EDIT: Here is this video I mentioned below - ua-cam.com/video/7tzX2CFPpoY/v-deo.html I saw quite a few of you here pointed out that we failed to tell that Poland was not occupied SOLELY by the Germany back then but also by USSR. Well, firstly, we did show @ 2:54 that Soviet troops GOT STATIONED forcefully in Poland as well. We didn't dig deeper and didn't show a more clear picture because the focus of this video is on *the Baltic states* (Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia). If you've already started typing ferociously something along the lines of _"You've completely ignored the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, learn some history noob!"_ ... Fret not. One of the next videos will be exactly on the topic of how Stalin and Hitler were dividing Poland.
I think I don't need to remind about secret annex of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact? Russian actions were not against Nazi Germany, they were accordion to alliance with them. Alliance against the West. When Hitler attacked them, Staling have mental breakdown, as he could not cope with fact that he was betrayed. Ironically Soviet Union survived thanks to material help provided in Land-Lease by US. Despite them being "the enemy". Now with century of fake history, it repeat itself with Russian Alliance with China. Putin in his Westo-phobia forget that China has territorial claims toward Russia and way more shared interest with US then with them. How it would end?
The British took Iceland and Iran in order to fight the Nazis, so the initial logic of invasion wouldn't have been out of step with what the West was doing. Unfortunately, the Soviets stuck around after retaking the Baltics in 1944. Plus, most of the leadership of these countries would have reached adulthood at a time when the Baltics were thoroughly part of the Russian Empire, causing the Russian leadership to see Baltic sovereignty as something gained during a moment of Russian weakness. Latvia had its own version of Russia's revolutions of both 1905 and 1917, where the targeted group was Baltic Germans rather than the nobility and bourgeoisie. Latvians will tell you that their revolutions were national rather than Bolshevik in nature, but there were really only two wealthy classes in Riga in 1900: Germans and Jews. The Latvian nationalists were able to eliminate both groups. When the Germans occupied Latvia, they were able to ship Jews from elsewhere to Salaspils for extermination. The Salaspils camp, according to a friend, employed bitter older Latvian women.
I'm interested to see you discuss the Soviet-German Commerical Pacts of 1939, 1940 and 1941 and if you have anymore details about those Pacts! I only know what I have so far been able to find on the internet.
Russophobia as a thing came to be after separation of pre-baltics states when local Full on Reds over night became Full on " Democrats " and for separation to happen in first place they had to remove Russians from vote witch they did by National and language principal at that time 1/3 of total of population was Russian after that to stay in power they started to spin tails of scary Russians and made locals Russians in 2nd rate population with basically closing most of good jobs to them on same National and language principal (Hell if you had a correct passport and spoke fluent in language but had an incorrect second name your out luck) (Hell lets take Estonia for example you can trace almost all of em politicians way back to separation who either are friends classmates or relatives of them Original Reds)
Romanian here. Hitler and Stalin are the catastrophic leaders whose actions kept Eastern Europe in dark for almost fifty years. Never again let dictators play with our destiny.
This law is initiated my the far right, national alliance party who hate the Russians. But this law only applies to Russian federation citizens who had held either a Latvian citizenship or a non-citizen Latvian passport. Plus this does not apply to Belarusian citizens.
i'm from Lithuania, I once asked my great grandmother about ww2 and soviet occupation, she just cried. I have asked my grandfather about january 13th 1991, he said "as i stood and watched as the tanks were driving over people and the red army was shooting civilians in their legs, I understood the price of freedom.. and that it was worth paying". We often talked about how life got significantly better over the years, he saw his kids and grandchildren grow up with the opportunities and freedom that he never had and looks to soviet times with utter disgust.
I AM FORM HUNGARY, AND ALL PEOPLE IN THE BALCANS LOVE THE SOVIET INCLUDING ME ... MOST HATEFUL MISSLEAD AND ABNORMAL PEOPLE IN EUROPE IS THE PEOPLE OF THE BALCANS THE GOOD OLD US LIES ABOUT THAT WE IN EASTEN ESTERN EUROPE IS ALL GRAY AND SLAVE LIKE NORTH KOREA WHILE WEE WERE THE HAPPYEST AND ONY TIME IN OUR HISTORY DURING THE SOVIET TIME. IT IS BALCANS WHO IS MAKES ALL THIS WAR AND MADNESS
As someone from Latvia, thank you for shining light on USSR's occupation of the Baltic states. The deep-rooted fear of Russia is the only true reason for the draconian measures taken by our governments. Every inhabitant of the Baltic states that I've ever met, views the Soviet era as the 50 years of occupation and that's not going to change. I'm sorry to say, but we simply don't trust Russia and are very guarded because of the points you've mentioned.
@@pavel3659 Yes but im merely stating the fact that the video only mentioned 'germans' attacking poland. When in fact the soviets and nazis were equally evil for invading poland since they BOTH planned it. Hence the pact.
I'm from Latvia aswell. I was not born at the time when Latvia was like it is today, independent. But my parents were born in the Soviet times and how they explained it to me broke all the respect i had for Russia and replaced it with fear and rage. At one side i was furious how dare they do that to my family!? To the ones i love the most? But at the same time i am scared cause if that's what control they had over us, and they're still our neighbouring country what's stopping them from doing the same thing what they did to my parents but to me and all Latvians and others in the Baltic? And i know that we are protected by NATO and the EU but that fear doesn't go away. And the rage will also not go away, i'm not forgiving them for what they have done to us. The only ones that i ahve respect for is the Russian people who are willing to learn one of our languages and understand our history with the Russians and why we might not like them. Those i have respect for. But even though some Russians might have good intentions we are still scared of them, like me.🇱🇻
"The problem with Russians in the Baltics is that even if they have lived here for 40 years and understand the local language, they still try to speak with us using Russian. From my personal experience, some people even try to shame us if we don't understand them or refuse to speak. Learning the language should be the number one priority if you decide to live and work abroad.
@@thiagoracing I hope you understand the difference because tourism is a different thing, and your comment makes no sense. On one side, people are traveling mostly just for one week on the other side, people are living their entire lives, getting all the benefits, can even vote, and still don’t understand the language.
From Lithuania - 200,000 were sent to Siberia, 36,000+ shot/killed/repressed in forests till Stalins death in 1956. Thank You for the video 🙏 I follow You and Your content for a while. 🇱🇹
I’m from Siberia how am I accountable for these deaths? The Soviet Union collapsed like 30 years ago and yet you still can’t control your irrational anger
The Finland's switch from neutrality to NATO in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine is, in part, informed by how Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania attempted to assert neutrality in WWII, and how that didn't work.
@@molotovribbentrop2839: Well, that had been the case before, but after the Great War, humanity came together, and attempted to establish an international order based on laws. Unfortunately, the limit of the powers of the League of Nations in responding to the illegal aggression against Finland was expelling Russia.
@@molotovribbentrop2839 In case of Finland it was not a choice. During Cold War, NATO could not effectively defend them even if they wanted. Due to size of Warsaw Pact. Finland hoped that being neutral would allow them to shift focus of Russia somewhere else. After 90's there was no real risk of war anymore. Russia was not USSR. It would be devastated starting war with equal force, like Ukraine of Finland. Only small countries like Inguszetia, Georgia or Baltic States were at risk. But now after Russia proved that it can't be trusted. Finland have only one clear choice.
there is no "language of the nation", no single country on earth contains only speakers of a single language this is about imbuing one ethnic group with exclusive rights at the expense of others splitting the population into two classes based on blood, one above the other in rights
The EU has rules about it, but the EU didn't expect to run across Russians in the Baltic states, who feel like they own the place. I can understand the Basques and Catalans in Spain wanting to speak their languages, but Russians? They came to the Baltics not even 100 years ago.
"Russophobia" is a strange word. By one interpretation, it is the completely unjustified fear of Russia. But how can "fear of Russians" be unjustified when Russia has centuries of history where it has been openly expansionist, up to the current date? No, this is a completely *justified* fear of Russia from the Baltic nations.
Russophobia strong dislike towards Russia and Russian things, especially the political system or customs of the former Soviet Union. Oxfortd dictionary. the fact that it's used with the phobia part is due to the Russian politics of calling black white and white black. Russophobia is is literally anti russian imperialism. It would be the same if when India critiqued Britain for what they did during the occupation and the British would say -> Your're so Anglofobic.
@@potatoeater3000 There is a difference between critiquing and being nationalist. I've seen some people actually wishing for the genocide of the entire Russian population.
No it's not. -phobia has always been used on multiple ways, not just literal fear. The problem is that English doesn't separate and create different words and suffixes for the different meanings
I remember when the peoples of the 3 (then) Baltic Republics of the Soviet Union joined hands - *literally* joined hands - along hundreds of km, creating a human chain to protest the annexation. It was on the 23rd of August 1989, the day of the 50th anniversary of the Soviet-Nazi Pact (a.k.a. Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) that sealed those countries' fate. This coming August will be the 35th anniversary of the impressive human chain, known as the Baltic Way. Look it up.
Baltic States are small and powerless, imagine, if hundreds thousands russians fled here, because they don't want to participate in putin war.. it could bring catastrophic consequences.. putin could start internal unrest like 2014 in Ukraine and later invade, because these people being discriminated there and needs putins help...
Well, there's an easy workaround: Königsberg and Sankt-Petersburg could declare themselves independent republics. Both are on the coast of the Baltic Sea, and both have a majority of ethnic Russians already, so that could immediately create two new Baltic republics uninterested in participating in Putin's war, and willing to accept, and readily integrate, millions of refugees from Russia with the same un-interests.
@Bogda Nov the key difference is that the supposed threat from the refugees in 2015 was based on hysteria over a potential take over coming out of nothing. The one over Russian immigrants comes on the back of an actual, real state, with armed forces and everything, that has made a pattern of using protection of minorities as an excuse to invade neighbors since at least 2008 in Georgia, and now in Ukraine. Remove Putin and all Russian imperialist nostalgia from the equation, and you have a point. But as things stand, you don't.
@@rileyfaelanAs always with Ingria - nobody is asks the indigenous inhabitants. The majority doesn't even know about us - so they won't even mention. First derussify them back and make them remember their Finnic roots and start learning the ancestors' languages. Stop hyperrussification of our Izhorian, Votic, Vepsian, Karelian land.
As a Latvian, I love this video. I also don't agree with the policy they made, but most people feel very emotional about this here. One thing to add, is that after USSR invasion, as many locals were deported and many deep Russia labourers were resettled in Latvia, there was about 40% of population which was Russian, while before USSR it was around 10%. To Lativans this has been as an existential threat, as many elections were basically about going to vote, so that pro-Kremlin parties don't get into coalition. As quite some part of Russians in Latvia are pro-Kremlin, a lot of people are paranoid of prospect of being overwhelmed by larger pro-Kremlin population. In the meantime, as I see, most of the Russians who are trying to get out of Russia, are the younger and more skilled Russians with no love for Kremlins actions. As I see, letting them out of Russia helps them, but also helps us, as Russia loses capable and intelligent people.
