Questioned loyalties, mixed attachments: What future for the Russian minority in Latvia?

• In Event: The Baltic Russophone Identity in Flux: Political Behavior, Boundary Making, and Media Practices

Abstract

As Russians in Latvia are increasingly securitized and their loyalty to the country questioned, surveys show that they overwhelmingly consider themselves to be Latvian patriots. Majority feel attached to Latvia and do not identify with Russia at all. At the same time, their criticism of Latvian authorities and policies implemented after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is often interpreted as a sign of disloyalty and pondering to the Kremlin narratives. This enhances further othering of Russian-speakers. By drawing on survey data, this paper explores the risks of stigmatizing the Russophone minority at the backdrop of Russia’s invasion and changing discourse of national belonging. The paper insists that within the major ethnic communities in Latvia the struggle between civic and ethnic nationalism can be observed, with the latter often taking the upper hand.

Author

• Inta Mieriņa, University of Latvia