Latvia: the politics of "ethnic cleansing"
by Vera Butler In numerous countries which had been under Nazi occupation during World War II, notably France, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and the Soviet Union, collaborators were brought to account at war's end. The trials of Barbie, Dr Mengele, and Papon in France are more recent examples. Yet post- Soviet Latvia appears intent on turning the tables — retired Soviet combatants are now singled out for revenge by the new proto-fascist leadership. Recent sentences meted out by Latvian courts to Soviet war veterans raise concerns that the fascist tradition of the 1930s is reasserting itself. An 86-year-old veteran of World War II, Vasili Kononov, has been sentenced by a Latvian court to a harsh six-year prison term for alleged "war crimes". In 1941 Kononov had joined the partisans, who inflicted considerable losses on Nazi armies and their collaborators throughout German-occupied territories, including the Baltic states. Another war veteran, 84-year-old Mikhail Farbtuch, a former Soviet prosecutor, was carried on a stretcher from his flat to prison, where the incapacitated man was to commence a five year prison term. In both cases the accusations pivoted around a new legal concept: "Genocide of the Latvian people". Would members of Britain's Bomber Command stand accused of having committed genocide of German civilians, when bombing Wuppertal, Hamburg, or Dresden ? If memories have to be refreshed in Riga, the enemy was Nazi Germany, not the Soviet Union, the wartime ally whose contribution to the defeat of the Wehrmacht is beyond dispute. Yes, there was no mercy for collaborators with Hitler's hordes, whose treachery cost the lives of combattants in the front line. Moreover, members of the Latvian SS Division "Daugavas vanagi" (Falcons of the Dvina River) were responsible for the brutal murders of Latvian citizens of Jewish, Gypsy, or Russian origin, and Soviet prisoners of war, in concentration camps such as Salaspils, near Riga. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Farbtuch had acted in accordance with the laws of the Soviet Union, and that he — an individual — was now being made the victim of "historical revanchism", directed against Soviet rule in the Baltic, from 1940 to 1991. However, the Farbtuch case is not an isolated one; more prosecutions are listed in Latvian courts. The sentences are indicative of a sharp turn to the right by the government of Prime Minister Andris Berzins. Yet as anti-fascists are sent to prison, the so-called "Association of Latvian Warriors" — veterans of the Latvian Waffen-SS — organise commemmorative marches through the capital, Riga. They are receiving German war pensions, which allow for a comfortable life in poverty-stricken post- Soviet Latvia. In the eyes of Allied war veterans who have survived the campaigns against Hitler's hordes in North Africa, Italy, and on the beaches of Normandy, this is a disturbing turn of events. The reaction of Red Army veterans is no different. Will the current ultra-nationalist Latvian leadership get away with its revanchist policies and be deemed fit to become a member of the European Union ? Fishing in murky waters Recent Russian press reports draw attention to Latvian practices involving various degrees of intimidation against ethnic Russians active in their communities as journalists, teachers, or youth leaders. They are harrassed by the security services, are interrogated without reasons given, have their flats or offices ransacked. In late August 2000 the Latvian cabinet ratified rules applying to the law of the "national language". Command of Latvian is a pre-condition for granting citizenship to Russian speakers, even if born in Latvia, and including people who have lived and worked there for half a century. The first hurdle is the need to learn the Latin alphabet, as Latvian is not written in cyrillics, as is Russian. Secondly, Latvian — an ancient Indo-European language — is complex and difficult to learn. An examination system checks not only oral and written language proficiency, but also knowledge of Latvian history. The elderly and working people, men or women, have great difficulties to cope. Language now becomes, de facto, a bureaucratic device for implementing an exclusionist policy against minorities. Meanwhile non-citizens are exposed to various forms of discrimination, notably exclusion from certain occupations(lawyers, pharmacists, firefighters, airline crews), denial of the right to vote or stand for election., or entitlement to unemployment benefits. Moreover, Latvian will be the only means of communication in government departments and courts of law, and although individuals will have the right to use interpreters, these would have to be hired at private expense. In March 1998, Latvian truncheon-wielding police dispersed a mass demonstration of Russian residents, protesting in front of the Latvian parliament against the punitive nature of the envisaged language laws. Their concerns were justified: by 2003/2004 all Russian language state schools are to be changed over to Latvian as the teaching language. These oppressive policies are calculated to create intolerable living conditions for a substantial national minority. Their effect is tantamount to "ethnic cleansing". The current situation in Latvia is especially deplorable, considering that for many decades the various ethnic groups lived peacefully side-by-side, intermarried, and had equal rights as Soviet citizens to study, work or travel throughout the Union. Today Russians, Ukrainians, Byelorussians, and Georgians are denigrated as "occupants" and told to "go home". It needs stressing that by far not all Latvians take a hostile attitude to their Russian-speaking neighbours or workmates, or approve of the exclusion of the Russian language from the education system, where it remains a source of learning in the absence of Latvian translations of scientific and technical literature. The politics of "ethnic cleansing" is very much imposed from above and