Let in, but only after a thorough background check, polygraph, sworn statement...maybe even like the Japanese did to insure the Dutch weren't Catholics, like the Portu5, they made the Dutch traders step on a painting of the Virgin Mary...make them step and spit on a photo of Putin and record them. Yes, we should allow the liberal, anti Putin, skilled asylum seekers, but not to Russian 5th columnists in the Baltic countries.many of those trying to get into Europe are FSB agents. z heads...they tear down Ukrainian flags, attack pro Ukrainian protesters (as seen in Germany), so, no, things cant go back to normal until Russia and its citizens learn to behave themselves as good neighbors that dont threaten neighboring countries.
Also Latvian here. Yes, I agree, younger russians are more liberal and have no sympathies to Kremlin. Before 24. of February 2022, or at least until september 2022 they probably moved away from Russia because they did not support the regime. But let's be honest. Now they mostly run away because of mobilisation or "unfomfortable" life in Russia. Not a fact that they do it because they don't support annexation of Ukraine, Baltics or Poland. Probably they just don't want to die on the frontline themselves.
An Izhorian from Ingria here with support to you. I believe, if you were under Muscovite occupation you would became a minority in your own land like us, due to russification, resettlement and repressions.
I'm of the opinion that the Russian people need to feel the effects of the war, whether they're for or against it. Let me explain: I worked in St Petersburg for 16 months and from my experience I did see how most Russians supported the Putin regime back in 2016. Only a handful of friends who had either travelled abroad or were Catholics would openly critisize the government. I left the country with the feeling that the Russians were a strange people that would rather look the other way and remain silence in the open, than stare at the ugliness of curruption, human rights violations and disensitization of society and do something about it. So when the invation began, I had no doubt that most people supported it. Even some of my friends became very nationalistic overnight and I found myself thinking whether I should stop all communication. I decided against cutting them off altogether and to never speak about politics. But the fact remains that while sanctions from the West are making little dent on Russians' everyday life, Ukrainians have seen their lives turned upside down. It is the Russian people as a whole who have enabled a monster like Putin. Their dereliction of duty in saying "I don't care about politics" or "I can't speak to something I don't know" connive with the regime. It is not okay or fair for Ukrainians/Europeans to bear the brunt of the war while Russians' lives remain undisturbed. Coming in to the EU is a privilege that Russians shouldn't have while the war drags on. Additionally, an increasing number of Russians are seeking asylum in the EU under false pretences, taking advantage of the conflict. They claim being persecuted by the government but in fact they never raised their voice or protested in any way. It honestly makes my blood boil because there are a few who are really being arrested and harassed and have opted to stay in Russia to bring about a change. If it were up to me, I would ban Russians from coming to the EU. Real persecuted Russians could apply for asylum at the EU embassies in Moscow and only being granted refugee status after thurough investigation.
@@proselytizingorthodoxpente8304 Estonia boasts a significantly sizable Russian minority. Moreover, the essence lies in the pursuit of applying for visas to the European Union, with these countries being the nearest in proximity.
I agree with restricting Russians that support the war, but the reasons to outcast the ones that are against it is just stupid. Those people know Russia and Putin suck, they left Russia to speak out and improve their lives, they shouldn't be outcasted because they're on the same side, if you can't comprehend that you're just mentally underdeveloped because the only chance of a better Europe and Russia is to get those people elected in the governments. If you outcast them and treat them similar than the current nationalists the cycle will just repeat.
No one should experience war. But if someone needs their reality check - it's US and EU citizens. Destroying middle east, asian, african and latin american countries left and right. War in Ukraine is not something to be enjoyed, but it's like surgical operation - painful for all participants, but needed for survival. By removing illness (NATO puppet nazi regime) organism (Ukraine and Russia) may live again normally
I have a friend who is a Russian immigrant in Texas, who owns guns and has married an American. She either is Neutral or Pro-Russia. As far as I can tell, she has no love for liberty and just seems Russia as a moral conservate place where gay people don't "prance around and show everyone their crotces in parades".
As a moldovian, with my country still having russian troops on our territory since 1992 and now having an active war close to our borders, I can more than understand baltic states' policies. God protect Baltic states, Ukraine, Moldova and all nations that just want freedom and nothing more.
Will you have the same problem when European countries discriminate against refugees ? If yes, then you are not a hypocrite. The problem is the double standard by Europe
@@Contractor48 I'm not justifying discrimination against Russian refugees. The video explores the source of that trauma. I'm mocking the idiotic lies and denials of the Russian government.
@@nathanseper8738 I stand on the other side of this bruh. I am pro discrimination. If one particular country's refugee(not 2nd generation onwards) are habitual offenders, I think a collective deportation of all the refugees needs to be done. We can't keep relying on the goodwill of the natives. I say this as an immigrant.
With the same neighbourliness that he later sent Molotov's Breadbaskets to Finland. Which Finland, naturally, reciprocated by reconfiguring its state-owned distilleries to mass-produce Molotov''s Cocktails for everybody who would show up to the party.
"We have to protect russian speaking minorities!" was also one of the bigger "reasons" why russia invaded Ukraine. I'm guessing Latvias language tests are more prevention than anything else. Also, look it like this: If any russian "minority" in Latvia feels discriminated (or is too lazy to learn the language), they can easily move to Russia. Both nations have a literal border, so logistics shouldnt be too big of deal.
Now imagine how russians who don't want to be part of russian world feel. You live peacefully in country that you like, at one day bombs start falling on your city while ppl who never was even close to your city or country began to scream and trying to prove to you that it is for you own good and they came in peace and your are lying. Worse part is that other ppl(who can't even find your country on map) believe this "defenders" not you
Russians in Latvia have been living there for many years. Latvia has no right to discriminate against Russians. There wouldn't be a country called Latvia if the Russians didn't allow it anyway.
@@pavel3659exactly this ideology is why we don't want more Russians in the Baltics. This "you exist only because we allow it" is not only wrong but clearly shows their intentions. We don't need people who want to defend Russian occupation and constantly remind their former victims how "we can do it again"
When Estonia was joining the EU in 2004, the EU clearly told Estonia NOT to apply any laws that are aimed at "laguane minorities" (not named, but it was about discriminating Russians). Fast forward alnost 20 years, the EU no longer pressures Estonia about the "rights of language minorities". I guess Brussels has learned something about Russia in the meantime.
I appreciate the explanation of the basic fact that baltics were occupied by USSR. Weird you mention that poland was invaded only by Nazi germany, when in fact it was done simultaneusly by USSR too 2 weeks later. What i find outrageus is that in you comments you formulate the following sentence "Why did the Baltic States react so violently...". Seriously? Violently? Chosing to deny entry to the citizens of an agressor state is violent? Not the genocide russians are doing in Ukraine? Accessing territory of other country is a privilage, not a human right of russian citizens, Baltic states are sovereign and can make their own decisions in this regard. Russian politics determine weather they are granted privilege or not, in this case, it is quite self explanatory why the privilege should be revoked by the civilized world. Only asylum applications should be considered. Russia could drop its act of violent dieing empire and seek cooperation and mutual benefit with surrounding states any day, I am sure that would grant maybe even visa free regimes in some time, after it proves to be worthy.
His researches have somehow not yet revealed to him that Russians are fascist scum and considers the reactions of other people to be exagerated, because all this is considered normal in that part of the world, like every now and then it just happens that you engage in a genocidal war.
My little friend. Seeing what Russia did to Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and others it is not discrimination! To get permanent residency in the country I am currently living I also needed to prove the local language via exam. So nothing wrong with it - if you want to stay forever in the country then learn the local language.
He litterally said he completly understands why they do it, though. And being forced to learn the language applied only to russians and not others then.... well... it is discrimination. But let's be serious: It's not discrimination, it's a security measure.
@@Mukation I'm from Lithuania, we all had to learn Russian in Soviet times (just 5% of Russians made of Lithuania's population), so now Russians could learn Baltic languages.Not a big deal
People who condemn the "discrimination" should know that ruzzians never stopped planning to take back the baltics. those vatniks who remained in estonia 30 years after our independence, never learned our language and people have been harassed and attacked on the streets for not understanding ruzzian language, in their own home country. It's just that the baltics have had enough of those lies and ruzzians are just getting the fruits of their own labour. The rest of europe needs to grow a spine and follow the example!
Only in the intro so far. Nope, in most countries, if you haven't put in the effort to speak the language, you're either a wannabe colonialist or lazy. People who refuse to integrate are a serious security threat in any nation.
People can get isolated for many reasons. Those who fail to integrate are seriously vulnerable. Therefore they are going to be prayed upon by corrupt elements. Criminals, hostile agents, corrupt politicians, cultists, DOG WISTLING FREAKS...
Another main reason is because each country has a large Russian planted minority in their country that still refuses to integrate by refusing to learn or use the countries language. These people still want to make the Baltics Russia so the Baltics are only protecting themselves against Russification.
I wish you would have taken more time to elaborate on the secret protocol of the 1939 Molotov - Ribbentrop Pact. Your allusions to it are too cryptical.
These restrictions are not some kind of revenge as this video leads on to thinking. We in the Baltics see clear security risks in allowing in Russian citizens in large numbers. We know how russian security services work! We dont need a new influx of agents from a highly hostile country!
Er, but if you think it through, you'll notice that the _genuine_ KGB/FSB agents would have access to world-class language schools, and could learn to pass Estonian, Latvian, or Lithuanian language tests at high level in less than a year. The ones who struggle with it are not the ones who are security risks because of their determined mission, but the ones who, as the stereotype goes, vaguely identify with a sense of Russian supremacy, and keep getting frustrated daily by their host society refusing to speak, as the stereotype goes, _по-человечески._ Which may contribute to them becoming security risks, but in a more complex and roundabout way - offering more opportunities to intervene.
@rileyfaelan I don't get your point. If someone is a Russian supremacist they're already a security risk. People get along fine here and if you've been here you would see that it's a common sight that two people speak their language and understand each other or switch between languages mid conversation. Those who don't are a small number of Russian supremacists.
@@rileyfaelan as an Estonian I'm gonna have to call bullshit on that. The FSB of today is but a mere shadow of the KGB of old. And even the KGB of old leaned on expatriates and locals of the countries they were screwing with. Today, the supposed super official "documents" presented by the russian government as "proof" of discriminatory behavior fail at passing for even the most basic level of Estonian, not to speak of juristically correct language and terminology one would expect to see in an official document. These so-called world-class language schools suck ass. If they are going to use someone, as far as the language is concerned, they are going to use a local citizen. Either way, the language is not a requirement for acting as an agitator and pose a security risk. And while I agree with your point that these measures may foster resentment among otherwise potentially amicable russians, and thusly potentially providing russia with access to far more valuable agents than they have back at home, it is simply a chance we're going to have to take. Right now, when russia is in hot water for its behaviour and regurgitates lies so stupid they're clear for everyone to see is the best time to do it. So I would argue that the local russians who are bothered by this and thusly might become agents would have more than likely eventually walked that path regardless.
