Latvia and its Russian Minority before and after EU Membership - Essay Example

Latvia and its Russian Minority Before and After EU Membership

After regaining its independence in 1991, the national policy of Latvia sought to create a Latvian nation with a more civic responsibility of enhancing Latvian citizenship, giving more privileges and benefits to the original inhabitants with their descendant’s first priority. The entry of various regional, and domestic level actors has influenced, legislation, direction of language, and citizenship in Latvia, which has ultimately affected the national life of the big lot of non-citizens. Policies that are fronted by European Union as necessary requirements for countries seeking membership have featured strongly in the quest by Latvia to join this important continental economy cum political body.EU has no provisions to enforce on its members on how to legislate issues to do with minority populations as a pre-requisite and thus, Copenhagen criteria was applied in Latvia’s case to warrant its accession. However, integration into the EU has necessitated Latvia to front legislation that will ensure progressive adjustment to seal loopholes necessary to ensure the protection of the minority populations. This essay will focus on the Russian minority in Latvia, citizenship hurdles and the involvement of the European Union influence in the reform of the citizenship laws to ensure the protection of the ethnic minority.

Latvian case is unique, bearing in mind that it hosts a large portion of ethnic Russians in its borders with other Baltic countries. The issue of registering minority Russians as citizens, who form 37.2 percent of the population and 17.8 of the whole citizenry, has been controversial. This challenge of a large immigrant population and struggle towards democratization couple with ambitions to join international organization has been transformed to a debate in the national discourse of this country .Many European union personalities reinstated the fact that, the organization was willing to absorb as many members as possible in Eastern Europe and Russia, but observance of the human rights and the constitutional rights of the minorities had to be obligatory and paramount to ensure full integration. Gunther Weiss an EU Ambassador stated that it was possible to have an accession to EU of Latvia despite Russia-Latvian relations and the emerging status of large number of non-citizens.

Ethnic homogeneity is evidently a desired end in Latvian`s nationalistic approach to its problems, but not a feasible option in the long run. On the other hand, heterogeneity may be desirable at this age, but is an option that is disliked by the radical nationalist. Government actions and the desire to have a country dominated politically, socially and economically by Latvians are impossible in light of the continental prefect, being the EU. Flexibility is evident in the legislative approach to address these issues from a civic perspective in nationalism but an ethnic bias poisons these efforts.

Latvian foreign policy was keen on ensuring that country was able to protect its independence and furthermore, make sure it was irreversible. This was to be achieved by being incorporated into the European system and taking part in the European global system. However, these ambitions were viewed from an ethnic bias lens, with soviet domination and intrigues of the wartime, forming a substantial basis of decision-making by the policy makers. A section of the nationalist with an aim to reclaim the position of a legitimate state by restoring the citizenry and the descendants of the immigrants, were bound to express their dissatisfactions in the legal space.

Restoration of full independence of the Baltic States in 1991 was followed by both legal and political problems. However, on 1997 the European Commission gave the assurances of full observation of the rights the minority Russian population in those areas. The striking ambiguity associated with this issue is the mere fact that a substantial population of the minority Russia speaking citizens had not been granted their voting rights in Latvia. Politics aside Latvia satisfied international threshold to belong to the European Union as per the requirements. Günter Verheugen, a commissioner of the EU tasked with the mandate of enlarging the organizations reach, held the view that Latvia has instilled proper social integration and more importantly, satisfied international standards with regard to ethnic minority.

The growth of democracy in the Baltic States has been evident in the recent past, with consciousness around ethnic minority and state-building forming the national conversation. A clear exploration of Latvia’s history, national life will be important in understanding the integration of aliens and the national perception of this ethnic minority. A national perception in Latvia is that the Russian speakers are immigrants, aliens, colonists and occupiers. This labeling is worth an academic research to establish a state devoid of historical misgivings among its populations. The laudable move by the state to enhance nationality by the nation of all people has proved a better option by Latvia government.

Attribution of citizenship in Baltic States has become an issue of contention, as the ethnic minority, the Russian speakers are judged from the lens of historical injustices of occupation by the Soviet. The occupation by Russia in 1940 and the eventual restoration of citizenship and independence in 1991 are important historical happenings that shape the national dialogue issues on granting citizenship to Aliens in Latvia. The Russification policy in the heydays, meant to spread Russian values and cultural heritage made immigrants to flock this country, a phenomenon that is evident today as traces of Soviet minority has caused social nationalism almost impossible.

Upon independence Latvia took an important step, to claim statehood and denouncing Russia`s occupation as illegal, clarifying the fact that it has never been part of USSR. This step in ensuring state continuity had no provisions for the recognition of citizenship. A legal limbo emerged on the status of the Russian immigrants and their descendants who were seen as invaders led a political dilemma. Latvia had to make outstanding political choices so as to integrate these populations of people that decided to settle in Latvia after independence. A national consensus was arrived at, originating from the argument that repulsing the immigrant population was a keen to reversing the country`s status quo, an option that is politically impossible. However, an interesting change that can be associated with globalization is the fact that Latvians have adopted European culture more than the Russian culture, a phenomenon that demolishes any hope of having full integration into Russia.The mere fact that people use their history to construct their national identity has been a major issue of nationalism in the Baltic States, more so, Latvia.

