Stories about Latvia from July, 2008
The Baltics: Baltic Sea Environmental Campaign
Copydude writes about Moving Baltic Sea – a campaign to promote creative strategies for cultural and environmental co-operation among Baltic Sea states.
Latvia: Teasing the Guards
Arnis Balcus posts photos from the early 1990s, when it was still possible to “tease the guards at the Freedom Monument in Riga.”
Latvia, Russia: Views of European Court Ruling
Marginalia presents a Latvian view of the background to and case of Kononov vs. Latvia, which Latvia lost last week in the European Court of Human Rights, whereas Voices from Russia gives a Russian view of perceived Latvian motives for the original war crimes’ charges against Kononov.
Latvia: European Court Goes Against Riga
Who has the right to pass judgment on what a man does in the service of his country during wartime and what should the legal grounds for such a verdict be? These are some of the key issues surrounding a legal process on WWII war crimes against a soviet veteran, Vasily Kononov, that has been dragged through the Latvian legal system since 1998. However, earlier this week, the European Court of Human Rights found that Latvia lacked legal grounds for prosecuting Kononov. Following the verdict, the Russian blogosphere has generally reacted with joy and relief, although there have also been some opposing voices.
Latvia: Arnis Balcus’ Photoblog
Arnis Balcus has started a Latvia photoblog: “Here I want to display my findings because the things that interest me are very often taken for granted and passed away unnoticed. These are little things that one day will disappear, for instance, architecture and its elements that remind of Soviet times...
