1998 Riga Bombing - The Latvian-Russian Crisis

The Latvian-Russian Crisis

By the turn of the new year, 1998, hopes were high that Russian-Latvian relations were on the mend. The two countries had their differences of opinion, especially over the status of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Russians in Latvia. But it looked like some kind of an accommodation had been reached. There was even talk about a major breakthrough in relations, with a Latvian-Russian presidential summit apparently in the works. Then, before anyone could understand exactly what was happening—within a matter of hours, it seemed—relations between the two former Soviet republics went into a tailspin.

March 3: About 1000 mostly-Russian demonstrators gather outside the Riga city government building. Police drive them back with batons.

March 4: Russian leaders complain about violence shown towards protestors. Condemning Latvian police. Latvian Prime minister Guntars Krasts speaks out protecting the Latvian Police force.

March 6: Then-Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin openly criticises Guntars Krasts and quotes: "The news of what happened there sent shivers down Russia's spine."

March 16: In Riga, over 500 veterans from Latvia's Waffen-SS legion march through the center of the capital, prompting bitter condemnations from Moscow. The Russian Foreign ministry reacted causing yet more controversy quoting: "This attention to fascist underlings is shameful for Europe."

March 28: Another demonstration is held at Latvia's embassy in Moscow. Yury Luzhkov, a probable candidate for Russian president makes things worse by saying that "Russians in Latvia have been turned into slaves." The EU stands by Russia.

April 1: The Latvian ministry of economics says that Russia is already applying low-level sanctions, including slowing down food stuffs at the border and limiting Latvian fishing rights in Russian waters-which has already cost Latvia some 300 million dollars.

April 2: A bomb goes off in front of a Synagogue in Riga in the early hours of the morning. The explosion again draws unwanted attention to Latvia-just when things seemed to be quietening down. No one steps forward to take responsibility for the attack, and Riga asks the American FBI for help in finding the perpetrators.

April 3: Latvia's security council, which includes the president and prime minister, calls for the dismissal of the county's military chief for taking part in the Waffen-SS parade the month before. The Latvian leaders also demand the dismissal of Latvia's chief of police for failing to prevent the synagogue bombing. With investors nervous about the impact of possible Russian sanctions, Riga's stock market tumbles.

April 4: Latvian President Ulmanis expresses concern that bad press has damaged the country's prospects of joining the EU.

April 6: A small explosive goes off in a trash bin just across the street from the Russian embassy in central Riga. Moscow says the explosion is even further proof that extremism is rampant in Latvia. The Latvian press says the bombing at the embassy has all the hallmarks of the Russian secret service. Behind closed doors, Latvian officials also say they are being railroaded. In public, they condemn the bombings and again request the assistance of the FBI.

April 8: The largest party in the multi-party coalition, the center-left Saimnieks, announces that it is leaving the government. It criticizes the prime minister for contributing to the deterioration of relations with Russia.