Urban violence watch: Riga, Latvia on March 16

The annual march of the veterans of the Latvian Legion, a Waffen SS unit which fought against the Soviet Union in World War II, will take place tomorrow in Riga, the capital of Latvia.

Several dozen ethnic Russians were arrested while protesting last year's march. The march has been a troublesome rite of spring in Latvia since 1992.

Last month Riga Mayor Aivars Aksenoks warned of unspecified "terror acts" that may disrupt tomorrow's march.

The distinction between good and evil was very murky in Latvia during World War II. Latvia and the other Baltic States, Estonia and Lithuania, enjoyed a standard of living that was among the highest in Europe--until the Soviet Union took invaded in 1940. After a year of brutal repression, the Nazi army routed the Soviets from Latvia.

The Nazis in turn--with Latvian help--almost completely exterminated the Jewish population there during the three years of German occupation. In 1944, the Soviet Union recaptured Latvia, and it remained part of the Soviet Union until 1991.

March 16, 1943 marks the day the Latvian unit first saw action against the Red Army.

The annual controversy over the legionnaires' march is a perfect metaphor for the strife within contemporary Latvia. Ethnic Latvians make up only 57% of Latvia; Russians make up the second largest ethnic bloc, consisting of about 30% of the population. Before the Second World War, independent Latvia was 75% Latvian. Deportations to Gulags and emigration of Latvians, followed by Russian migration into Latvia, came close to achieving the Soviet goal of having Latvians become a minority within Latvia.

Relations between the Russian Federation and Latvia are tense. Russian residents of Latvia for the most part are not citizens of Latvia--passing a stringent Latvian language proficiency test is the main stumbling bloc in allowing Russians to achieve citizenship.

Also, the ability to speak Latvian is a requirement for all public sector, and many private sector jobs.

Consequently, Russians claim widespread discrimination in Latvia.

As for the other side of the disagreement, the Latvian government is asking from Moscow acknowledgement that the 1940 Soviet invasion of Latvia was illegal. Two generations of Latvians were taught in Soviet schools that Latvia "invited" the Red Army in their nation, and they "requested" to join the Soviet Union.

Just as the potato famine is the defining tragedy of Ireland, the Soviet invasion and the repression that followed serves the same role among Latvians.

There is also a border dispute between Latvia and Russia. The Abrene region, which is northeast of Latvia, was part of the pre-1940 nation. Very few Latvians live in Abrene, it's likely that the Latvian government is using the region as a bargaining chip to in negotiations with the Russian Federation.

And tomorrow the Latvian Legion march in Riga will take place.

Or if you prefer, tension on parade. Or perhaps worse.

Technorati tags: Latvia Latvija Russian Russia World War II