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Country Profile : LATVIA
About the Republic of Latvia Located in between Estonia and Lithuania, modern Latvians can trace their ancestors back to Finno-Ugric hunters and Balts who inhabited the region at about 3000-2000 BC, although 30% of the modern population are of Russian descent. Forced into accepting Christianity in the 13th century, by the Knights of the Sword (Livonian Order) and displacing the nature religions of the local tribes people, Latvians have had little true independence until recent years. Latvian History Under foreign control from the 13th to the 20th century, which included Swedish rule from the 16th Century, during which time Latvian serfs were liberated and universal education made widely available. During WW1, Latvia was under German dominance, achieving a brief period of independence between the two World Wars. By 1939, following a Nazi-Stalinist pact, Latvia was in the hands of the Soviets during which time 35,000 Latvians were either killed, deported or had fled as a result of Soviet purges. Following this terrible time, many Latvians welcomed the arrival of the Nazis in 1941 as liberators and joined up with German military units. The ensuing period of Nazism saw Latvia’s 90,000 strong Jewish population almost completely wiped out. As the Soviets returned in 1944, large numbers of Latvians fled to the West, whilst a further 175,000 were to be killed or deported by the Soviets during that decade. Latvia’s total loss of people during WW2 is estimated at around 450,000. Latvia remained under Soviet control for several decades, when following mass demands for self rule in 1988, the government itself began joining in with people rallies and demonstrations calling for secession from the severely weakened USSR. Nationalist parties gained control and by 1991 following a referendum, Latvia declared independence. Latvia joined NATO in March 2004 and the EU in May 2004. Economy of Latvia During the period of Soviet annexation, large amounts of Russians moved to Latvia to assist in the industrialisation of this predominantly agricultural and seafaring nation. The rights of these ethnic Russians, numbering about one third of the population remain of concern to Russia. Latvia has now shifted its economic focus away from Russia towards other EU countries and continued privatisation plans in its efforts to fulfil the economic requirements of EU membership. |
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