Stories about Latvia from November, 2008
The Baltics, India: “The Dangers of Turning a Minority into an Underclass”
Lithuania-based Andrei Khrapavitski of Belarusan American Blog reflects on the events in Mumbai and suggests there might be a “lesson for the Baltics” there: “I know any status comparisons of Muslims in India to a Russian minority in Latvia or Estonia would be more than far-fetched, nevertheless I can see...
Latvia: The Crisis and Freedom of Speech
Free Speech Emergency in Latvia wrote on Nov. 22: “A university lecturer was arrested for two days for making comments at a public discussion of the economy, while a musician was questioned for joking about taking money out of a bank during a concert.” More coverage of the situation –...
Latvia: Images of an abandoned past
Arnis Balcus’ Photo Blog posts pictures of the abandoned Soviet secret town of Skrunda with the military radar station once scanning space against presumed western missiles.
Latvia: Freedom of speech in peril?
Latvian bloggers react to the security police incarceration of two citizens for publicly criticising the government financial policies. Free Speech Emergency in Latvia covers the story, and Marginalia provides links and comment.
Latvia and Estonia: Views of the Economic Crisis
Veiko Spolitis of Baltic reviews Latvia's economic crisis, the warnings of international financial institutions, and how Latvian politicians have responded to them. BabelTallinn accounts for an official view on how the crisis has affected Estonia.
Central & Eastern Europe: A Travel Roundup
Olive harvesting in Albania, John Paul II monuments in Poland, a Soviet military hardware cemetery in Moscow and more: Central and Eastern Europe-based bloggers share their recent travel stories and photos.
Latvia, U.S.: Michael Strautmanis
Baltic writes about Barack Obama's tiny Latvia connection – via his chief counsel Michael Strautmanis, whose stepfather was Latvian.
Russia, Ukraine, Somalia: Cargo Ship “Faina”
Russian Navy Blog posts updates – here and here – on the capture of the MV Faina cargo ship by Somali pirates. At the time of the capture, the ship's crew consisted of 17 Ukrainian citizens, three Russian citizens and one citizen of Latvia; the ship's Russian captain died from...
