Latvia

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The Republic of Latvia, with a population of 2.35 million people, lies on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea between Lithuania and Estonia. It also shares borders with Russia and Belarus. Latvia's strategic location between Scandinavia, Russia, and Europe resulted in many territorial wars on its soil, which divided Latvians for many years. Border agreements continue to be a source of debate with Russia and Lithuania. Latvia's population contains a large minority of Russians and other ethnicities. This is one of the issues underlying the border dispute with Russia.

After centuries of German, Lithuanian, Polish, Swedish, and Russian rule, the movement for Latvian independence in Russian territories grew in the mid-1800s. A group called the New Latvians promoted a national identity for Latvians with the same rights afforded other Europeans. On November 18, 1918, disarray in Russia following World War I (1914–1918) finally provided Latvians with their first opportunity to declare independence. Their independence lasted until July 1940 when Latvia was occupied by the Nazis; it became part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) at the end of World War II (1939–1945). Finally on August 21, 1991, Latvia declared the restoration of its de facto independence.

The Constitution of the Republic of Latvia, modeled after the British constitution, was adopted on February 15, 1922, and reinstated on August 21, 1991, with amendments to address human rights issues. The Constitution prescribes the Saeima, or parliament, to be the highest authority in Latvia. The Saeima is comprised of 100 representatives of the people and is elected in general, equal, and direct elections by secret ballot based on proportional representation. The Saeima elects the president and endorses the president's choice for prime minister. The prime minister, in turn, appoints ministers to the cabinet. The prime minister heads the parliament, while the president represents the state in international relations and implements the decisions of the Saeima concerning the ratification of international agreements. Although the Saeima is the highest authority in legal principle, the prime minister wields more influence in practice. Evidence of this can be extrapolated from accounts of prime ministers stripping the Saeima or cabinet members of their positions.

The Constitution explicitly states certain rights for all people, including equality before the law and courts and the right to vote. All Latvian citizens eighteen and older have the right to vote; however, citizenship requires that ethnic minorities be able to converse in the Latvian language. This requirement restricts minority participation in the role of government. Other rights include self-expression, practice of ethnic customs, social services for certain groups, choice of employment, housing, and free education. Discrimination, torture, and censorship are explicitly condemned.

The transition from occupation to sovereignty has made the full implementation of these rights difficult. The attitudes and practices of police, bureaucrats, and judges have not adapted to the change in government ideology. The lack of progress by these agents is evident in reports citing the excessive use of force by the police, the acceptance of bribes by civil service workers, and the inequitable application of laws and sentences by judges. This evidence reinforces Latvian attitudes of mistrust toward public officials.

Estonia; Lithuania.

Eglitis, Daina Stukuls. Imagining the Nation: History, Modernity, and Revolution in Latvia. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2002.

Ikstens, Janis. "Latvia." European Journal of Political Research 42, no. 7–8 (December 2002):1003–1009.

"Latvia." CIA World Factbook. Washington, DC: Central Intellingence Agency, 2005. <http://www.cia.gov>.

Pabriks, Artis. Latvia: The Challenges of Change. New York: Routledge, 2001.

United Nations Online Network in Public Administration and Finance. <http://www.unpan.org>.

University of Washington, Baltic States Studies. Encyclopedia of Baltic History. <http://depts.washington.edu/bal tic/encyclopedia.html>.

U.S. Department of State. Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs. "Background Note: Latvia." <http://www.state.gov>.

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