seeks to twist a multicultural community with a long historical tradition into the introvert confines of monoculturalism. Will the revival of a proto-fascist philosophy preclude membership of the European Union? Out of step with EU The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union stipulates that "everyone is equal before the law" (Art.20), and "Any discrimination based on any ground such as sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership of a national minority, property, birth, disability, age, or sexual orientation, shall be prohibited." (Art.21) The Charter further states that "the Union shall respect cultural, religious, and linguistic diversity." (Art.22). The European Commission's position on "Countering Racism, Xenophobia, and Anti-Semitism in the Candidate Countries", of May 26, 1999, is outlined in Art.14 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms: "The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any grounds such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status." According to European Commission data of mid-1997, minorities in Latvia accounted for nearly 44% of the population, including 30% Russians, 4% Byelorussians and 3% Ukrainians. It is noted that Latvians are in a minority in seven of the country's eight largest towns. Within the 44% of non-Latvians, 28% or some 685,000 people do not have Latvian citizenship. Manifestly there are serious discrepancies between the Commission's focus on formal Latvian government policies and legal provisions on the one hand, and their implementations in practice, on the other. Already back in 1995 the European Union requested changes in the first set of Latvian language requirements for citizenship. This resulted in some cosmetic adjustments which did not change the fundamental policy direction. The practice of systematic abuse of the non-Latvian community, including intimidation and curtailment of language rights, is so blatant that it can hardly escape the notice of EU observers who monitor Latvia's formal compliance with EU guidelines. The question arises whether, in fact, the European Union is averse to current xenophobic policies and practices in Latvia, considering that their end-effect must be a substantial reduction of the Russian ethnic presence on a "voluntary" basis. Are there concerns that a demographic link reinforces the Russian Federation's geopolitical and strategic claims to a presence in the Baltic region? A reduction of non-Latvians would markedly strengthen the core population's claims to dominance. Both the OSCE and NATO consider such an outcome propitious to Western interests, should territorial contests arise in future. The principles of human rights and multiculturalism may well come secondary to overarching strategic interests. Does history repeat itself? When the newly constituted Baltic nations — Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania — were granted independence at the Versailles conference, in 1918, they became part of Clemenceau's ill-famed "cordon sanitaire" against revolutionary Russia. Although the post-Soviet Russian Federation today stands by the concept of voluntary association (of the kind which has developed with Byelorussia), it remains a formidable military power and an important trading partner with the Baltic region. No doubt the EU, OSCE, and NATO are conscious of the fact that the Baltic states were part of the Soviet Union from 1940 to 1991, and Western advances are being interpreted as hostile acts by sections of Russia's military. A change of government in Moscow might be less accommodating than was Yeltsin, or than President Putin is at present. Seen in this context, ethno-chauvinistic policies which reduce a Russian presence in the Baltic might well be condoned and might not stand in the way of Latvia's speedy admission to the EU. Without some tacit understanding with Brussels, it is difficult to see that Latvian governments would risk delaying membership by overtly contravening EU principles and guidelines for multicultural policies, as they do at present. Policy developments, and in particular the foreshadowed elimination of the Russian language from the school system, will challenge the European Commission's determination to uphold its principles in the face of political expediency. In this context it is noteworthy that the OSCE has spared no efforts convincing the Macedonian government to have Albanian recognised as an official language, to accommodate the wishes of 30% of its population. Within the European Union Belgium ensures language equality for its Flemish citizens and the French-speaking Vallons. Perhaps the classic example of multiculturalism is Switzerland, where German, French and Italian have equal language rights. Latvia, it seems, has still a lot to learn. Under the German occupation 1941 — 1944 Latvian allegiances were divided between supporters of the Soviet and Allied war effort, and those who joined the Nazi juggernaut and turned executioners of "undesirable" Latvian citizens, primarily Jews, Gypsies, communists, but also Soviet prisoners of war, at the notorious Salaspils concentration camp where inmates were tortured, executed, or died of malnutrition. Today they cannot testify in their own cause, but their tragic fate should serve as a warning against the resurgence of ethno-chauvinism, the precursor of fascism. Ultimately it seems largely irrelevant to engage in slinging matches, or dig up a past which can only exacerbate the current controversy. What matters is the future of all people inhabiting a country rich in history and cultural heritage, to which many ethnic groups contributed over the centuries. Whatever the political orientation of post-Soviet Latvian governments, Russia remains a neighbour, and Latvia might consider following the Finnish example of extensive economic and cultural cooperation with Russia, to mutual benefit. No doubt this will be the course taken by a new generation, unencumbered by memories and old hatreds.* * * Australian International Studies Association.