Rights in the Soviet Union: 'The European Nationalities in the USSR' (pp. 81–83). [PDF] London: Zed Books Ltd.. ISBN 0862320186 [LG]
- ↑ Branko Milanovic (1998). Income, Inequality, and Poverty during the Transition from Planned to Market Economy: 'Poverty; By How Much Has Poverty Increased?' (p. 68). [PDF] Washington, D.C.: World Bank. ISBN 082133994X
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Gilbert Doctorow (2018-08-04). "Republic of Latvia, Apartheid State within the EU" Monthly Review. Archived from the original on 2021-08-04. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
- ↑ Patricia Gorky (2022-06-19). "East European governments pledge loyalty to U.S. war drive" Liberation News. Archived from the original on 2022-06-30. Retrieved 2022-08-08.
- ↑ "Demolition of Soviet Victory monument in Rīga" (2022-08-25).
- ↑ "Largest Soviet monument in Baltics dismantled in Riga" (2022-08-26). The Baltic Times.