@@tormfury7376 To add to the language learning Lithuanian language is very difficult to learn and even if you learn Lithuanian will notice that you are not native cause of your accent or the way you speak cause It's hard to even speak properly for non native.
Great video, keep this up! I am lithuanian so I am totally subjective with this topic. It is interesting to listen just how "our great friend" is interpreting history within their public sphere. I just think you skiped A LOT here, to be more exact, 45 years of occupation and crimes commited against all three nations including further deportations between '45-'52 (at least those are the dates for Lithuania), partisanic war and how that was dealt with. I guess the negotiations that the western allies had about the destiny of the Baltic states after Germany's defeat in WW2 would deserve a seperate video as I believe that is also used to legitimise soviet occupation in today's Russia? (I can be wrong about this one) As of the matter that you raised in the beginning of the video - in Lithuania, the public does not support any allowance of russian or byelorussian citizens to move through our borders, use our roads and etc. For most politically aware youth, it's disgusting to see car plates from these countries HOWEVER we do understand that we still have treaties to allow these citizens to pass our borders for transit reasons due to Kaliningrad region. We feel that such and further sactions are a necessity in order to support to Ukraine while presenting russian citizens with consequences for their docile behavior towards their current government. To be completely honest, your expressed opinion towards sanctions based on passport here would just be written off as vatnik tears so, once more, good job at constuctively presenting your opinions and explaining how certain topics are rationalised in Russia! Keep it up!
Doing the language tests separately is mostly symbolic. It's fairly common that naturalisation tests involve something like a written test on the host country's legal system and constitutional order and/or essay on why one wants to naturalise, and an interview with an immigration official. Some countries just make the language test implicit by offering the test and the interview in an official language of the country, and in some countries, a language test is done as formally a separate test. There isn't a great functional difference between these approaches. In both cases, knowledge of the local language is taken as a heuristic into the applicant's state of integration with the local culture.
You also didn't mention that Baltics were flooded with Russian colonists. Rusification was very strong. Local languages, traditions and history were being erased and replaced with russian ones. There were up to 50 % russians in these countries. Locals were second class citizens as priorities went to russians. After the collapse of USSR russians who stayed refused to integrate and learn or even respect local languages as they were hoping that Russia would occuppy Baltics again. As they loved to chant every May how they can "do it again" At the begining of the war in Ukraine this intensified with "Baltics are next". So Baltics are 100% in the right to do this.
This. And it wasn't the first time russification was attempted in baltics. Russian empire did too. It's not one particular regime but the whole of muscovite culture that's the cancer.
The core priciples of Russian foreign policy have been best laid out in the 1991 documentary "The Silence of the Lambs": It puts the lotion on it's skin or else it gets the hose again.
Yeah, we’ll, we just want your resources you know, your land(so much)!, your water(so wet!), your timber and coal (so valuable!). We’re jealous of your lifestyle ( so Soviet!) Just stay on your side of the lines and we’ll be alright.
There is one VERY important part that you missed. Lithuania had multiple Uprisings against the russian empire. For the Baltics, Soviet Union was just an extension of the Russian empire with a new hat. Russia tried to destroy the culture and languages of all nations of the former common wealth. They were quite lucky in Belarus, quite lucky in Ukraine with the language, but they failed in the Balticks thanks to book smugglers and underground of teachers.
When talking about the visa rules, the story must start with "3 day special operation" in Ukraine. Before that there was no ban. Also story teller forgot that newest Nato member Finland has exactly same "russophobic" visa rules than Baltic countries.
You are wrong! There are exception in international law, wich allows threatened groups to take extraordinary measures to preserve their way of life, culture and identity. Latvians almost went extinct in their ancestral land and country in not so distant past. And it was done intentionally by previous regimes of Russian Empire and Soviet Union and it still is the wet dream of modern Russia. Today's Latvians constitute only 62.7% of total population of country. Also there are no discrimination in Latvia based on ethnic grounds, excluding some minor cases. But You can find minor incidents in almost every other country.
Mexico does not allow US-only citizens to own land in Mexico. But we haven’t invaded them since 1917! :-) And the US actually gave some land to Mexico in 1975. Rio Rico, Texas. I guess not yet enough time has passed for the Mexicans to forget 1846… Growing up I remember all the refugees from the Baltics and Eastern Europe we had living in the US. It will be a long time before the Baltics stop worrying about Russia.
Interesting as far as it went, but you missed out the deportations of 1949 (2.5 percent of the Estonian population), the suppression of local culture, the Russification, the importation of Russian-speakers, many of whom made no attempt me learn the language. Putin's imperialistic rhetoric has led many people to fear that these people form a fifth column.
Over 8,000 managed to escape, but 20,722 (7,500 families, over 2.5 percent of the Estonian population, half of them women, over 6,000 children under the age of 16, and 4,300 men) were sent to Siberia during three days. Slightly more than 10 percent were men of working age. The deported included disabled people, pregnant women, newborns and children separated from their parents. The youngest deportee was one-day-old Virve Eliste from Hiiumaa island, who died a year later in Siberia; the oldest was 95-year-old Maria Raagel
I am perplexed at why you do not say that Stalin and Hitler invaded Poland and thereby started WW2???? They divided Poland between them and both massacred elements of the Polish elite, Russia most famously at the Katyn massacre.
Good old Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. You disagree with the travel ban? Alas, we comprehend our intentions and understand why we advocate for it. We do not require those who evade mobilization, but rather steadfast supporters of Russian Imperialism and Putin in our nations.
I learned that at school in Poland, and it didn't impact me then - maybe when people are young and don't care about others it's easier to learn it as just facts. Quite difficult now, with more understanding of the human impact of these things. Thanks for covering it, from genetic russophobe : )
We where forced to take extraordinary and radical, for some, moves, because our laws, democratic values and way of life was being attacked constantly and toleration of it and diplomacy didn't work anymore.
Those deported were only few criminals. Mostly soviets deported people that had more land or who were the smartest like university teachers. All those who opposed the ideology of soviets and them ocupation. The very similar thing is happening now in russia. Difference is people know they are going into a jail. Baltic people knew nothing. They just came into houses, gave 5 minutes to take belongings and you are sent out into far and cold place 2000km away or so. What has been done with empty apartments in the baltics? The native speaking russians been sent to those. That is how soviet goverment kept it's power. People basicaly were bribed with free stuff, free apartments, that got taken from the natives. That is why after all this communism. It ia very hard to get out from it. Most of intelectuals were gone and others got bribed. "Vine and bread" greeks say. "Vodka and deportation" soviets say. That is how to rule the country.
That is why many russians look back soviet times with nostalgia, how great it was, coz they got free stuff they could only dream about before. The Baltics were very advanced with European living standards, so when the russians came here, it was like winning a lottery. They also believe that soviet rule made the Baltics great, but Baltics were European to begin with, something they love to deny... soviets set back the Baltics big time. The Baltics still struggle, especially Latvia, struggle with the soviet mentality that is still very much alive the occupants that never left... And Latvia has the largest percentage of these occupants still remaining...
My grandma from mothers side said many stories about how they had to hide their nobility from soviets because they hated well of people and nobility (my grandmas family was not rich but was from nobility. back in Polish-Lithuanian times A lot of Polish and Lithuanian people had nobles I would also say it was same with Belarusians.)
I don't condone discrimination, but I understand the Baltic states. They had their independence ripped from them, but now they're independent again and free from Soviet tyranny. Let's hope they stay free from RuZZia and Putler.
Yeah but now we belong to London city and Nato with America, still no freedom yet! Speaking as lithuanian. We are nothing more then UK colony in east europe right now.
As a Latvian-American whose parents and grandparents were on the NKVD lists to be deported or worse in the 1940s and escaped. Leaving behind land a home stead that had been in the family for generations and leaving behind family sadly unable to escape. Thank you for this video and educating the West!!! I'll also say this. We don't hate Russians. In fact, my Grandmother on my Father's side was Russian herself Czarist Russian who fled her homeland when the Soviets/Communists destroyed Russia. We don't hate Russians. They're prefect ably welcome to stay. IF they make allegiance to Latvia, It's Democratically Elected and Free Government and respect Latvian Traditions and Culture. They are perfectly welcome to stay! BUT as long as they hold allegiance to Soviet Russia and now to Vladimir Putin's Russia and refuse to assimilate into Latvia. Get Out! You're not welcome. We ask nothing of the Russian population living in Latvia today, nothing that isn't asked of people moving to USA or England. Pledge allegiance to the country, people and traditions you wish to be a part of.
There was common story regarding kidnaped solders of soviet union, since Lithuania had much higher living of standard very often these solders desert and later be catched by officers and when soviets started to blame us that solders were kidnaped. One of these stories was told by my grandmother. There was conflict at the moment between Lithuanian infantrymen and Russian Infantrymen that one russian solder was kidnaped but actually later was founded by Lithuanian officer in one of farmer barns wasted af. So u can imagine what russians thought. Regarding to russians we Lithuanians have very deep distrust and fear to them. It is rooted in us through generations. Almost every family in Lithuania was affected by derpotentions and executions by the soviets. Maybe today's measures are called draconic, but all we is ask basic level of native language knowledge for permanent residents... It's not that hard in 30+ learn basics.... If I was able to learn russian basics just in couple of weeks staying in Kyiv and Kaliningrad so can they in 30 years....
Everyone has reason to ban russians traveling to their countries. Its baffling that you cant see that russian presence is a threat - remember use of radiological/chemical weapons in NATO/EU countries, blown up ammo/gun powder factories - security issues aside, there is no reason for people that support such government either by action or inaction to live comfortable, they should face consequences.
Thank you so much for this video. Marxism does have holier than thau tinge, big part of older russians who live in Baltics still believe that everyone was voluntarily joining USSR. Information contrary to that meses up with their nostalgia and that Russians' had a great and moral empire.
Ost Preußen wurde zur Zeit der UDSSR sogar einmal Litauen angeboten, jene haben aber abgelehnt um die eigene Demographie des Landes nicht auseinander zu bringen
I'm absolutely against prohibiting speaking certain languages. But I also know, that if I was Baltic, I absolutely wouldn't be able to speak or understand a word of Russian ... comming from anybody born in the Baltics ;-)
Thank you, guys for making those videos. I watch all of your videos from Poland. I find it so amazing that you manage to explain the history, narratives and facts that are between us. I really wish well to all the russians, and hope that one day this madness in russia will end. And we can finally try to build some bridges between us. Though i know, it would be a long and difficult process and I'm quite idealistic.
