Originally published in Latvian on www.delfi.lv
Mārcis Balodis, researcher at the Centre for East European Policy Studies
Russia’s unjustified aggression against Ukraine has provoked a wide range of counteraction. Widespread sanctions have been imposed on Russia in various sectors, as well as any ties and contacts with Russia are being reviewed. Naturally, these actions have made it difficult for Russia to use its influence to change public opinion, but it has by no means diminished the importance of the task. Even more, becoming an internationally ostracised country, Russia needs to ensure the support of its position in the West, while discrediting the West itself. Therefore, it is not surprising that the ideas of a witch-hunt against everything Russian are actively used, especially in the states that take the strongest stand against Russia’s destructive influence.
The Precedent of Xenophobia
In Latvia, on 11 August 2022, the Saeima adopted a declaration by which the Russian aggression against the Ukrainian people was recognised as terrorism, and Russia has been recognised as a sponsor of terrorism. Understandably, such a statement caused frustration and an immediate wave of insults in Russia. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, this is contrary to international law and its principles. To give the impression that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation cares about international principles, Latvia is additionally called an ordinary pawn that only obediently executes the commands of its transoceanic masters.[1] Director of the Information and Press Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova described it as ‘animal xenophobia’ behind a neo-Nazi ideology.[2] Political commentator Yaakov Kedmi went even further and called on Russia to not only break any ties with Latvia, but also to respond to Latvian Russophobia as Israel responds to anti-Semitism. In this way, he already tends to clearly outline connections and draw unjustified historical parallels. In his opinion, an adequate response would be to declare not only Latvia but all the Baltic states as Nazis, because they are actively targeting the Russians.[3]
A similar wave of accusations has been caused by Estonia’s decision to cancel visas issued in Estonia to Russian citizens. Pro-Kremlin sites are even urging to accuse Estonia of violating the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which considers freedom of movement as one of the fundamental freedoms of people, even though countries have the right to implement their visa policy.[4] However, in the Kremlin’s view, Estonia’s step is seen as a precedent, based on which Europe’s goal is not only to stop Russian tourism in Europe, but to close Europe in general.[5] It is stressed that the Estonian action could be the first swallow for the whole of Europe, which could result in the full expulsion of all Russians from Europe.[6] At the same time, it was also explained who the real beneficiary of the entry bans would be – it would be Russia. According to the commentators, the European tourism industry is destined for agony because of the loss of Russian and Chinese tourists. Instead, Russian citizens will start to pay more attention to domestic tourism, as well as Russia will also attract more tourists from Asia and even Latin America.[7] Anatoly Wasserman, a member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, believes that Russia will not feel the consequences of such a move at all. According to him, the EU has already limited its ties with Russia to such an extent that there is no real reason to go to the EU, and Russian producers can produce Czech beer and French cheese no worse than the Czechs and the French themselves. In addition, he believes that due to the misfortunes of the European economy, the products manufactured in Russia are even becoming better quality.[8]
Treatment of the Baltics
Vice-Rector of the Diplomatic Academy of the MFA of the Russian Federation Oleg G. Karpovich attempts to explain the current series of events surrounding Russia in an extremely elementary way. In his view, the leaders of the anti-Russian coalition are suffering from intellectual degradation that is no longer preventable. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas’ statement that visiting Europe is a privilege, not a right, is equated with Nazi Germany’s view of ‘inferior races’. The author even assumes that Russia’s success in the war has even contributed to the madness of discrimination aimed at awakening Russian consciousness to trigger a long-term struggle against the Russian government.[9] Although such a thesis may not seem worthy of attention in itself, it is powerful in the Russian political context. Such a statement prompts one to think about one of the biggest fears of the Putin regime – the so-called ‘colour revolutions’, which the Kremlin considers to be foreign-engaged and sponsored revolutions, which only pretend to be expressions of public free will. Indirectly referring to the revolutions, the author makes it clear that the real intention of the West is to threaten Russia. No wonder that at the end of his publication, the author does not shy away from asserting that the ideas of Kallas, Zelenskyy, and, presumably, other political leaders as well, are based on the darkest pages of the 1930s. Of course, he also believes that it is the successful outcome of the war that will be able to ‘heal’ Europe from the plagues that the ‘liberators’ have not been able to destroy.[10]
Counsellor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Latvia Mikhail Demurin was even more aggressive. He believes that Latvia’s ‘dare’ to recognise Russia as a state that supports terrorism is a symptom of Russia’s weakness in foreign policy towards Latvia and the Baltic countries as a whole. Therefore, there are no strong Russian communities or pro-Kremlin elites in the Baltic states that could defend Russian interests. He believes that the Baltic states are obvious enemies of Russia, at least as long as they are supported by the West. Thus, he summarises that first it will be Ukraine’s turn, and after the USA and the EU lose their positions, it will be the turn of the Baltic states.[11]
Russia’s Merits
What do these various allegations and accusations, which are directed mainly towards the Baltic states, have in common? It is constant hurling of accusations of Nazism and Fascism while trying to form the perception that Russia cares about human rights and respect for international norms. Invoking Fascism in today’s Russia is a fairly regular occurrence, and not without reason. The term itself evokes immediate associations with the events of World War II, which the Putin regime has made one of the cornerstones of Russian identity. This creates a clear picture of who is ‘the good guy’ in this story. Second, it is a loud and long-distance tag that does not require any additions or going into detail. This is a relatively simple way to try to help the audience come to the ‘right’ conclusions without asking for any clarification. It is an instrument with which you can dehumanise your opponents without going into the context of what is happening.
