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What do we know about Latvia and the Latvians? A Baltic (not Balkan) nation that emerged from fifty years under the Soviet Union – interrupted by a brief but brutal Nazi-German occupation and a devastating war – now a member of the European Union and NATO. Yes, but what else? Relentless accusations keep appearing, especially in Russian media, often repeated in the West: “Latvian soldiers single-handedly saved Lenin’s revolution in 1917”, “Latvians killed Tsar Nikolai II and the Royal family”, “Latvia was a thoroughly anti-Semitic country and Latvians started killing Jews even before the Germans arrived in 1941”, “Nazi revival is rampant in today's Latvia”, “The Russian minority is persecuted in Latvia. . .” True, false or in-between? The Finnish journalist and author Jukka Rislakki examines charges like these and provides an outline of Latvia's recent history while attempting to separate documented historical fact from misinformation and deliberate disinformation. His analysis helps to explain why the Baltic States (population 7 million) consistently top the enemy lists in public opinion polls of Russia (143 million). His knowledge of the Baltic languages allows him to make use of local sources and up-to-date historical research. He is a former Baltic States correspondent for Finland's largest daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat and the author of several books on Finnish and Latvian history. As a neutral, experienced and often critical observer, Rislakki is uniquely qualified for the task of separating truth from fiction.

International relations. --- Diplomatic relations. --- Public opinion. --- Opinion, Public --- Perception, Public --- Popular opinion --- Public perception --- Public perceptions --- Judgment --- Social psychology --- Attitude (Psychology) --- Focus groups --- Reputation --- Coexistence --- Foreign affairs --- Foreign policy --- Foreign relations --- Global governance --- Interdependence of nations --- International affairs --- Peaceful coexistence --- World order --- National security --- Sovereignty --- World politics --- Relations --- Baltic States --- Latvia --- Baltic States. --- Latvia. --- Russia (Federation) --- L.P.S.R. --- Läti Nõukogude Sotsialistlik Vabariik --- Latvian S.S.R. --- Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic --- Latvian SSR --- Latvii︠a︡ --- Latviĭskai︠a︡ Respublika --- Latviĭskai︠a︡ Sovetskai︠a︡ Sot︠s︡ialisticheskai︠a︡ Respublika --- Latviĭskai︠a︡ SSR --- Latvija --- Latvijas Padomju Socialistiska Republika --- Latvijas PSR --- Latvijas Republika --- Laṭviyah --- Latviyskaya Sovetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika --- Leṭland --- Letònia --- Lettland --- Lettonie --- Łotwa --- LPSR --- Repubblica Socialista Sovietica della Lettonia --- Republic of Latvia --- Латвия --- Lifli︠a︡ndskai︠a︡ gubernīi︠a︡ (Russia) --- Ostland --- Federation of Russia --- Federazione della Russia --- Federazione russa --- O-lo-ssu (Federation) --- OKhU --- Orosyn Kholboony Uls --- Pravitelʹstvo RF --- Pravitelʹstvo Rossii --- Pravitelʹstvo Rossiĭskoĭ Federat͡sii --- RF --- Roshia Renp --- Rosiĭsʹka Federat͡sii͡ --- Rosja (Federation) --- Rossii͡a (Federation) --- Rossiĭskai͡a Federat͡sii͡ --- Rossiya (Federation) --- Rossiyskaya Federatsiya --- Russian Federation --- Russian S.F.S.R. --- Russische Föderation --- Urysye Federat͡sie --- Latvii͡ --- Latviĭskai͡a Respublika --- Latviĭskai͡a Sovetskai͡a Sot͡sialisticheskai͡a Respublika --- Latviĭskai͡a SSR --- Europe --- Baltic Republics --- Baltics --- Foreign relations. --- Foreign public opinion. --- Eluosi (Federation) --- Pravitelʹstvo Rossiĭskoĭ Federat︠s︡ii --- Roshia Renpō --- Rosiĭsʹka Federat︠s︡ii︠a︡ --- Rossii︠a︡ (Federation) --- Rossiĭskai︠a︡ Federat︠s︡ii︠a︡ --- Urysye Federat︠s︡ie --- Pravitelʹstvo RF --- Pravitelʹstvo Rossii --- Pravitelʹstvo Rossiĭskoĭ Federat︠s︡ii --- Roshia Renpō --- Rosiĭsʹka Federat︠s︡ii︠a︡ --- Rossii︠a︡ (Federation) --- Rossiĭskai︠a︡ Federat︠s︡ii︠a︡ --- Russische Föderation --- Urysye Federat︠s︡ie