This video is very interesting! On one hand, i understand why the Baltic countries made the decisions they did regarding Russians, but on the other hand, I can now see how such policies can drive more neutral people into extremist pro-Russian propaganda like what Medvedev spouts!
Oh boy, this comment section is sure to be full of intelligent takes and absolutely no people accusing you of being a Russian govt. shill for no good reason!
The Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed a non-aggression pact, also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, on August 23, 1939, just days before the start of World War II. The pact was a surprise to other nations because of the ideological differences between the two countries. It allowed Germany and the Soviet Union to divide Eastern Europe into "spheres of influence" and promised not to attack each other for 10 years. Germany's sphere included western Poland and Lithuania, while the Soviet Union's included Finland, Latvia, Estonia, and Moldova. The pact also led to military cooperation, which allowed Hitler to invade Poland on September 1, 1939, and Stalin's forces to attack from the west and complete the partition of Poland
Interesting, but you failed to mention the most important reason for the passport discrimination. It is mostly because weaponising a russian population is a proven russian tactic. Latvia in particular has a large number of ethnic russians living within its borders, which opens the possibility for russia to stage a civilian uprising just like it did in crimea. Not to mention espionage, sabotage, political manipulation and other means of indirect warfare that russia is happy to employ. It is entirelly reasonable for the baltics to want to restrict movement of russian citizens because russia has, does and will use it as a weakness against the baltics otherwise. Especially now, with the baltic sea becoming a NATO lake due to Sweden and Finland joining the alliance, The Kaliningrad oblast is bound to become a massive headache for russia. Should the current climate in the region continue escalating as it does, Russia will almost inevidably have to either reinforce it’s power in Kaliningrad, or continue letting their influence slip from them in the region, for as it is now, the oblast is more isolated than it ever was. I think it is far more likelly russia will do something stupid in order to guarantee themselves access to kaliningrad than give it away, and it is why the baltics are so paranoid about indirect warfare. However, if the baltics are succesful in curbing russian attempts at it, russia will be left only with direct attack as an option, and despite what russian propoganda claims, I think russian high command realise that direct confoict with nato would lead to an embarasing defeat. So yeah, tl;dr is that while passport discrimination sounds mean and bad, and can’t we all like, just get along bro, the reality is that russia has weaponised it’s populace and swift, radical actions like this is why the baltics have been able to keep their soverignty thus far. Russia has proven time and time again it cannot be reliably negotiated with or trusted in the slightest.
So said USA, UK, Germany and whole NATO, but now they see that it is not trauma, but wisdom to learn from past and present to avoid disaster in future. Western politics failed concerning Russia. Ukraine is paying for Western blind politics.
3:45 remember that on 1st september 1939 Hitler and russia divided Poland. I just do not get it how everybody forgets that ww2 started two dictators, not just one!
@@RZakelis The term is older than that and it was stupid back then as well. Finland used to be included in this term. Dude, why are you arguing over this subject when you clearly don't even know the basics?
The tone of this video assumes that a pro-kremlin russian looking at it would have a change of heart and develop sympathy. But as an Estonian it looks like you are trying to explain to a shark that biting humans might be bad because they get hurt.
Is requiring the knowledge of the national language too much to ask of permanent residents? Is providing public education in only the local language discriminatory? I had to go to Latvian school privately Saturdays in the USA to use and learn my parent’s native language.
"Special operation", it is good to know that Putin is following the KGB playbook by the letter ;) they will fail for sure :D This Molotov was quite of figure. He did similar things to my country (Bulgaria) back then ;(
is every russian a fascist? or don't you think those escaping Russia would be running from fascism and from being drafted to fight in war they don't support?
You forgot that during times of Baltic annexation Finland was also counted into "Baltic countries" and was allowed with Molotov-Ribbendrop Pact (signed on 23rd August 1939) to be annexed by Soviet Union. Unlike Baltic countries, Finland did not obey following ultimatum of Soviets. Soviet Union had to use force and so they started war with Finland (known as Winter War) on 30th November 1939. As a result of this war, Finland lost some territory to Soviet Union and became also somewhat puppet state of Soviet Union, but they didn't lost their sovereignty as Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania.
There is one other way to tell that the USSR never left any choice for the Baltics and forced them into the USSR: what happened to Finland after Finland declined Stalin's "proposals." Peaceful coexistence and independence were never part of the USSR's plans. And as the USSR/Russia always does, it created an outward appearance of legitimacy with these forced treaties and by holding all kinds of rigged referendums and elections.
Please explain how a treaty document housed in the U.S. National Archives was used by one of the Baltic Socialist Republics in 1988 to win the vote of the RSFSR for that Republic's independence. Why did it matter that the document was in the U.S.? Wouldn't it have also been in Moscow and each the Baltic capitals?
This is not discrimination. Discrimination is a different attitude against people who are in the same position due to their color, orientation, social status, gender, political views. Traveling to another country is a privilege, not a right. A sovereign country can decide who to let in or not let in. If there is different attitude then while this is with a grounded reason then this is ok from the perspective of human rights. In this case this is a matter of our security and this is a grounded reason. We already have inhabitants who still wait for the return of Soviet union. My cousin once had a colleague who said to her straight into face: "If Russia's army decides to come to Latvia and will ask to shoot all Latvians, I will shoot you with no regrets." So we don't want here more loyal to Russia people. We don't want more "polite people" here who would love to occupy Latvia again, are not against occupation of Ukraine, they are just not willing to die on the frontline and are running from mobilisation. They are a threat to our security. Moreover this has opened our old wounds about the occupation in 1939., we will never forget the repressions Russians did to our nation. Tens of thousands of innocently killed, detained, tortured, repressed and forcibly deported people - intellectuals, families, old people, children. 28% of all deported to Syberia people (1939-1949) were children under 16 years!!! Our gene pool was irreversibly partly destroyed. It was a true geocide. Until year 1897. we had only 12% russians here, in 1938-only 8%, after occupation russians were artificially moved here and were already 34% by year 1989. It was forced russification which is also a geocide. Western Europe was just watching... We will never forgive or risk this to happen again. Even if someone thinks this is discrimination, this is fine for me as long as I still have my own independent country, with no scent of ruzzian world. Still there are options for Russians to ask for asylum in Latvia on humanitarian grounds, or come here as a family member.
Umm you do know "discriminate" does not mean the same thing as "discriminate against" right? "Discriminate" means more or less "tell the difference between".
You've done well. For the illiterate people, that know nothing of these matters might be useful information. Unless person is totally brainwashed troll And thank you very much
And Georgians. Ouzbeks. Ukrainians... In short anyone in the Sphere Of Influence And Russia respond in kind, by treating anything outside Moscow and St Petersburg as a door mat, or if nice enough, as a holiday destination. Usually, if the question boils down to 'Why Always Me', then the response is inevitably 'Because It's Always You'. But often there is a lack of self-awareness, as shown in the public polls of the average Moscovite.
EDIT: Here is this video I mentioned below - ua-cam.com/video/7tzX2CFPpoY/v-deo.html
I saw quite a few of you here pointed out that we failed to tell that Poland was not occupied SOLELY by the Germany back then but also by USSR. Well, firstly, we did show @ 2:54 that Soviet troops GOT STATIONED forcefully in Poland as well. We didn't dig deeper and didn't show a more clear picture because the focus of this video is on *the Baltic states* (Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia).
If you've already started typing ferociously something along the lines of _"You've completely ignored the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, learn some history noob!"_ ... Fret not. One of the next videos will be exactly on the topic of how Stalin and Hitler were dividing Poland.
Oh those must've been westerners : P
I see western self loathing and moral equation with atrocities already kicking in below hehe
I think I don't need to remind about secret annex of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact?
Russian actions were not against Nazi Germany, they were accordion to alliance with them. Alliance against the West.
When Hitler attacked them, Staling have mental breakdown, as he could not cope with fact that he was betrayed.
Ironically Soviet Union survived thanks to material help provided in Land-Lease by US. Despite them being "the enemy".
Now with century of fake history, it repeat itself with Russian Alliance with China. Putin in his Westo-phobia forget that China has territorial claims toward Russia and way more shared interest with US then with them. How it would end?
The British took Iceland and Iran in order to fight the Nazis, so the initial logic of invasion wouldn't have been out of step with what the West was doing. Unfortunately, the Soviets stuck around after retaking the Baltics in 1944. Plus, most of the leadership of these countries would have reached adulthood at a time when the Baltics were thoroughly part of the Russian Empire, causing the Russian leadership to see Baltic sovereignty as something gained during a moment of Russian weakness. Latvia had its own version of Russia's revolutions of both 1905 and 1917, where the targeted group was Baltic Germans rather than the nobility and bourgeoisie. Latvians will tell you that their revolutions were national rather than Bolshevik in nature, but there were really only two wealthy classes in Riga in 1900: Germans and Jews. The Latvian nationalists were able to eliminate both groups. When the Germans occupied Latvia, they were able to ship Jews from elsewhere to Salaspils for extermination. The Salaspils camp, according to a friend, employed bitter older Latvian women.
I'm interested to see you discuss the Soviet-German Commerical Pacts of 1939, 1940 and 1941 and if you have anymore details about those Pacts! I only know what I have so far been able to find on the internet.
Russophobia as a thing came to be after separation of pre-baltics states when local Full on Reds over night became Full on " Democrats " and for separation to happen in first place they had to remove Russians from vote witch they did by National and language principal at that time 1/3 of total of population was Russian after that to stay in power they started to spin tails of scary Russians and made locals Russians in 2nd rate population with basically closing most of good jobs to them on same National and language principal (Hell if you had a correct passport and spoke fluent in language but had an incorrect second name your out luck)
(Hell lets take Estonia for example you can trace almost all of em politicians way back to separation who either are friends classmates or relatives of them Original Reds)
Romanian here. Hitler and Stalin are the catastrophic leaders whose actions kept Eastern Europe in dark for almost fifty years. Never again let dictators play with our destiny.
This law is initiated my the far right, national alliance party who hate the Russians. But this law only applies to Russian federation citizens who had held either a Latvian citizenship or a non-citizen Latvian passport. Plus this does not apply to Belarusian citizens.
It is depressing how much hardship Eastern Europe went through in the 20th century.
@@nathanseper8738 Such fate of those bordering Khanate of Muscovy
Only three have learned that lessons from communism
@@TheRezro Russia's practically been a plague on the world for centuries.
i'm from Lithuania, I once asked my great grandmother about ww2 and soviet occupation, she just cried. I have asked my grandfather about january 13th 1991, he said "as i stood and watched as the tanks were driving over people and the red army was shooting civilians in their legs, I understood the price of freedom.. and that it was worth paying". We often talked about how life got significantly better over the years, he saw his kids and grandchildren grow up with the opportunities and freedom that he never had and looks to soviet times with utter disgust.
После убийства десятков евреев и объявления войны Советскому Союзу литовцы чувствуют себя жертвами?
