Tensions in the Baltic

Kaliningrad.

Anniversary of the Later Deportations

March 25, 1949.

Here's an (English-language) account of the 1941 deportations. More here.

"Affection for the Baltic states is common among Russians of a certain age, a legacy largely of the Soviet Union."

Why some Russians seek exile in the Baltic States.

"If I wanted, in two days I could have Russian troops not only in Kiev, but also in Riga, Vilnius, Tallinn, Warsaw and Bucharest[.]"

Said Putin.

Politicians should avoid photo ops on tanks.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė took a ride on a tank today during NATO exercises. The tank was part of a "demonstration that involved approximately 2,000 Soldiers from Denmark, Poland, Lithuania and the U.S. in a dynamic display that demonstrated allies working together in a cohesive operating environment."

What's the story here?*  Grybauskaitė erroneously called the "Leopard" tank a "Tiger."

*No, she does not "look, in the tank, wearing the helmet, like Rocky the Flying Squirrel."

Unrest in Crimea boosts Lithuanian tourism.

"The more the situation in the region remains unstable, the more Russians and Ukrainians will ponder spending their vacation in an environment similar to the one they were used to in the Crimea. I mean, the language and climate. In that sense, Lithuania really suits them."

Palanga has been a popular beach destination for many years.

"After the United States and Ukraine, the countries named as the most hostile to Russia were the three Baltic states -- Lithuania (25 percent), Latvia (23 percent) and Estonia (21 percent)."

"A survey conducted by an independent Russian polling agency."

(Emphasis added.)

"'We are non-citizens. They called us occupiers, but now they turn out [to be] occupiers themselves. This is Russia's land'."

Ethnic Russians living in the Baltic States speak out.

Eyes on Estonia

"Russia signaled concern on Wednesday at Estonia's treatment of its large ethnic Russian minority, comparing language policy in the Baltic state with what it said was a call in Ukraine to prevent the use of Russian."

See also here.

There are ethnic Russians living in Lithuania, too.

Anonymous petition asks residents of Klaipėda "to approve the region's accession to the Russian Federation."

ADDED: Here's a map showing the distribution of ethnic Russians in the Baltic States.

A Discussion about Ukraine

Ambassadors from the three Baltic States discuss the crisis on CNN.

Rock n' Roll in the Soviet Union

"… [A] Guide to Doing the Baltic Bop."

"Fools," not "Idiots"

Estonia's transport minister characterizes members of the Lithuanian government who want to pull out of a high-speed rail project if "Rail Baltic" bypasses Vilnius, the capital.

"Russian" Knitting

A recent exhibit featured stockings, socks, gloves, and mittens. The Russian Museum of Ethnography's description shows that organizers still think of the former Soviet states as part of their empire: "To protect wrists from the spring and winter winds peoples of the Ukraine, Byelorussia, northern-west part of Russia and in Baltic states wore knitted armlets, which looked like wide, ornamented cuffs."

Many of the designs look Baltic.

Stolichnaya says its product is not "Russian" vodka.

Responding to "Dump Russian Vodka,"  Stolichnaya asserts its vodka is made in Latvia.

Rattling

"Russian political scientist: If NATO attacks Syria, Russia should occupy Baltic States."

Will the subject arise when President Obama meets today with the presidents of the three Baltic republics?

"Migrant Workers: Cheap Labour Value Pack"

A cartoonist at The Independent addressed the availability of cheap, migrant labor in England by modifying the Tesco grocery store's slogan, "Every little helps," to read "Every Lithuanian helps."

Here is the Lithuanian ambassador's response.

 

(For more on the perception of Lithuanians in Great Britain, click on the "migrant workers" label below, or see here and here.)

UPDATE: "[T]he deputy editor of The Independent has expressed that the cartoon was absolutely not criticism of Lithuania, of Lithuanians or of economic migrants."

Russia isn't happy about the Baltic States' NATO membership.

This is not a surprise.

A Beloved Past, and an Uncertain Future

Hanau, Germany, about 1946. A friend sent along this photo of her mother—fourth from left—at the Hanau Displaced Persons Camp. Her mother stands with women wearing the folk dresses of the three Baltic nations, namely Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.

Thanks to my friend Nijole for making this photo available to us.

A Repatriation Trend

Migrants are returning home to Lithuania.

(I wrote about the emigration problem here.)