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 Latvia |  Russia |
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Latvia–Russia relations are thebilateralforeign relations betweenLatvia andRussia. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on 11 August 1920 after theLatvian War of Independence ended in Latvian victory with Russia recognizing Latvian's sovereignty and renounced any and all territorial claims on Latvia. Over the century, the countries had complex and difficult relationship. The modern-day relations have been strained and mostly unfriendly.
Latvia has anembassy in Moscow,[1] and the Russia has an embassy inRiga. Both Russia and Latvia are members ofUN andOSCE.
After2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Latvia downgraded the diplomatic relations and expelled the Russian ambassador in January 2023.
From 1920 to 1940, relations between the countries had existed. On August 11, 1920, the Republic of Latvia and theRussian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic signed a peace treaty. Article 14 of the Treaty provided for the establishment of diplomatic and consular contacts between the parties upon ratification of the peace treaty.[2] In 1922 the USSR was founded, which took over the foreign affairs of its member states (including Russia).
The Latvian Embassy was located inMoscow from 1920 to 1940. Latvia's first diplomatic representative in Soviet Russia was AmbassadorJānis Vesmanis, who was accredited on 2 November 1920. Latvian consular representations were established during the Civil War period (1919–1920) inBlagoveshchensk andMurmansk. Consular functions were also performed by representatives of theLatvian Interim Government: inNorthern Russia byAlfreds Ikners (Arkhangelsk), in Southern Russia byKristaps Bahmanis (Kyiv) and Rūdolfs Liepiņš (Don andKuban). From June 1919 to October 1920, Latvia was also represented inSiberia and the Urals byJānis Mazpolis (Vladivostok).[2]
TheSoviet occupation of Latvia in 1940, which included deportations to SiberianGulags (June deportation), created a large degradation of Latvian-Russian relations.Nazi Germany then occupied Latvia in 1941German occupation of Latvia during World War II, untilthe USSR returned in 1944 to resume occupation, resulting infurther deportations. During this period many Latvians fled with the retreating Germans or toSweden. During the occupation, the Latvian diplomatic service continued its work in exile.[3]
TheSoviet occupation dramatically increased the number of Russians living in Latvia in a short space of time, often replacing those who were deported, executed or had fled. The high influx of Russians and the removal of Latvian as the official language caused further deterioration in the Latvia-Russian relations between citizens.[citation needed]
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In 1991, Latvia regained independence from the USSR through theLatvian independence and democracy poll, 1991. In 2007, theborder treaty between the two states was ratified after Latvia dropped a claim for a small pre-World War II territory that's currently part of modern Russia.[4] While speaking at the Latvia-Russia Business Forum inSt. Petersburg, PresidentValdis Zatlers spoke in favor of a visa free regime between the EU and Russia. In an interview with Latvian newspaperSegodnya, President Andris Berzins stated that the "reality is that Russia is our neighbor, and we need to look for ways to develop good neighborly relations between our two countries no matter what".[5] On December 13, 2018, Latvian parliament adopted a declaration condemning the aggressive actions of Russia in theKerch Strait incident.[6]
Following thedissolution of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation maintained its military presence in Latvia. It had troops stationed there and it continued to run theSkrunda-1 radar station. As early as 1992[7] Russia agreed to start withdrawing its troops from Latvia. Following a 30 April 1994 agreement, Latvia allowed Russia to run the Skrunda-1 radar station for four more years in exchange for the full withdrawal of the Russian troops.[8] Russia adhered to this agreement and withdrew its remaining troops from Latvia in August 1994 (except for the troops stationed around Skrunda, who received permission to stay longer). One of the towers of the Skrunda-1 base was demolished with the help of the United States in May 1995.[9] In August 1998, Skrunda-1 suspended operations. Russia eventually dismantled the equipment and withdrew its remaining military personnel the following year.[10] These steps marked a symbolic end to the Russian military presence andWorld War II on the territory of Latvia.[11]
PresidentValdis Zatlers attended theMoscow Victory Day Parade onRed Square on 9 May 2010, attending the 65th VE Day celebrations.[citation needed] PresidentVaira Vīķe-Freiberga previously had attended the60th anniversary event in 2005.[12] In December 2010, Zatlers made his firststate visit toMoscow, with the four-day visit including talks with Russian PresidentDmitry Medvedev, as well as Prime MinisterVladimir Putin,[13]Moscow MayorYuri Luzhkov andPatriarch Kirill of Moscow.[14][15] The following year,Kremlin Chief of StaffSergei Naryshkin made a working visit to Latvia.[16]
In early 2014, Latvian PresidentAndris Berzins visitedSochi to attend the2014 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, where he had a five-minute conversation with Putin.[17][18][19]
However, theRussian occupation of Crimea and theWar in Donbas urged Latvia to support Ukraine and implementsanctions against Russia imposed by the EU.[20] On June 5, 2015, Russian government "temporarily" banned Latvian and Estonian canned fish products citing "health" concerns. Half of the countries' exports share accounted for Russia.[21] In March 2015, Latvian MEPSandra Kalniete and Speaker of the Polish SenateBogdan Borusewicz were both denied entry into Russia under the existing sanctions regime, and were thus unable to attend the funeral of murdered opposition politicianBoris Nemtsov.[22]
President of LatviaEgils Levits strongly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, calling for "all possible support, including weapons" to Ukraine and "the harshest possible sanctions" against Russia.[23]
Latvia, as one of the EU countries, imposed sanctions on Russia shortly after the invasion started, in response, Russia added all EU countries to the list of "unfriendly nations".[24] Latvia joined other countries in spring 2022 indeclaring a number of Russian diplomatspersona non grata.