@@bogdanov2395yet yall cant even do that
I AM FORM HUNGARY, AND ALL PEOPLE IN THE BALCANS LOVE THE SOVIET INCLUDING ME ...
MOST HATEFUL MISSLEAD AND ABNORMAL PEOPLE IN EUROPE IS THE PEOPLE OF THE BALCANS
THE GOOD OLD US LIES ABOUT THAT WE IN EASTEN ESTERN EUROPE IS ALL GRAY AND SLAVE LIKE NORTH KOREA WHILE WEE WERE THE HAPPYEST AND ONY TIME IN OUR HISTORY DURING THE SOVIET TIME.
IT IS BALCANS WHO IS MAKES ALL THIS WAR AND MADNESS
As someone from Latvia, thank you for shining light on USSR's occupation of the Baltic states. The deep-rooted fear of Russia is the only true reason for the draconian measures taken by our governments. Every inhabitant of the Baltic states that I've ever met, views the Soviet era as the 50 years of occupation and that's not going to change.
I'm sorry to say, but we simply don't trust Russia and are very guarded because of the points you've mentioned.
this video is inaccurate, there was no mention of Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact the nazis didnt single handedly invade poland, they did it with the commies.
@@eshaybah5581 .Had the Soviets not entered Poland, Nazi Germany would have occupied all Polish territory.
@@pavel3659 Yes but im merely stating the fact that the video only mentioned 'germans' attacking poland. When in fact the soviets and nazis were equally evil for invading poland since they BOTH planned it. Hence the pact.
@@pavel3659 Stalin apologist
I'm from Latvia aswell. I was not born at the time when Latvia was like it is today, independent. But my parents were born in the Soviet times and how they explained it to me broke all the respect i had for Russia and replaced it with fear and rage. At one side i was furious how dare they do that to my family!? To the ones i love the most? But at the same time i am scared cause if that's what control they had over us, and they're still our neighbouring country what's stopping them from doing the same thing what they did to my parents but to me and all Latvians and others in the Baltic? And i know that we are protected by NATO and the EU but that fear doesn't go away. And the rage will also not go away, i'm not forgiving them for what they have done to us. The only ones that i ahve respect for is the Russian people who are willing to learn one of our languages and understand our history with the Russians and why we might not like them. Those i have respect for. But even though some Russians might have good intentions we are still scared of them, like me.🇱🇻
"The problem with Russians in the Baltics is that even if they have lived here for 40 years and understand the local language, they still try to speak with us using Russian. From my personal experience, some people even try to shame us if we don't understand them or refuse to speak. Learning the language should be the number one priority if you decide to live and work abroad.
is that a legal or moral reason to ban tourists?
@@thiagoracing I hope you understand the difference because tourism is a different thing, and your comment makes no sense. On one side, people are traveling mostly just for one week on the other side, people are living their entire lives, getting all the benefits, can even vote, and still don’t understand the language.
@@Bambuzlis can you get a tourist visa today to the Baltics as a Russian citizen?
@@thiagoracing No
@@thiagoracing Why would baltics allow more russian spies in the country?
From Lithuania - 200,000 were sent to Siberia, 36,000+ shot/killed/repressed in forests till Stalins death in 1956.
Thank You for the video 🙏 I follow You and Your content for a while.
🇱🇹
And how many jews did Lithuania kill?
1953
I’m from Siberia how am I accountable for these deaths? The Soviet Union collapsed like 30 years ago and yet you still can’t control your irrational anger
@@aussiedanny28au15 we hate your nation, not you, for a reason. And that hate got comfirmed in 23rd of Febuary, 2022.
@@aussiedanny28au15 No, but you are partially responsible for what Russia does today.
If the Baltics had not eagerly joined Nato, they might now have been declared part of the Putin empire, after some "special persuasion operation".
The Finland's switch from neutrality to NATO in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine is, in part, informed by how Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania attempted to assert neutrality in WWII, and how that didn't work.
@@rileyfaelan The problem with asserting neutrality is that it needs to be backed by strong military, you are only a weak target without it.
@@molotovribbentrop2839: Well, that had been the case before, but after the Great War, humanity came together, and attempted to establish an international order based on laws. Unfortunately, the limit of the powers of the League of Nations in responding to the illegal aggression against Finland was expelling Russia.
@@molotovribbentrop2839 In case of Finland it was not a choice. During Cold War, NATO could not effectively defend them even if they wanted. Due to size of Warsaw Pact. Finland hoped that being neutral would allow them to shift focus of Russia somewhere else. After 90's there was no real risk of war anymore. Russia was not USSR. It would be devastated starting war with equal force, like Ukraine of Finland. Only small countries like Inguszetia, Georgia or Baltic States were at risk. But now after Russia proved that it can't be trusted. Finland have only one clear choice.
@@rileyfaelan They did more then those sellouts from UN. As it is not UN legitimize genocide!
Expecting that citizen of a nation speak the language of the nation, is not discrimination.....
there is no "language of the nation", no single country on earth contains only speakers of a single language
this is about imbuing one ethnic group with exclusive rights at the expense of others
splitting the population into two classes based on blood, one above the other in rights
I do agree with it
The EU has rules about it, but the EU didn't expect to run across Russians in the Baltic states, who feel like they own the place.
I can understand the Basques and Catalans in Spain wanting to speak their languages, but Russians? They came to the Baltics not even 100 years ago.
"Russophobia" is a strange word. By one interpretation, it is the completely unjustified fear of Russia. But how can "fear of Russians" be unjustified when Russia has centuries of history where it has been openly expansionist, up to the current date? No, this is a completely *justified* fear of Russia from the Baltic nations.
It is Ruso-realism. For Russia being not-Russian is Rusophobic. It is because they are chauvinists.
Russophobia
strong dislike towards Russia and Russian things, especially the political system or customs of the former Soviet Union.
Oxfortd dictionary.
the fact that it's used with the phobia part is due to the Russian politics of calling black white and white black. Russophobia is is literally anti russian imperialism. It would be the same if when India critiqued Britain for what they did during the occupation and the British would say -> Your're so Anglofobic.
@@potatoeater3000 Yup. The big irony is that Russian politics turn Russophobia into a virtue. Paralel to Crimeophobia.
@@potatoeater3000 There is a difference between critiquing and being nationalist. I've seen some people actually wishing for the genocide of the entire Russian population.
No it's not. -phobia has always been used on multiple ways, not just literal fear.
The problem is that English doesn't separate and create different words and suffixes for the different meanings
I remember when the peoples of the 3 (then) Baltic Republics of the Soviet Union joined hands - *literally* joined hands - along hundreds of km, creating a human chain to protest the annexation. It was on the 23rd of August 1989, the day of the 50th anniversary of the Soviet-Nazi Pact (a.k.a. Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact) that sealed those countries' fate.
This coming August will be the 35th anniversary of the impressive human chain, known as the Baltic Way. Look it up.
Baltic States are small and powerless, imagine, if hundreds thousands russians fled here, because they don't want to participate in putin war.. it could bring catastrophic consequences.. putin could start internal unrest like 2014 in Ukraine and later invade, because these people being discriminated there and needs putins help...
Well, there's an easy workaround: Königsberg and Sankt-Petersburg could declare themselves independent republics. Both are on the coast of the Baltic Sea, and both have a majority of ethnic Russians already, so that could immediately create two new Baltic republics uninterested in participating in Putin's war, and willing to accept, and readily integrate, millions of refugees from Russia with the same un-interests.
@Bogda Nov the key difference is that the supposed threat from the refugees in 2015 was based on hysteria over a potential take over coming out of nothing. The one over Russian immigrants comes on the back of an actual, real state, with armed forces and everything, that has made a pattern of using protection of minorities as an excuse to invade neighbors since at least 2008 in Georgia, and now in Ukraine. Remove Putin and all Russian imperialist nostalgia from the equation, and you have a point. But as things stand, you don't.
@@rileyfaelanAs always with Ingria - nobody is asks the indigenous inhabitants. The majority doesn't even know about us - so they won't even mention.
First derussify them back and make them remember their Finnic roots and start learning the ancestors' languages. Stop hyperrussification of our Izhorian, Votic, Vepsian, Karelian land.
@@rileyfaelanis that the plan for Russia you re dreaming off😂😂😂? Russia falling apart???
@@christinakiki75 Well, Russia *is* kept together with duct tape and chewing gum, and the sanctions are causing shortages of both, are they not?
As a Latvian, I love this video. I also don't agree with the policy they made, but most people feel very emotional about this here. One thing to add, is that after USSR invasion, as many locals were deported and many deep Russia labourers were resettled in Latvia, there was about 40% of population which was Russian, while before USSR it was around 10%. To Lativans this has been as an existential threat, as many elections were basically about going to vote, so that pro-Kremlin parties don't get into coalition. As quite some part of Russians in Latvia are pro-Kremlin, a lot of people are paranoid of prospect of being overwhelmed by larger pro-Kremlin population.
In the meantime, as I see, most of the Russians who are trying to get out of Russia, are the younger and more skilled Russians with no love for Kremlins actions. As I see, letting them out of Russia helps them, but also helps us, as Russia loses capable and intelligent people.
Let in, but only after a thorough background check, polygraph, sworn statement...maybe even like the Japanese did to insure the Dutch weren't Catholics, like the Portu5, they made the Dutch traders step on a painting of the Virgin Mary...make them step and spit on a photo of Putin and record them. Yes, we should allow the liberal, anti Putin, skilled asylum seekers, but not to Russian 5th columnists in the Baltic countries.many of those trying to get into Europe are FSB agents. z heads...they tear down Ukrainian flags, attack pro Ukrainian protesters (as seen in Germany), so, no, things cant go back to normal until Russia and its citizens learn to behave themselves as good neighbors that dont threaten neighboring countries.
Also Latvian here. Yes, I agree, younger russians are more liberal and have no sympathies to Kremlin. Before 24. of February 2022, or at least until september 2022 they probably moved away from Russia because they did not support the regime. But let's be honest. Now they mostly run away because of mobilisation or "unfomfortable" life in Russia. Not a fact that they do it because they don't support annexation of Ukraine, Baltics or Poland. Probably they just don't want to die on the frontline themselves.
An Izhorian from Ingria here with support to you. I believe, if you were under Muscovite occupation you would became a minority in your own land like us, due to russification, resettlement and repressions.
I'm of the opinion that the Russian people need to feel the effects of the war, whether they're for or against it. Let me explain: I worked in St Petersburg for 16 months and from my experience I did see how most Russians supported the Putin regime back in 2016. Only a handful of friends who had either travelled abroad or were Catholics would openly critisize the government. I left the country with the feeling that the Russians were a strange people that would rather look the other way and remain silence in the open, than stare at the ugliness of curruption, human rights violations and disensitization of society and do something about it.
So when the invation began, I had no doubt that most people supported it. Even some of my friends became very nationalistic overnight and I found myself thinking whether I should stop all communication. I decided against cutting them off altogether and to never speak about politics. But the fact remains that while sanctions from the West are making little dent on Russians' everyday life, Ukrainians have seen their lives turned upside down.
