Russification as the cornerstone of Soviet colonisation / Article

Titled ‘Russification as the Cornerstone of Soviet colonisation: The State in Soviet-occupied Baltics after the adoption of the UN International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination’, the paper is written by Gatis Krūmiņš (Dr.hist., leading researcher) and Ilmārs Mežs, (Dr.hist., researcher), both of Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences.

Gatis Krūmiņš told LSM his motivation for producing the paper and expressed hopes that it might be of particular use in helping the wider world understand what is currently being endured by Ukraine as a result of Russia’s aggressive and avowedly genocidal campaign against it.

“In the context of a rapidly changing international geopolitical situation, people in different regions of the world sometimes find it difficult to understand why the Baltic States are so tough in their stance against the Russian Federation. One of the main explanations is the historical experience of the Baltic States. The consequences of the crimes committed by the USSR in the occupied Baltics have still not been overcome,” explained Krūmiņš.

“One of the crimes of the USSR was Russification, and seeing the policy of the Russian Federation in the occupied territories of Ukraine, the slightest doubt about the continuity of this policy disappears. In addition, Russia, identical to the USSR, is violating its international obligations. As a result of intensive work over the past year, researchers have identified new facts about the Russification implemented by the USSR in Latvia, and it is our duty to share these results with an international audience,” added Krūmiņš.

As previously stated, the paper is provided above as a downloadable attachment. 

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