Russians in the Baltics: No right for rights

Russian communities are quite significant in numbers in the Baltic states. However, since the beginning of 1990s Russians there have been second-class people. They are oppressed through persecution of their native language, closure of Russian schools, deprivation of civil rights. Parties advancing interests of national minorities are not allowed to power; political activists and human right defenders are being oppressed. The authorities in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are constant in their unwillingness to recognize Russians as citizens of the states with equal rights and are trying to assimilate them. Nevertheless, local Russians keep on struggling for equal rights and opportunities with other citizens. The situation with Russian compatriots is under close examination of Moscow, especially as the Baltics is the only NATO region bordering with Russia.