Thread: Regarding Russian in the Baltic States

Originally Posted by Eric C.

So, you're Russian, but don't pretty much like Moscow, right? =)

PS. I'm NOT getting personal, just curious.

You seem not the one who can understand such kind of things.
I'm Russian and I feel the same way to Moscow as normal Englishmen to London when it's flooded by foreign people with different culture.

During the Soviet period there were very many migrations. That's why in Latvia as well as in any other part of the Soviet Union there were many new people and many people left Latvia. It was very unfair not to give the citizenship even to the third generation automatically.

that were intentionally sent to Latvia by totallitarian occupying power to weaken and oppress our country.

They were invited by Latvian government in order to help Latvia to build its economy. They all worked, built a lot of things in Latvia, they've always paid taxes. After 1991 they were discriminated during privatization, there were more unemployed among them.

They were invited by Latvian government in order to help Latvia to build its economy

Yes - and Red army liberated us in WW2.
This "Latvian government" was just Kremlin puppets and could not do anything that Moscow did not like - otherwise - death sentence (under Stalin), imprisonment or if you were lucky - you got fired and replaced by person that was loyal to occupants.

This "Latvian government" was just Kremlin puppets and could not do anything that Moscow did not like - otherwise - death sentence (under Stalin), imprisonment or if you were lucky - you got fired and replaced by person that was loyal to occupants.

Modern Latvian government are American puppets.

Originally Posted by Marcus

Modern Latvian government are American puppets.

Oh c'mon, why are there so many Russians wishing to start back the cold war?

Modern Latvian government are American puppets.

Last time Latvia declared neutrality - it got 50 years long occupation.
So this time Baltic states chose to be part of NATO military alliance.

Oh c'mon, why are there so many Russians wishing to start back the cold war?

Because it is benefical for Russia's rulers to say that there are only enemies around Russia.

Originally Posted by Marcus

Modern Latvian government are American puppets.

You seem hypocritical, you want Central Asians to be Kremlin puppets but mind Baltics to be American.

Because it is benefical for Russia's rulers to say that there are only enemies around Russia.

They don't say like that.

Yes Hanna - it is hypocritical that you do not like Somalis and afghans which your democratically elected government allowed in your country.
But you do not have anything against people that were intentionally sent to Latvia by totallitarian occupying power to weaken and oppress our country.

Call me a racist if you want, but yes - I would happily switch 1 Somali for 5 Russians in my country because the Russians could fit and have a lot more in common with the rest of the population and could contribute more to the economy. In fact, there are quite a lot of Russians around, judging from how oftern I hear it spoken in Stockholm. We are all Europeans, I don't see a problem, it's the same as with the intra EU migration.

As for people getting apartments from the queue, yes - I would get one in 7 years with my queue current position..... While the immigrants jump straight to the front of the queue, particularly if they have more children than they can afford... My grandparents worked to build up this system which now benefits mostly immigrants.
Oh well!!!! Fortunately I can afford to buy a flat soon, if I stay here, but not everyone is so lucky.

As for what happened or not after the 2nd world war - it is not for me to say.

Personally I think that the Red Army should have withdrawn from the Baltic States, or held a referendum to check what people wanted. But as we all know, referendums were neither recommended by the ideology.... neither was it Stalin's style.... And all this was 65 years ago. Time to move on....

Croc - positive discrimination for some jobs, lowering the requirements so ethnic minorities can become policemen or firemen etc. Immigrants jumping to the front of the queue for state apartments because they are somehow more worthy than the citizens of the actual country in question. These types of things create resentment. Not sure if Canada does that but it happens a fair bit around Europe.

В Латвии Деда Мороза оштрафовали за дискриминацию государственного языка

Организаторы праздника с участием Деда Мороза из Великого Устюга были оштрафованы за дискриминацию государственного языка.

В Латвии Деда Мороза оштрафовали за дискриминацию государственного языка | Европа | Deutsche Welle | 03.01.2012

Actually I think that Nulle has some good points regarding Latvia during the Soviet times.
I mean, the bit about Russians getting superior housing in Latvia, and some cultural or language insensitivites.

But: That was over 20 years ago and this is a forum about Russian language and culture primarily. Russians during this period did not treat Latvia any worse than it treated Russia itself. Let's move on.

But there is certainly no confusion regarding what the Baltic people think about having been part of the USSR and nobody will leave this forum with any doubt about that...

And I want to mention that I've actually made a new friend who happens to be Latvian (but she speaks Swedish too). I told her about my interest in Russian language and she offered to help. She said that she is really glad she can speak Russian because it's really helpful in her life. She also said she doesn't blame modern Russia or Russian people for things that happened 50 years ago.

Организаторы праздника с участием Деда Мороза из Великого Устюга были оштрафованы за дискриминацию государственного языка.

Yes - I heard about this.
Sometimes National Language Center goes too far - this was a pretty stupid decision...

Russians during this period did not treat Latvia any worse than it treated Russia itself.

The problem is with people like this one:
TV5: Krievu fašists par latviešu valodu - YouTube

Who still think that Latvian independence is some kind of historical error and want USSR and their privileges back.

she doesn't blame modern Russia or Russian people for things that happened 50 years ago.

I also do not blame them - except those who think that Stalin and what he did was right.

I mean, the bit about Russians getting superior housing in Latvia, and some cultural or language insensitivites.

And what did this superiority consist of? What made Russians superior over Latvians?

Immigrants from Soviet Union did not need to learn local languages - Russian was enough and only Latvians needed to know both.
Also as I said - immigrants got apartments outside of normal queue.
Soviet ideology was basically the same as in Nazi Germany.
Only "master race" were Russians not Germans.

Originally Posted by nulle

...Soviet ideology was basically the same as in Nazi Germany.
Only "master race" were Russians not Germans.

It's not true basically, but you entitled to your opinion.

Originally Posted by nulle

Soviet ideology was basically the same as in Nazi Germany.

Not the same, otherwise the Baltics wouldn't stll worship the German SS.

20100226110101.jpg

Immigrants from Soviet Union did not need to learn local languages - Russian was enough and only Latvians needed to know both.

Latvians could understand Russians, while Russians did not understand Latvians - Latvians had an advantage!

It's not true basically, but you entitled to your opinion.

Maybe in Russia it was not true (russian speakers were "master race" after all).
But in occupied territories it was like that.
Soviet long term goal was to make russian speaking "soviet nation".
And looks like they already succeeded in Belarus.

Mishau - what does http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuperjanov_Battalion have to do with nazis?