Russians in Latvia

Your article on Russians living in Latvia (“Latvia Playing Russian Roulette,” March 24) contains several key factual errors which mar an otherwise informative piece on citizenship issues in Latvia.

The Latvian parliament’s draft law on citizenship would not “render nearly half its 2.7 million inhabitants illegal aliens.” If the present draft law were passed, the vast majority of Latvia’s present population would be eligible for citizenship, while the remainder would have the right to remain in Latvia as legal aliens. Nearly 80% of the Russians who entered Latvia in the last 50 years would meet the 16-year residency requirement.

It is also incorrect to state that the Latvian law would “strip more than a million of their citizenship.” Those residents who established citizenship during Latvia’s independence between 1918 and 1940, would of course, retain their legally acquired citizenship. Those who entered Latvia following the 1940 Soviet occupation, settled and lived in Latvia as Soviet citizens. The demise of the Soviet Union has rendered their citizenship status uncertain. The Latvian law offers them a free choice: adopt Latvian citizenship, or choose citizenship in Russia or another newly independent state such as Ukraine. Regardless of which citizenship they choose, all will retain a right to live in Latvia if they so prefer.

The article erroneously states that Visvaldis Lacis is a deputy in the Latvian Supreme Council. He is not; Lacis represents an organization which not only criticizes Latvian government policy, but questions the very legitimacy of that government. Needless to say, his views are not shared by the Latvian government.

In fact, a law adopted by the Latvian Parliament on March 19, 1991, guarantees equal rights “to all nationalities and ethnic groups” and “guarantees to all permanent residents in the Republic, regardless of their nationality, equal rights to work and wages.”

Asking that elected officials and government employees understand the native language of the country they represent cannot be viewed as discrimination. It is simply common sense. Latvia’s language policy is an attempt to restore a national heritage.

OJARS KALNINS

Minister Counselor

Embassy of Latvia, Washington