It is the Russian people as a whole who have enabled a monster like Putin. Their dereliction of duty in saying "I don't care about politics" or "I can't speak to something I don't know" connive with the regime.
It is not okay or fair for Ukrainians/Europeans to bear the brunt of the war while Russians' lives remain undisturbed. Coming in to the EU is a privilege that Russians shouldn't have while the war drags on. Additionally, an increasing number of Russians are seeking asylum in the EU under false pretences, taking advantage of the conflict. They claim being persecuted by the government but in fact they never raised their voice or protested in any way. It honestly makes my blood boil because there are a few who are really being arrested and harassed and have opted to stay in Russia to bring about a change.
If it were up to me, I would ban Russians from coming to the EU. Real persecuted Russians could apply for asylum at the EU embassies in Moscow and only being granted refugee status after thurough investigation.
All things considered, if you're Russian, and the worst that happens to you is you can't travel to Estonia, you've got off lightly
@@proselytizingorthodoxpente8304 Estonia boasts a significantly sizable Russian minority. Moreover, the essence lies in the pursuit of applying for visas to the European Union, with these countries being the nearest in proximity.
I agree with restricting Russians that support the war, but the reasons to outcast the ones that are against it is just stupid. Those people know Russia and Putin suck, they left Russia to speak out and improve their lives, they shouldn't be outcasted because they're on the same side, if you can't comprehend that you're just mentally underdeveloped because the only chance of a better Europe and Russia is to get those people elected in the governments.
If you outcast them and treat them similar than the current nationalists the cycle will just repeat.
No one should experience war. But if someone needs their reality check - it's US and EU citizens. Destroying middle east, asian, african and latin american countries left and right.
War in Ukraine is not something to be enjoyed, but it's like surgical operation - painful for all participants, but needed for survival. By removing illness (NATO puppet nazi regime) organism (Ukraine and Russia) may live again normally
I have a friend who is a Russian immigrant in Texas, who owns guns and has married an American.
She either is Neutral or Pro-Russia. As far as I can tell, she has no love for liberty and just seems Russia as a moral conservate place where gay people don't "prance around and show everyone their crotces in parades".
As a moldovian, with my country still having russian troops on our territory since 1992 and now having an active war close to our borders, I can more than understand baltic states' policies. God protect Baltic states, Ukraine, Moldova and all nations that just want freedom and nothing more.
Ya Moldova is pretty much example of Russians occupying part of the country
Russia: Invades and brutalizes the Baltics.
Dmitry Medvedev: What are you whining about?!
Will you have the same problem when European countries discriminate against refugees ? If yes, then you are not a hypocrite. The problem is the double standard by Europe
@@Contractor48 I'm not justifying discrimination against Russian refugees. The video explores the source of that trauma. I'm mocking the idiotic lies and denials of the Russian government.
@@nathanseper8738 I stand on the other side of this bruh. I am pro discrimination. If one particular country's refugee(not 2nd generation onwards) are habitual offenders, I think a collective deportation of all the refugees needs to be done. We can't keep relying on the goodwill of the natives. I say this as an immigrant.
@@Contractor48 💩💩💩🤡
@@Contractor48 Expecting that citizen of a nation speak the language of the nation, is not discrimination.....
Essentially Molotov was just being a gangster offering "protection" to Estonia
With the same neighbourliness that he later sent Molotov's Breadbaskets to Finland. Which Finland, naturally, reciprocated by reconfiguring its state-owned distilleries to mass-produce Molotov''s Cocktails for everybody who would show up to the party.
years passed russia changed name mafia remained same.
Molotov signed alliance with Nazis. It was always part of the agreement with Hitler.
"We have to protect russian speaking minorities!" was also one of the bigger "reasons" why russia invaded Ukraine.
I'm guessing Latvias language tests are more prevention than anything else.
Also, look it like this:
If any russian "minority" in Latvia feels discriminated (or is too lazy to learn the language), they can easily move to Russia. Both nations have a literal border, so logistics shouldnt be too big of deal.
Now imagine how russians who don't want to be part of russian world feel. You live peacefully in country that you like, at one day bombs start falling on your city while ppl who never was even close to your city or country began to scream and trying to prove to you that it is for you own good and they came in peace and your are lying. Worse part is that other ppl(who can't even find your country on map) believe this "defenders" not you
Russians in Latvia have been living there for many years. Latvia has no right to discriminate against Russians. There wouldn't be a country called Latvia if the Russians didn't allow it anyway.
@@pavel3659exactly this ideology is why we don't want more Russians in the Baltics.
This "you exist only because we allow it" is not only wrong but clearly shows their intentions. We don't need people who want to defend Russian occupation and constantly remind their former victims how "we can do it again"
@@pavel3659 The Baltic states were independent from 1919 to 1940.
@@pavel3659 russian is shit
When Estonia was joining the EU in 2004, the EU clearly told Estonia NOT to apply any laws that are aimed at "laguane minorities" (not named, but it was about discriminating Russians).
Fast forward alnost 20 years, the EU no longer pressures Estonia about the "rights of language minorities".
I guess Brussels has learned something about Russia in the meantime.
These "passport measures" are not aimed at current residents and citizens. Pick up your faux outrage and gtfo. 😂😂😂😂
At that time it looked like russia would eventually join the west and their values... but much has changed since then
@@katieee4915and it "only" took a million casualties in the current war for the West to finally understand what Russia is.
I appreciate the explanation of the basic fact that baltics were occupied by USSR. Weird you mention that poland was invaded only by Nazi germany, when in fact it was done simultaneusly by USSR too 2 weeks later.
What i find outrageus is that in you comments you formulate the following sentence "Why did the Baltic States react so violently...". Seriously? Violently? Chosing to deny entry to the citizens of an agressor state is violent? Not the genocide russians are doing in Ukraine?
Accessing territory of other country is a privilage, not a human right of russian citizens, Baltic states are sovereign and can make their own decisions in this regard. Russian politics determine weather they are granted privilege or not, in this case, it is quite self explanatory why the privilege should be revoked by the civilized world. Only asylum applications should be considered. Russia could drop its act of violent dieing empire and seek cooperation and mutual benefit with surrounding states any day, I am sure that would grant maybe even visa free regimes in some time, after it proves to be worthy.
He is Russian and address his videos to Vatniks. It is why use mostly indirect arguments to reach those with thick skull.
His researches have somehow not yet revealed to him that Russians are fascist scum and considers the reactions of other people to be exagerated, because all this is considered normal in that part of the world, like every now and then it just happens that you engage in a genocidal war.
Couldnt said better.
My little friend. Seeing what Russia did to Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and others it is not discrimination! To get permanent residency in the country I am currently living I also needed to prove the local language via exam. So nothing wrong with it - if you want to stay forever in the country then learn the local language.
He litterally said he completly understands why they do it, though.
And being forced to learn the language applied only to russians and not others then.... well... it is discrimination.
But let's be serious: It's not discrimination, it's a security measure.
@@Mukation I'm from Lithuania, we all had to learn Russian in Soviet times (just 5% of Russians made of Lithuania's population), so now Russians could learn Baltic languages.Not a big deal
@@Mukation He said that he is against it, but understands why Baltics did it. So he only gave pass to baltics
@@bogdanov2395 heh, still considered racist by some to force immigrants to learn the local language
@@Mukation Well that is quite dumb. They should just go back to their country if they don't want to speak. It's not a big deal.
People who condemn the "discrimination" should know that ruzzians never stopped planning to take back the baltics. those vatniks who remained in estonia 30 years after our independence, never learned our language and people have been harassed and attacked on the streets for not understanding ruzzian language, in their own home country. It's just that the baltics have had enough of those lies and ruzzians are just getting the fruits of their own labour. The rest of europe needs to grow a spine and follow the example!
Only in the intro so far. Nope, in most countries, if you haven't put in the effort to speak the language, you're either a wannabe colonialist or lazy. People who refuse to integrate are a serious security threat in any nation.
People can get isolated for many reasons. Those who fail to integrate are seriously vulnerable. Therefore they are going to be prayed upon by corrupt elements. Criminals, hostile agents, corrupt politicians, cultists, DOG WISTLING FREAKS...
as a latvian i can say this goes even deper
As a lithuanian I'm saying the same
Being "forced" to learn the language of the language you live in seems very fair to be honest.
Yes, you should always learn the language of the language. Meta-linguistics is cool like that!
no. its racist and classist.
@@Rowlesisgay go away comm1e
You mean *language of the country?
@@Rowlesisgay At this point I can't even tell if this is sarcasm or not
Russia: Brutalizes everybody surrounding them
Also Russia: Why dont you like me????????
Another main reason is because each country has a large Russian planted minority in their country that still refuses to integrate by refusing to learn or use the countries language. These people still want to make the Baltics Russia so the Baltics are only protecting themselves against Russification.
We don't discriminate them. Period. We owe them nothing.
I wish you would have taken more time to elaborate on the secret protocol of the 1939 Molotov - Ribbentrop Pact. Your allusions to it are too cryptical.
I agree, it is a very big omission and the Katyn Massacre
@@thomasjosullivan9179 the very beginning of Russia's staple foreign policy maneuver: If in doubt, commit war crimes and blame others for doing it.
These restrictions are not some kind of revenge as this video leads on to thinking. We in the Baltics see clear security risks in allowing in Russian citizens in large numbers. We know how russian security services work! We dont need a new influx of agents from a highly hostile country!
Er, but if you think it through, you'll notice that the _genuine_ KGB/FSB agents would have access to world-class language schools, and could learn to pass Estonian, Latvian, or Lithuanian language tests at high level in less than a year.
The ones who struggle with it are not the ones who are security risks because of their determined mission, but the ones who, as the stereotype goes, vaguely identify with a sense of Russian supremacy, and keep getting frustrated daily by their host society refusing to speak, as the stereotype goes, _по-человечески._ Which may contribute to them becoming security risks, but in a more complex and roundabout way - offering more opportunities to intervene.
@rileyfaelan I don't get your point. If someone is a Russian supremacist they're already a security risk.
People get along fine here and if you've been here you would see that it's a common sight that two people speak their language and understand each other or switch between languages mid conversation.
Those who don't are a small number of Russian supremacists.
@@rileyfaelan as an Estonian I'm gonna have to call bullshit on that. The FSB of today is but a mere shadow of the KGB of old. And even the KGB of old leaned on expatriates and locals of the countries they were screwing with. Today, the supposed super official "documents" presented by the russian government as "proof" of discriminatory behavior fail at passing for even the most basic level of Estonian, not to speak of juristically correct language and terminology one would expect to see in an official document. These so-called world-class language schools suck ass. If they are going to use someone, as far as the language is concerned, they are going to use a local citizen. Either way, the language is not a requirement for acting as an agitator and pose a security risk. And while I agree with your point that these measures may foster resentment among otherwise potentially amicable russians, and thusly potentially providing russia with access to far more valuable agents than they have back at home, it is simply a chance we're going to have to take. Right now, when russia is in hot water for its behaviour and regurgitates lies so stupid they're clear for everyone to see is the best time to do it. So I would argue that the local russians who are bothered by this and thusly might become agents would have more than likely eventually walked that path regardless.
