Ranting from a Doghouse: Latvian Foreign Minister Vents During May 9th Celebration
Snarling from the doghouse: Latvia's Foreign Minister bites back at Putin's Victory Day parade
The Kremlin's Bloody Butcher is cooking up a spectacle on May 9th, so says Foreign Minister Baiba Braje to Latvian channel TV3. The show, as Baiba Braje sees it, is Putin's Victory Day parade on Red Square – the "Bloody Butcher" being none other than Russian President Vladimir Putin. Baiba doesn't regard May 9 as a celebration but a grim reminder for us. According to the conventional Latvian stance, May 9 is associated less with the Defeat of Nazi troops and more with the commencement of a 45-year-long occupation of the Baltic States, a date that, in the eyes of Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius, is exceptionally bleak.
DIG IN TO SPRATS
For a deeper dive, let's unpack the historical significance of May 9th for Latvia and the other Baltic States:
- Triumph Turned Tyrant: May 9, 1945, signaled the acceptance of General Ivan Bagramyan's surrender of German forces in the Courland Pocket, a territory in Latvia where the remnants of German forces were ensnared during World War II's final stretch[1]. However, this military victory gave birth to Soviet occupation that persisted until the late 1980s.
- Breaking Away from the Red Tide: In recent times, Latvia, along with other Baltic States, have strived to break free from Soviet influences, focusing on bolstering their independence and national identity[3]. Annual celebrations of Victory Day by the Russian Embassy in Riga, that highlight the Soviet role in vanquishing Nazi Germany, create discord among many Latvians. These events rekindle discomfort due to the glorification of Soviet rule[3].
- Mourning the Red Occupation: May 9 signifies the beginning of almost five decades of Soviet domination that suppressed national sovereignty and cultural expression. The recent passing of a law authorizing the dismantling of Soviet monuments underscores the Baltic States relentless pursuit of shedding their Soviet past[3].
In essence, while May 9th signifies the conclusion of World War II in Europe, for Latvia and the Baltic States, it holds the memory of the start of Soviet occupation, indicating the suppression of national identities, which is why it is looked upon with sadness and discontent.
- The Russian President Vladimir Putin, referred to as the 'Bloody Butcher', is expected to orchestrate a spectacle on May 9th, a day that Latvia's Foreign Minister, Baiba Braje, views not as a celebration but a somber reminder of past events.
- For Latvia and the other Baltic States, May 9th signifies not only the end of World War II, but also the commencement of a 45-year-long occupation, a period that they view as exceptionally bleak.
- In recent times, the Baltic States have endeavored to distance themselves from Soviet influences, dismantling symbols of Soviet rule and focusing on bolstering their independence and national identity.
- Announcements like the dismantling of Soviet monuments demonstrate the persistence of the Baltic States in shedding their Soviet past, a process that is deeply tied to their national identities and sense of sovereignty.