Russian state broadcasting TV stations were banned in Latvia in March 2022.[25]
On 11 August 2022 the LatvianSaeima designated Russia astate sponsor of terrorism[26] and in September 2022, Latvia, along withPoland,Lithuania andEstonia decided to close entry for Russian citizens withSchengen visas, including those issued by third countries.[27]
In January 2023 Latvia, in support of Estonia, withdrew its ambassador from Russia and expelled Russia's ambassador to Latvia in a permanent downgrading of diplomatic ties. Russia called the action “Russophobia”.[28]
As a continuing rejection of the Russian language, in 2023 Latvia imposed a requirement for an estimated 20,000 citizens who hold a Russian passport and no Latvian documents, to pass a Latvian language test and prove their loyalty, or face deportation in 2024 if they fail and do not leave voluntarily.[29] In August it was announced that over 5,000 citizens had refused to take the language test or apply for a temporary residence permit and were likely to be asked to leave in September.[30]
The ban on entry of Russian citizens to Latvia was extended to March 2024 and Latvia ceased issuing any visas to Russians, even for humanitarian reasons in June 2023.[31]
In January 2024 Russia terminated the tax treaty between the two nations.[32]
In 2021 Russia exported $3.52 billion of goods to Latvia with refined oil products as the main item. Latvia exports were valued at $1.38 billion with alcoholic drinks topping the trade. Between 1995 and 2021 Russian exports grew at an average of 9.07% p.a. with Latvia exports growing at 5.77% p.a. in the same period.[33]
Russian exports have fallen following Latvian decisions and the EU sanctions over Russia, as a result of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russia often criticizes Latvia for discrimination against the Russian-speaking population[34][35][36][37][38] and has also participated in a number of cases of complaints against Latvia in theEuropean Court of Human Rights as a third party. These cases also dealt with the violation of the rights of the Russian minority in Latvia. Such cases includedSlivenko v. Latvia,Kononov v. Latvia,Vikulov and others v. Latvia,[39]Sisojeva And Others v Latvia, andVasilevskiy v. Latvia.
In April 2004 Latvia expelled Second Secretary of the Russian Embassy in Rīga Pyotr Uzhumov, who had allegedly been trying to gather information on Latvia's defence forces, for activities "incompatible with his diplomatic status" to which Russia responded by expelling first secretary of the Latvian Embassy in Moscow.[40]
In March 2018 for activities not consistent with their duties and in solidarity with theUnited Kingdom's response to thepoisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal Latvia expelled a second secretary rank Russian diplomat within the Russian embassy in Rīga.[41] Russia responded by expelling a Latvian diplomat from Russia.[42]
In late May 2018 a former employee ofLatvian Railways was sentenced to 18 months in prison and 60 hours of community service for espionage. The man had filmed trains carrying NATO equipment and sent the videos to a contact in Russia'sKaliningrad Oblast.[43] In August 2018 a farmer inAlūksne Municipality was given a three-year suspended sentence for collecting open-source information near the Latvian-Russian border at an alleged request of Russian authorities that was classified as espionage.[44]
On the night to May 30, 2014petards andsmoke grenades were thrown at the Latvian general consulate in St. Petersburg by members ofThe Other Russia party, who set up aUSSR flag on thefaçade of the building, distributedpamphlets and demanded release of their party memberBeness Aijo that was detained for incitement to violently overthrow the government of Latvia and change the political system, as well as to liquidate Latvia's national independence.[45][46] On July 13, 2015, the Latvian consulate in St. Petersburg was once again attacked by members of The Other Russia who threw smoke bombs and eggs at the consulate and distributed flyers, with one activist detained and charged for 'petty hooliganism'.[42]
On the evening ofVictory Day on May 9, 2018smoke grenades andflares were thrown at the Embassy of Latvia in Moscow and two people were detained.[47] The next day theMinistry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia presented adiplomatic note to the Russian authorities, demanded it "to take all precautionary measures to prevent such attacks and to punish the perpetrators" and "ensure repair of the damage", emphasizing that "this is not the first case when the security of the Latvian diplomatic mission in Russia has been exposed to risks".[48]
While some agreements have been signed by representatives of Latvia and Russia, not all have been passed by their respective legislatures and are therefore not in force. This list is limited to agreements in force.[49]
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