@@tormfury7376 To add to the language learning Lithuanian language is very difficult to learn and even if you learn Lithuanian will notice that you are not native cause of your accent or the way you speak cause It's hard to even speak properly for non native.
Great video, keep this up! I am lithuanian so I am totally subjective with this topic. It is interesting to listen just how "our great friend" is interpreting history within their public sphere.
I just think you skiped A LOT here, to be more exact, 45 years of occupation and crimes commited against all three nations including further deportations between '45-'52 (at least those are the dates for Lithuania), partisanic war and how that was dealt with. I guess the negotiations that the western allies had about the destiny of the Baltic states after Germany's defeat in WW2 would deserve a seperate video as I believe that is also used to legitimise soviet occupation in today's Russia? (I can be wrong about this one)
As of the matter that you raised in the beginning of the video - in Lithuania, the public does not support any allowance of russian or byelorussian citizens to move through our borders, use our roads and etc. For most politically aware youth, it's disgusting to see car plates from these countries HOWEVER we do understand that we still have treaties to allow these citizens to pass our borders for transit reasons due to Kaliningrad region. We feel that such and further sactions are a necessity in order to support to Ukraine while presenting russian citizens with consequences for their docile behavior towards their current government. To be completely honest, your expressed opinion towards sanctions based on passport here would just be written off as vatnik tears so, once more, good job at constuctively presenting your opinions and explaining how certain topics are rationalised in Russia! Keep it up!
Doing the language tests separately is mostly symbolic. It's fairly common that naturalisation tests involve something like a written test on the host country's legal system and constitutional order and/or essay on why one wants to naturalise, and an interview with an immigration official. Some countries just make the language test implicit by offering the test and the interview in an official language of the country, and in some countries, a language test is done as formally a separate test. There isn't a great functional difference between these approaches. In both cases, knowledge of the local language is taken as a heuristic into the applicant's state of integration with the local culture.
You also didn't mention that Baltics were flooded with Russian colonists. Rusification was very strong. Local languages, traditions and history were being erased and replaced with russian ones. There were up to 50 % russians in these countries. Locals were second class citizens as priorities went to russians. After the collapse of USSR russians who stayed refused to integrate and learn or even respect local languages as they were hoping that Russia would occuppy Baltics again. As they loved to chant every May how they can "do it again"
At the begining of the war in Ukraine this intensified with "Baltics are next".
So Baltics are 100% in the right to do this.
This. And it wasn't the first time russification was attempted in baltics. Russian empire did too. It's not one particular regime but the whole of muscovite culture that's the cancer.
Same things happened in Ukraine, and other countries colonized by ruZZia! Genocide and russification.
@@edzhus Yup Russian empire and Soviets were doing the same things pretty much.
The core priciples of Russian foreign policy have been best laid out in the 1991 documentary "The Silence of the Lambs": It puts the lotion on it's skin or else it gets the hose again.
The Baltics just got better
From UK. Thank you for communicating a more balance prospective. All I hope for in the future is that the number of people like yourself increase.
Do Central Asia next!! This was great!
Yeah, we’ll, we just want your resources you know, your land(so much)!, your water(so wet!), your timber and coal (so valuable!). We’re jealous of your lifestyle ( so Soviet!)
Just stay on your side of the lines and we’ll be alright.
HOLODOMOR 1932/1933. we know the kindness of russia / ussr.
There is one VERY important part that you missed. Lithuania had multiple Uprisings against the russian empire. For the Baltics, Soviet Union was just an extension of the Russian empire with a new hat. Russia tried to destroy the culture and languages of all nations of the former common wealth. They were quite lucky in Belarus, quite lucky in Ukraine with the language, but they failed in the Balticks thanks to book smugglers and underground of teachers.
When talking about the visa rules, the story must start with "3 day special operation" in Ukraine. Before that there was no ban. Also story teller forgot that newest Nato member Finland has exactly same "russophobic" visa rules than Baltic countries.
-why can’t russians learn the language of the country in which they live???? is it a matter of intelligence???
No, it is not a matter of intelegence. It is many times something worse
You are wrong! There are exception in international law, wich allows threatened groups to take extraordinary measures to preserve their way of life, culture and identity. Latvians almost went extinct in their ancestral land and country in not so distant past. And it was done intentionally by previous regimes of Russian Empire and Soviet Union and it still is the wet dream of modern Russia. Today's Latvians constitute only 62.7% of total population of country. Also there are no discrimination in Latvia based on ethnic grounds, excluding some minor cases. But You can find minor incidents in almost every other country.
Nice video, also nice dancing around any censorship laws by not stating opinions, but just quoting official documents.
Lets all remember the Katyn Massacre of Polish officers by the Soviet Union in 1940.
@@thomasjosullivan9179 One of many crimes they commit...
Mexico does not allow US-only citizens to own land in Mexico.
But we haven’t invaded them since 1917! :-)
And the US actually gave some land to Mexico in 1975. Rio Rico, Texas. I guess not yet enough time has passed for the Mexicans to forget 1846…
Growing up I remember all the refugees from the Baltics and Eastern Europe we had living in the US. It will be a long time before the Baltics stop worrying about Russia.
Communism wasn't banned in Estonia until 1940, the Estonian Communist Party was because of its participation in the 1924 coup d'etat attempt.
Interesting as far as it went, but you missed out the deportations of 1949 (2.5 percent of the Estonian population), the suppression of local culture, the Russification, the importation of Russian-speakers, many of whom made no attempt me learn the language. Putin's imperialistic rhetoric has led many people to fear that these people form a fifth column.
Over 8,000 managed to escape, but 20,722 (7,500 families, over 2.5 percent of the Estonian population, half of them women, over 6,000 children under the age of 16, and 4,300 men) were sent to Siberia during three days. Slightly more than 10 percent were men of working age. The deported included disabled people, pregnant women, newborns and children separated from their parents. The youngest deportee was one-day-old Virve Eliste from Hiiumaa island, who died a year later in Siberia; the oldest was 95-year-old Maria Raagel
my respect for the Baltic states went up
I am perplexed at why you do not say that Stalin and Hitler invaded Poland and thereby started WW2????
They divided Poland between them and both massacred elements of the Polish elite, Russia most famously at the Katyn massacre.
Very impressive knowledge. Greetings from Stronkland.
When Hitler attacked Poland sovitets also attacked from the east, learn some real history
They did, but for the purpose of this video it is not relevant.
So the mistake had no impact on the message.
It was hinted at in the video.
@@LMB222 yet map is wrong... after 17 of september 1939 alot of land was taken by USSR and Poles sent to gulags
@@raf.b: That's the map of Poland _before_ the Bolsheviks and the Nazis friendishly divided it up between themselves.
Good old Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. You disagree with the travel ban? Alas, we comprehend our intentions and understand why we advocate for it. We do not require those who evade mobilization, but rather steadfast supporters of Russian Imperialism and Putin in our nations.
lets all remember the Katyn Massacre of Polish officers by the Soviet Union in 1940
@@thomasjosullivan9179 This one too - we dont want Mafia fanboys on our soil.
Do you wonder why Molotov was not beside his buddy Ribbentrop at Neurimburg?
I learned that at school in Poland, and it didn't impact me then - maybe when people are young and don't care about others it's easier to learn it as just facts. Quite difficult now, with more understanding of the human impact of these things.
Thanks for covering it, from genetic russophobe : )
Russiaphobia is only reinforced by… well… Russia.
We where forced to take extraordinary and radical, for some, moves, because our laws, democratic values and way of life was being attacked constantly and toleration of it and diplomacy didn't work anymore.
It is shocking how little Russia's MO has changed in a century.
Those deported were only few criminals. Mostly soviets deported people that had more land or who were the smartest like university teachers. All those who opposed the ideology of soviets and them ocupation. The very similar thing is happening now in russia. Difference is people know they are going into a jail. Baltic people knew nothing. They just came into houses, gave 5 minutes to take belongings and you are sent out into far and cold place 2000km away or so. What has been done with empty apartments in the baltics? The native speaking russians been sent to those. That is how soviet goverment kept it's power. People basicaly were bribed with free stuff, free apartments, that got taken from the natives. That is why after all this communism. It ia very hard to get out from it. Most of intelectuals were gone and others got bribed. "Vine and bread" greeks say. "Vodka and deportation" soviets say. That is how to rule the country.
That is why many russians look back soviet times with nostalgia, how great it was, coz they got free stuff they could only dream about before. The Baltics were very advanced with European living standards, so when the russians came here, it was like winning a lottery. They also believe that soviet rule made the Baltics great, but Baltics were European to begin with, something they love to deny... soviets set back the Baltics big time. The Baltics still struggle, especially Latvia, struggle with the soviet mentality that is still very much alive the occupants that never left... And Latvia has the largest percentage of these occupants still remaining...
My grandma from mothers side said many stories about how they had to hide their nobility from soviets because they hated well of people and nobility (my grandmas family was not rich but was from nobility. back in Polish-Lithuanian times A lot of Polish and Lithuanian people had nobles I would also say it was same with Belarusians.)
I don't condone discrimination, but I understand the Baltic states. They had their independence ripped from them, but now they're independent again and free from Soviet tyranny. Let's hope they stay free from RuZZia and Putler.
Yeah but now we belong to London city and Nato with America, still no freedom yet! Speaking as lithuanian. We are nothing more then UK colony in east europe right now.
@@aidasmatulaitis5175 just no
As a Latvian-American whose parents and grandparents were on the NKVD lists to be deported or worse in the 1940s and escaped. Leaving behind land a home stead that had been in the family for generations and leaving behind family sadly unable to escape. Thank you for this video and educating the West!!! I'll also say this. We don't hate Russians. In fact, my Grandmother on my Father's side was Russian herself Czarist Russian who fled her homeland when the Soviets/Communists destroyed Russia. We don't hate Russians. They're prefect ably welcome to stay. IF they make allegiance to Latvia, It's Democratically Elected and Free Government and respect Latvian Traditions and Culture. They are perfectly welcome to stay! BUT as long as they hold allegiance to Soviet Russia and now to Vladimir Putin's Russia and refuse to assimilate into Latvia. Get Out! You're not welcome. We ask nothing of the Russian population living in Latvia today, nothing that isn't asked of people moving to USA or England. Pledge allegiance to the country, people and traditions you wish to be a part of.
dude, the thumbnail is EPIC!!!