In the current circumstances, when Russia has even managed to achieve revisions of the decades-old foreign and security policies of Germany, Finland, and Sweden due to its actions, Russia needs allies and a change of public opinion in Europe. Russia cannot allow the understanding of Russia as an unreliable and imperialistic aggressor, with which cooperation is neither safe nor meaningful, to strengthen in the Western countries. The sanctions and restrictions imposed on Russia are on Russia’s merit and are proportionate to Russia’s crimes. It is important to emphasise that countermeasures are by no means exhausted, and the most important task of Europe is to reduce its connection with Russia in the field of energy resources. Understandably, Russia has no objective counterarguments in such a situation, so the case involves sowing panic in society and unfounded accusations, especially against Russian-speaking citizens. The Kremlin wants to make the Baltic states look harmful to mobilise public support for the Kremlin itself and weaken our position. Thus, the real enemy of Russia is identified, and, more importantly, those who support Ukraine are demonised. Such messages are being transmitted further into Europe to give the impression that cooperation with the Baltic states is not desirable, either now or in the future. The war against Ukraine is a clear example of Russia’s aggressive imperialism, and it must be confronted. The sanctions and restrictions against Russia are not based on Russophobia or Fascism, but on the need to undermine a regime that does not care about the principles of international relations, especially for civilians during the war.
This publication has been financed by the European Media and Information Fund (EMIF) that is managed by the “Calouste Gulbekian Foundation”: The sole responsibility for the content lies with the author(s) and the content may not necessarily reflect the positions of EMIF or the foundation.
[1] Петр Николаев, ““Латвии отведена роль пешки”: в МИД отреагировали на признание России спонсором терроризма”, Gazeta, skat. 23.08.2022., https://www.gazeta.ru/politics/2022/08/12/15261272.shtml?updated
[2] Verstov Info, ““Животная ксенофобия”. Латвия официально объявила Россию спонсором терроризма”, skat. 23.08.2022., https://www.verstov.info/news/policy/101209-zhivotnaja-ksenofobija-latvija-oficialno-objavila-rossiju-sponsorom-terrorizma.html
[3] Григорий Егоров, “Кедми: Прибалтика поплатится за признание России “спонсором терроризма””, RU Economics, skat. 23.08.2022., https://rueconomics.ru/23585938-kedmi_pribaltika_poplatitsya_za_priznanie_rossii_sponsorom_terrorizma
[4] Петр Николаев, “Латвии отведена роль пешки»: в МИД отреагировали на признание России спонсором терроризма”, Gazeta, skat. 23.08.2022., https://www.gazeta.ru/politics/2022/08/12/15261272.shtml?updated
[5] Дмитрий Киселев, “Прибалтика нарывается”, Vesti, skat. 23.08.2022., https://www.vesti.ru/article/2890700
[6] Turpat.
[7] Елена Ладилова, “Русофобская ревизия: К чему приведёт Европу запрет виз для россиян и кто от этого выиграет”, LIFE, skat. 23.08.2022., https://life.ru/p/1516543
[8] Turpat.
[9] Олег Карпович, “В плену безумия”, Izvestia, skat. 23.08.2022., https://iz.ru/1378116/oleg-karpovich/v-plenu-bezumiia?utm_source=yxnews&utm_medium=desktopIzvestia
[10] Turpat.
[11] Михаил Демурин, “Политику в Прибалтике придётся начинать с минусовой отметки”, Regnum, skat. 23.08.2022., https://regnum.ru/news/polit/3667575.html