Discrimination of Russians in Latvia is evident all over, the main reason that their home government launched a propaganda campaign in an effort to ensure full integration and protection of their diaspora citizens .Important to note, is the fact that the country has reviewed its policies and laws on citizenship and efforts towards accommodating the immigrant population are visible in tis legal instruments.

The Citizenship regime in Latvia

Citizenship law in Latvia is based on the principle of continuity so as to include immigrants and their descendants, children residing in the territory whose parents are not known, naturalized persons etc. Latvia was under close watch by the international governmental bodies to ensure a smooth transition to the status an independent state devoid of external influence. Specifically the European Union made a request that naturalization of settlers who immigrated during the Soviet era.so as, to achieve social togetherness and seal the loopholes that will prevent foreign influence that breeds political instability. To accommodate these recommendations, its citizenship law was amended in 1998, followed by a referendum that gave window to allow citizenship for children born in Latvia, non-citizens and state-less person residing in this country. Another major issue that aroused political debates is about dual citizenship, which has caused suspicions among different citizens. A need for the liberalization of their dual citizen policy is a priority as pressure to institute in the laws piles up.

The rigid policy on double citizenship has been of distaste to Latvian citizens living in countries with EU membership. This has been necessitated by the increase in rates of emigration forcing the government to draft measures to encourage return-migration by its citizens that encompasses parliamentary legislations to loosen the laws on dual citizenship. The struggle to come up with a profound solution to the problems that are existent in Latvia has not been effective. Sections of the population feel marginalized and this may be a recipe for disaster in the future, with long-term political crisis being a possible outcome.

Latvian citizenship is bed rocked by assertions to reinstate the original occupants who settled in the country and their descendants as well as ensuring that other immigrants are integrated into the country. This has however, been a selective process which has raised eyebrows on the continued discrimination and undermining od the status of other immigrant populations in Latvia. The government has however bowed to international pressure, hence adopting curative policies to reduce the level of statelessness among the residents. Cognizant of the special state of this nation among the EU members and the need to ensure state continuity, naturalization and language learning were considered to be the foremost factors that will lead to the emergence of a national society. These integration efforts have not addressed the pertinent problem of a growing population of non-citizens. The large population of status-less people who have been denied political rights and economic rights by not holding public offices is considerable and thus needs hasty redress. The accession of this country into the EU has provoked debates that will indeed bring new developments to policies on citizenship. Major arguments divulge on solutions from the state legislators themselves to make law that are consistent with the European Convention on Nationality.

European Union and other international organizations as a source of external pressure

Latvian government resisted a lot of foreign pressure to institute significant changes its policy. This was portrayed in the public domain in the earlier rejection of their bid to join the EU. Organizations such as European Union and OSCE, influence, contributed to a lot of changes to Latvian`s national policy. However, these external organizations had different priorities and interest with regard to the rights of the minorities who are Russian immigrant population in Latvia. OSCE whose main interest had to with security associated nationalism among the ethnicities with conflicts persuaded the ethnic parties to front political compromises. Their main agenda as to solving disputes in this country was on reform and specifically liberalization. This organization can only encourage and assist states to conform to international standards but it has no mandate to impose sanctions to states in case they disagree.

Latvian relations with European Union can be traced in the organization`s interest non-citizen minority population that has ramifications on political and economic integration of a country. The standards of the Copenhagen criteria of 1993 were applied to aspiring European members, which ultimately applied in the Latvia’s case. These standards were sandwiched with OSCE nationality policy norms. The denial of membership to the union was the ultimate sanction that would be applied incase Latvia was resistant in adopting the recommended policy changes.

Latvia as a country applied to join the European Union, to the Council of Europe on September, 13, 1991.However, the nationality problems bedeviling the country led to its late accession. An opinion by the Parliamentary Assembly on the Council of Europe concluded that its bid to join the council was blocked by the country`s absence of a clear citizenship law and lack of legal recognition of non-citizens. Membership to this council was crucial to proceed to the full integration to the European Union. This was followed by numerous delegations from the Council to Latvia to ensure legislations that would open up doors to many people to be registered as citizens. Some of the Council suggestions were accepted by the authorities and in deed informed major steps towards changes to the citizenship laws. Recommendations on dual citizenship, children born as non-citizens, people declared nationless by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the soldiers from the former Soviet Union were acrimonious. Moreover, there was a strong argument that introduction of a citizenship law with lead to a harmonious co-existence between Latvians and non-Latvians.

