Republic of Latvia

LATVIA. Republic of Latvia

A state in the northwest of Europe, on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Area — 64.5 thousand km². Capital — Riga (759 thousand), major cities: Daugavpils (114 thousand), Liepaja (89 thousand), Jelgava (65 thousand), Jurmala (55 thousand), Ventspils (41 thousand). Administrative-territorial division - 26 districts and 7 cities of republican subordination.

Population - 2.298 million (2005), including Latvians - 58.6%, Russians - 28.8%, Belarusians - 4%, Ukrainians - 2.7%, Poles - 2.5%, Lithuanians - 1.4%, Jews - 10.4%. A total of 81 nationalities reside in the country. The official language is Latvian.

Religion - Protestantism, Orthodoxy, Catholicism. Currency - lat = 100 santims.

Has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established on 15.10.1991).

National holiday - November 18 - Day of the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia (1918).

Latvia is a parliamentary republic. The constitution, adopted on 15.11.1922, is in effect. The head of state is the president (since June 1999 - V. Vike-Freiberga; re-elected for a second term in June 2003), elected by the parliament for a term of 4 years. The highest legislative body is the unicameral Saeima, elected on the basis of universal elections by direct secret ballot through a proportional system by the citizens of Latvia for a term of 4 years (consists of 100 deputies). Elections to the current 8th Saeima took place on 5.10.2002. The chairman of the Saeima is I. Udre (Union of Farmers and Greens). The executive body is the government of Latvia (consists of center-right parties - People's Party, New Era Party, Latvian First Party, Union of Farmers and Greens) headed by the prime minister (since December 2004 - A. Kalvitis, People's Party).

The following factions are formed in the parliament: New Era Party (leader - E. Repše, 24 seats); People's Party (leader - A. Slakteris, 20 seats); Latvian First Party (leader - J. Lujāns, 14 seats); Union of Farmers and Greens (leader - I. Udre, 12 seats); Harmony Center (leader - N. Ušakovs, 8 seats); the association "For the Fatherland and Freedom"/Movement for National Independence of Latvia (leader - J. Straume, 7 seats); the association "For Human Rights in a United Latvia" (co-chairs - T. Ždanok and J. Pliner, 6 seats); Socialist Party of Latvia (leader - A. Rubiks, 5 seats) and 4 independent deputies.

Among the leading public organizations, the Union of Free Trade Unions of Latvia (SPL) stands out for its activity, founded in November 1990.

The Russian-speaking population is represented by organizations such as the Russian Community of Latvia, the Headquarters for the Protection of Russian Schools, the United Congress of Russian Communities of Latvia, the Latvian Association of Russian Communities, the Baltic-Slavic Society for Cultural Development and Cooperation, and others.

The first principalities on the territory of modern Latvia emerged in the 10th-13th centuries. From the 13th to the mid-16th century, the territory of Latvia was part of Livonia, under German domination, and from the mid-16th century, part of its territory belonged to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Sweden. In 1721 and 1795, the principalities on the territory of Latvia became part of the Russian Empire.

In February 1918, Latvia was occupied by German troops. On November 18, 1918, after the capitulation of Germany, the Latvian People's Council proclaimed the independence of the Republic of Latvia. On December 4, 1918, a Soviet government was created underground in Latvia, which appealed to Soviet Russia for help. The Red Army entered Latvia, and a Soviet republic was established on part of Latvian territory, including the capital Riga. However, the national Latvian army, created with the support of the Entente, launched military actions against the Bolshevik government of P. Stuchka and the so-called Bermontians (supporters of P. R. Bermont-Avalov, who attempted to form a German-oriented government). As a result, in 1920, an independent republic was once again proclaimed in Latvia. In August 1920, Latvia signed a peace treaty with the RSFSR. On November 15, 1922, the first constitution of the country was adopted (suspended in 1934 by the head of government K. Ulmanis, when political parties and trade unions were banned, and the Saeima was dissolved).

In October 1939, a Soviet-Latvian intergovernmental treaty on mutual assistance was signed, which provided for the placement of Soviet military bases on the territory of Latvia. After receiving the consent of the Latvian government on June 17, 1940, additional Soviet troops were introduced into Latvia, a pro-Soviet government was formed, and on July 14-15 elections were held in the Saeima, which on July 21, 1940, proclaimed the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic. On August 5, 1940, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR approved the appeal of Latvian parliamentarians for Latvia's accession to the USSR. In 1941, Latvia was occupied by the troops of fascist Germany. It was liberated by the Red Army in 1944 - early May 1945.

In the elections to the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR, held on March 18, 1990, most seats were won by candidates from the People's Front of Latvia, which advocated the restoration of the republic's independence. On May 4, 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR adopted the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence and changed the name of the republic to its current one - the Republic of Latvia. In the referendum held in March 1991, 77.6% of those who participated (including the majority of the Russian and Russian-speaking population) expressed support for Latvia's exit from the USSR. Latvia's independence was legally recognized by the Resolution of the USSR State Council on September 6, 1991.

Latvia is a member of the UN (since 1991), the Council of Europe (since 1995), the ILO (since January 1999), NATO (since April 2004), and the EU (since May 2004).