There was common story regarding kidnaped solders of soviet union, since Lithuania had much higher living of standard very often these solders desert and later be catched by officers and when soviets started to blame us that solders were kidnaped. One of these stories was told by my grandmother. There was conflict at the moment between Lithuanian infantrymen and Russian Infantrymen that one russian solder was kidnaped but actually later was founded by Lithuanian officer in one of farmer barns wasted af. So u can imagine what russians thought. Regarding to russians we Lithuanians have very deep distrust and fear to them. It is rooted in us through generations. Almost every family in Lithuania was affected by derpotentions and executions by the soviets. Maybe today's measures are called draconic, but all we is ask basic level of native language knowledge for permanent residents... It's not that hard in 30+ learn basics.... If I was able to learn russian basics just in couple of weeks staying in Kyiv and Kaliningrad so can they in 30 years....
Everyone has reason to ban russians traveling to their countries. Its baffling that you cant see that russian presence is a threat - remember use of radiological/chemical weapons in NATO/EU countries, blown up ammo/gun powder factories - security issues aside, there is no reason for people that support such government either by action or inaction to live comfortable, they should face consequences.
Thank you so much for this video. Marxism does have holier than thau tinge, big part of older russians who live in Baltics still believe that everyone was voluntarily joining USSR. Information contrary to that meses up with their nostalgia and that Russians' had a great and moral empire.
Ost Preußen wurde zur Zeit der UDSSR sogar einmal Litauen angeboten, jene haben aber abgelehnt um die eigene Demographie des Landes nicht auseinander zu bringen
I'm absolutely against prohibiting speaking certain languages.
But I also know, that if I was Baltic, I absolutely wouldn't be able to speak or understand a word of Russian
... comming from anybody born in the Baltics ;-)
Thank you, guys for making those videos.
I watch all of your videos from Poland.
I find it so amazing that you manage to explain the history, narratives and facts that are between us.
I really wish well to all the russians, and hope that one day this madness in russia will end. And we can finally try to build some bridges between us.
Though i know, it would be a long and difficult process and I'm quite idealistic.
Simple fact is that Vladolf Putler is greatest threat to Russia, as a nation and as state.
This video is very interesting! On one hand, i understand why the Baltic countries made the decisions they did regarding Russians, but on the other hand, I can now see how such policies can drive more neutral people into extremist pro-Russian propaganda like what Medvedev spouts!
Oh boy, this comment section is sure to be full of intelligent takes and absolutely no people accusing you of being a Russian govt. shill for no good reason!
The Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed a non-aggression pact, also known as the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, on August 23, 1939, just days before the start of World War II. The pact was a surprise to other nations because of the ideological differences between the two countries. It allowed Germany and the Soviet Union to divide Eastern Europe into "spheres of influence" and promised not to attack each other for 10 years. Germany's sphere included western Poland and Lithuania, while the Soviet Union's included Finland, Latvia, Estonia, and Moldova. The pact also led to military cooperation, which allowed Hitler to invade Poland on September 1, 1939, and Stalin's forces to attack from the west and complete the partition of Poland
The map you show us is wrong. USSR occupied eastern Poland since 1939. Maybe Molotov-Ribentropp is the next topic for your videos?
Interesting, but you failed to mention the most important reason for the passport discrimination. It is mostly because weaponising a russian population is a proven russian tactic. Latvia in particular has a large number of ethnic russians living within its borders, which opens the possibility for russia to stage a civilian uprising just like it did in crimea. Not to mention espionage, sabotage, political manipulation and other means of indirect warfare that russia is happy to employ. It is entirelly reasonable for the baltics to want to restrict movement of russian citizens because russia has, does and will use it as a weakness against the baltics otherwise. Especially now, with the baltic sea becoming a NATO lake due to Sweden and Finland joining the alliance, The Kaliningrad oblast is bound to become a massive headache for russia. Should the current climate in the region continue escalating as it does, Russia will almost inevidably have to either reinforce it’s power in Kaliningrad, or continue letting their influence slip from them in the region, for as it is now, the oblast is more isolated than it ever was. I think it is far more likelly russia will do something stupid in order to guarantee themselves access to kaliningrad than give it away, and it is why the baltics are so paranoid about indirect warfare. However, if the baltics are succesful in curbing russian attempts at it, russia will be left only with direct attack as an option, and despite what russian propoganda claims, I think russian high command realise that direct confoict with nato would lead to an embarasing defeat.
So yeah, tl;dr is that while passport discrimination sounds mean and bad, and can’t we all like, just get along bro, the reality is that russia has weaponised it’s populace and swift, radical actions like this is why the baltics have been able to keep their soverignty thus far. Russia has proven time and time again it cannot be reliably negotiated with or trusted in the slightest.
I'm estonian. FFFFFFFUUUUÜUÜÜUCCCCCÇCKKKKKKĶKK russia !!!!
As a Latvian same
As a Lithuanian same.
As a Russian same...
What is the Russian version of this video?
We got a case of historical trauma.
I don't think so.
But we remember and know what we can expect...
So said USA, UK, Germany and whole NATO, but now they see that it is not trauma, but wisdom to learn from past and present to avoid disaster in future. Western politics failed concerning Russia. Ukraine is paying for Western blind politics.
Short answer: they don't.
3:32 Russian ryly belive in that shit?
Unfortunately, yes.
3:45 remember that on 1st september 1939 Hitler and russia divided Poland. I just do not get it how everybody forgets that ww2 started two dictators, not just one!
Great job, as always
First...love your channel Boney Right!
Excellent!
Your videos are too intelligent. Somebody in Moscow must really hate that!
Thank you for the important work you're doing.
Good on them!
-i don’t understand why russians just don’t stay in russia
-but since putin mimics adolph hitler maybe that’s why they want to leave
Estonians are not Balts though, we are Finnic people.
Estonia is called a Baltic nation, it is geographically near the Baltic sea, you are talking about language, yes it's ugro finic language group
@@RZakelis Yes, but several other nations also lie at the Baltic Sea, but are not called Baltic states, so your logic has a huge hole in it.
@eksiarvamus not really, Baltic republics were named in Soviet era, and only this three nations in Soviet Union were near Baltic sea :)
@@RZakelis The term is older than that and it was stupid back then as well. Finland used to be included in this term.
Dude, why are you arguing over this subject when you clearly don't even know the basics?
@@eksiarvamus I don't know, Baltic states sounds nice to me :)
liked and bumped.
The tone of this video assumes that a pro-kremlin russian looking at it would have a change of heart and develop sympathy. But as an Estonian it looks like you are trying to explain to a shark that biting humans might be bad because they get hurt.
Is requiring the knowledge of the national language too much to ask of permanent residents? Is providing public education in only the local language discriminatory? I had to go to Latvian school privately Saturdays in the USA to use and learn my parent’s native language.
"Special operation", it is good to know that Putin is following the KGB playbook by the letter ;) they will fail for sure :D
This Molotov was quite of figure. He did similar things to my country (Bulgaria) back then ;(
It was Stalin. Molotov was only puppet.
The ban should be extended to the entire EU. There is no moral reason to be kind to fascists.
is every russian a fascist? or don't you think those escaping Russia would be running from fascism and from being drafted to fight in war they don't support?
You forgot that during times of Baltic annexation Finland was also counted into "Baltic countries" and was allowed with Molotov-Ribbendrop Pact (signed on 23rd August 1939) to be annexed by Soviet Union. Unlike Baltic countries, Finland did not obey following ultimatum of Soviets. Soviet Union had to use force and so they started war with Finland (known as Winter War) on 30th November 1939. As a result of this war, Finland lost some territory to Soviet Union and became also somewhat puppet state of Soviet Union, but they didn't lost their sovereignty as Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania.
They, Finns, fought hard, they loose some of territory and had to relocate 10 % of citizens. But they never forgot it.
There is one other way to tell that the USSR never left any choice for the Baltics and forced them into the USSR: what happened to Finland after Finland declined Stalin's "proposals."
Peaceful coexistence and independence were never part of the USSR's plans. And as the USSR/Russia always does, it created an outward appearance of legitimacy with these forced treaties and by holding all kinds of rigged referendums and elections.
Please explain how a treaty document housed in the U.S. National Archives was used by one of the Baltic Socialist Republics in 1988 to win the vote of the RSFSR for that Republic's independence. Why did it matter that the document was in the U.S.? Wouldn't it have also been in Moscow and each the Baltic capitals?
I blame Putin for all of this.
Russia doesn't forget that these countries fought with the Nazis against Russia in the second world war
This is not discrimination. Discrimination is a different attitude against people who are in the same position due to their color, orientation, social status, gender, political views. Traveling to another country is a privilege, not a right. A sovereign country can decide who to let in or not let in. If there is different attitude then while this is with a grounded reason then this is ok from the perspective of human rights. In this case this is a matter of our security and this is a grounded reason. We already have inhabitants who still wait for the return of Soviet union. My cousin once had a colleague who said to her straight into face: "If Russia's army decides to come to Latvia and will ask to shoot all Latvians, I will shoot you with no regrets." So we don't want here more loyal to Russia people. We don't want more "polite people" here who would love to occupy Latvia again, are not against occupation of Ukraine, they are just not willing to die on the frontline and are running from mobilisation. They are a threat to our security. Moreover this has opened our old wounds about the occupation in 1939., we will never forget the repressions Russians did to our nation. Tens of thousands of innocently killed, detained, tortured, repressed and forcibly deported people - intellectuals, families, old people, children. 28% of all deported to Syberia people (1939-1949) were children under 16 years!!! Our gene pool was irreversibly partly destroyed. It was a true geocide. Until year 1897. we had only 12% russians here, in 1938-only 8%, after occupation russians were artificially moved here and were already 34% by year 1989. It was forced russification which is also a geocide. Western Europe was just watching... We will never forgive or risk this to happen again. Even if someone thinks this is discrimination, this is fine for me as long as I still have my own independent country, with no scent of ruzzian world. Still there are options for Russians to ask for asylum in Latvia on humanitarian grounds, or come here as a family member.
Umm you do know "discriminate" does not mean the same thing as "discriminate against" right? "Discriminate" means more or less "tell the difference between".
I think knowledge that the Latvian language *exists* should be enough for a TRP - I mean they have 700k fewer people than Brooklyn.
It is not discrimination. It is only special language operation 😂😂😂
You've done well. For the illiterate people, that know nothing of these matters might be useful information. Unless person is totally brainwashed troll
And thank you very much
Never again will RU rule the baltic states. Tā nav Krievija, tā nekad vairs nebūs. No šī brīža Krievija vairs nekad nepastāvēs.
And Georgians. Ouzbeks. Ukrainians... In short anyone in the Sphere Of Influence And Russia respond in kind, by treating anything outside Moscow and St Petersburg as a door mat, or if nice enough, as a holiday destination.
Usually, if the question boils down to 'Why Always Me', then the response is inevitably 'Because It's Always You'. But often there is a lack of self-awareness, as shown in the public polls of the average Moscovite.