New member states to the EU have a common feeling of being subjected to a system of rules that their enforcers are unwilling to apply in their own populations. These continental bodies have to fully support countries such Latvia to ensure that effort to protect ethnic minority bears fruit, otherwise it may turn to be an exercise in futility as it may transform to be a political agenda. Major advancement in protection of minority rights has been realized especially during the negotiations to get membership into the organizations. These gains maybe in vain if there is no follow up. This mainly the case because the commission loses influences to influence policy in this leading to slow progress in the implementation of recommendations. It is unlikely that countries like Latvia will put much emphasis and priority, especially when it is a pre-condition to joining EU.

Accession of countries into the international organizations has been helpful in fronting strategies of ensuring the strengthening minority groups rights. The different roles and agendas of various organizations have made creation of long-term minority groups’ policy an impossible undertaking. Again, the definition of minority among European community, in the environment of an ever changing political climate has made it difficult to achieve the intended goals.

Latvia joined European Union in 2004 after a decade of international criticism over its citizenship legislations. Confusion looms over some of the vague terms used in these laws. In the international jurisprudence there is a lot of difficulty in understanding the non-citizen concept with some people interpreting it to mean statelessness. Studies from various reports in this country have shown some level of dis-enfranchisement to the people with the status of non-citizens. However, there are no traces of tension of people with different legal statuses in the country. This can be as a result of the denial of the right to vote, as politics contributes immensely to protracted violence and when some people are political in the legal sense of the matter, their exclusion can lead to a level of calmness. An emergent phenomenon on the recent past is the Russia`s destructive propaganda that is meant to polarize the populations in Baltic states. Latvia must launch policies to ensure continued integration of the non-citizens and more so correct its ambiguous citizenship regime that has loopholes open for criticism.

Recent studies have revealed a worrying trend supporting the fact that Russian speakers are skeptical towards EU. Baltic Institute of Social Sciences sociological data shows that a large population of the ethnic Russians voted against accession on the referendum. This is in comparison to the Latvian population vote in support of the referendum that stood at 57%.Since the Ukraine crisis most Latvians has supported the idea of being close to EU and NATO, because they have a sense of security against Russia. Ethnic Russians contrary to the popular opinion, supported the Russia`s annexure on Crimea a precedence that can lead to future political havoc.

Interestingly, on 2013 there was a phenomenal amendment of the Latvian citizenship act, which in turn allowed emigrant Latvian nationals who had acquired another country`s citizenship to have dual citizenship. This dual citizenship law will apply to children of emigrants living abroad who wish to retain their citizenship. This new law, however, will not apply to all Latvians and their descendants, but to emigrants who have been naturalized by other European Union member states.

Another important amendment to the law, clarifies that dual citizenship will be extended to the citizens that freed the country as a result of the Nazi Germany, those that because of the occupation of the Soviet Union and individuals who were deported and did not go before May 4,1990,when Latvia got its independence from the Soviet Union. Significant changes in the Citizenship law in Latvia relate to a flexible procedure that will ensure that children belonging to non-citizens will be recognized as citizens. This act has elevated the status of children born by non-citizens after August, 21, 1991, if they have been permanent residents without acquiring citizenship from another state.

Perceptions of Latvia membership into the European Union among the ethnic populations

Research by an organization by the Humanitarian Dimension, claims that there are a lot of soft power influence witnessed in Baltic countries and especially in Latvia that has resulted to ethnic nationalism physically visible in the increased protects by protests by ethnic Russians. Russia is attempting entry into Latvia by using informational campaigns, educational, non-governmental organization and cultural instruments. Studies establish that these instruments are used in order to ensure that Russian populations in Latvia have positive attitudes towards their countries of origin thereby, serving its geopolitical interests. Russian foreign policy is directed towards reaching out to the compatriots as a natural priority that departed from their home country resulting from the fall of USSR. To reinforce these nationalism interests, notorious Russian leader Vladimir Putin has maintained that his country is committed to it culture and language in Latvia.

The main reason that has led to the opposition of EU is due to demography, as many people are living the country due to opening of borders, with negative birth rates that are bad news for the economy. The high poverty levels and unemployment that is associated with the Eurocrisis has induced negative criticism of joining this economic bloc. Another reason that has contributed to the opposition of European Union organization is the role of media in promoting pro-Russia content in Latvia. A big chunk of ethnic Russian populations consume Russian content that ultimately informs their world opinion against EU organization. After the Ukrainian crisis Latvian government has taken a precaution by censoring programs that are meant to undermine the local politics. This brainwashing by the foreign media can be destructive to creating a national culture that is based on Latvian tradition. Media is offering an alternative reality the government of Latvia will have to confront in the new age of hybrid wars.

In conclusion the Russian minority in Latvia has been confronted by nationalism and discrimination that has contributed to Russians being pushed away from Latvian nation project and European Union and into the arms of the Russian government. Latvians must chart their own path into the ever changing world conscious of their imperialistic neighbors. Membership into the EU also presents a new challenge among its population which must feature in polices on citizenship into the future. No matter the political path they take, they must be cautious not to divide the country.