Since 1991, Latvia has faced the problem of mass statelessness, as immigrants from the RSFSR and other former Soviet republics were not granted "automatic" Latvian citizenship, as was done for all who lived in the country before August 1940 and their descendants. As a result, currently about 430 thousand Russian-speaking residents of Latvia have an unprecedented status of "non-citizen" and are deprived of all political and a significant part of socio-economic rights. They are subject to numerous restrictions on professions, with more than 61 differences in the rights of citizens and non-citizens in Latvia. The Russian-speaking minority faces discrimination based on language, and there is a dismantling of the Russian-language education system: the ongoing reform of secondary schools for national minorities is effectively aimed at eliminating Russian-language education. Veterans of the Great Patriotic War are prosecuted in court, against the backdrop of the heroization and provision of social benefits to former SS members and fascist collaborators, as well as participants of the "forest brothers" formations.

The main priority of the current government's economic policy in Latvia is accelerated integration into the economic space of the EU.

According to the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, the country's GDP in 2004 amounted to 11.99 billion dollars, increasing by 8.5% (GDP growth in 2003 was 7.2%). This was facilitated by a 10.1% increase in trade volumes, a 12.9% increase in the transport and communications sector, a 7.9% increase in manufacturing, and a 13% increase in construction. At the same time, the share of industry in GDP fell from 30% in 1990 to less than 12% in 2004. The budget for 2005 was prepared on the assumption that GDP growth would be 6.7%.

Latvia specializes in transit transportation and services (the share of total transit in GDP is about 7%, including Russian transit - about 5%), which is facilitated by its geographical location, the presence of ice-free ports (the cities of Riga, Ventspils, and Liepaja), and a dense network of railways (2.4 thousand km) and paved roads (7.5 thousand km).

The cargo turnover of Latvian ports in 2004 amounted to 57.4 million tons, including more than 40 million tons of Russian cargo, which is 5% more than in the same period of 2003. At the same time, the port of Ventspils handled 25.66 million tons of cargo (an increase of 1.1%), Riga - 22.6 million tons (an increase of 11.4%), and Liepaja - 4.09 million tons (a decrease of 7.9%). The transit of Russian export cargo through railways and ports of Latvia in 2004 accounted for 65% of the total volume of the Latvian transit sector.

The share of agriculture, including forestry and hunting, was less than 4% of GDP in 2004. The main sectors: crop production (wheat, rye, buckwheat, sugar beet), meat-dairy livestock.

According to the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, the foreign trade turnover in 2004 amounted to 10.33 billion dollars: exports - 3.72 billion dollars (+29%), imports - 6.61 billion dollars (+28% compared to 2003).

The main trading partners of Latvia in 2004 remained EU countries (70% of Latvian exports and 60% of imports). The largest share of exports was accounted for by Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Lithuania, Estonia, Denmark, and Russia. The main suppliers of imported goods were Germany, Lithuania, Russia, and Finland.

According to the Ministry of Economic Development of Russia, in 2004, the total volume of Russian-Latvian trade, compared to 2003, increased by 26.2% and amounted to 1.565 billion dollars, with exports to Latvia increasing to 1.3528 billion dollars (+27.7%), and imports to 212.2 million dollars (+17%).

The main export items: timber and sawn products (35.5%), metal products and textiles (12%), food products (8%), machinery and electrical engineering (7%). In imports, the leading items are machinery and equipment (20%), mineral products (10%), chemical goods and vehicles (10%), metals (9%).

The accumulated volume of foreign direct investments amounted to approximately 3.8 billion dollars from 1992 to 2004 (in 2004 - about 600 million dollars), including 75% in the services sector, 23% in trade, 19% in financial intermediation, 12% in commercial services, 10% in transport and communications, and 3% in energy.

The gold and foreign exchange reserves of the Bank of Latvia as of August 2005 amounted to 2.18 billion dollars.

The state debt of Latvia in 2004 reached 1.9 billion dollars, increasing during the year due to domestic borrowing by 10%.

The average annual inflation rate for 2004 was 7.2% (in 2003 - 2.9%). The unemployment rate, according to the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, is 8.5% (15% by international methodology). It remains particularly high in Russian-speaking Latgale - 27%.

In Latvia, there are the University of Latvia, Riga Technical University, Agricultural Academy, Medical Academy, and other higher educational institutions.

There are periodic publications in Latvian: "Latvijas Vēstnesis" ("Latvian Herald") - the official newspaper, published 5 times a week, circulation 30 thousand copies; daily newspapers: "Diena" ("Day"), circulation about 48 thousand; "Latvijas Avīze" ("Latvian Newspaper"), circulation 60 thousand; "Rīgas Balss" ("Voice of Riga"), circulation 25 thousand; "Neatkarīgā Rīta Avīze" ("Independent Morning Newspaper"), circulation about 20 thousand; "Jauna Avīze" ("New Newspaper"), circulation 10 thousand. The Russian-language press is represented by daily newspapers: "Vesti Segodnya" (32 thousand); "Chas" (20 thousand); "Telegraf" (12 thousand); "Biznes i Baltiya" (10 thousand); "Večernyaya Riga" (about 10 thousand); "Kommersant Baltic" (6 thousand), as well as weekly publications: "Vesti" (38 thousand); "MK-Latvia" (15 thousand); "Panorama Nedeli" (12 thousand); "Rakurs" (10 thousand); the newspaper "Subbota" (44 thousand) and others.

The main information agencies: Baltic News Service (BNS), Latvian Independent Telegraph Agency (LETA).