The American Latvian Association (ALA) and the Joint Baltic American National Committee (JBANC) have joined the growing list of civic organizations and government leaders denouncing Russia’s invasion of Georgia.

The two groups, along with the Central and East European Coalition, announced Aug. 12 that they want Russia to end its military action against Georgia, to accept a ceasefire and withdraw its forces from the country.

“We stand together with the nation of Georgia in this critical moment,” the Maryland-based ALA said in an e-mail sent to supporters. “We stand united with the Joint Baltic American National Committee, the Central and East European Coalition, the presidents and the parliaments of the Baltic States in expressing deep concern over Russia’s violation of the borders of the Georgian Republic and the deaths of innocent people of this proud nation in the Caucasus.”

Latvian-Americans, the ALA said, should e-mail U.S. President George Bush and their representatives in Congress to voice concern about “Russia’s expansionist policies and violence.”

The conflict began after Georgian forces entered South Ossetia in a bid to take control over the breakaway region, where Russian peacekeepers have been stationed since the 1990s. Russia, which has granted citizenship to many residents of South Ossetia, responded Aug. 8 by sending its forces into South Ossetia. However, the following day Russian forces began to drive deeper into Georgia.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in an Aug. 8 statement issued by his government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, blamed Georgia for attacking peacekeepers and citizens in South Ossetia.

“We will not allow the deaths of our fellow citizens to go unpunished,” Medvedev said. “The perpetrators will receive the punishment they deserve.”

The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs countered in an Aug. 11 announcement that Russian claims of arrests and repression of Russian citizens are “an absolute lie.”

The Washington, D.C.-based JBANC said it condemns the invasion.

“Russia has unjustifiably escalated a minor border incident into a major confrontation resulting in numerous unnecessary civilian casualties,” JBANC Managing Director Karl Altau said in a press release.

“Russia’s invasion of Georgia is a challenge to all democracies seeking to promote peaceful coexistence among nations,” the JBANC release continued. “The world’s response to Russia’s current aggression is critical since it will undoubtedly dictate the future course of Russia’s policies towards its neighbors. Therefore the United States and the European Union must take all necessary steps to end Russia’s aggression against Georgia.”

JBANC’s members include the ALA, the Estonian American National Council and the Lithuanian American Council.

A Latvian soldier serving in northern Afghanistan has died and three others were wounded when an improvised explosive device blew up Aug. 11, the Ministry of Defense has announced.

PFC Edgars Ozoliņš died from injuries suffered in the incident, the ministry said. No further details were announced, but Latvian media reported that the wounded are privates Ainārs Stepiņš and Juris Šķērškāns and PFC Andris Brencis. They were part of a patrol escorting members of the press.

Ozoliņš is the first Latvian soldier to die in Afghanistan.

The incident happened in the city of Maymaneh in Faryab Province. Thirteen civilians also were hurt, according to media reports.

Defense Minister Vinets Veldre expressed his condolences in a telephone call to Ozoliņš’ mother, said Airis Rikveilis, head of the ministry’s press office.

Members of the Latvian Armed Forces have served in Afghanistan since 2003 as part of the NATO defense alliance’s International Security Assistance Force. As of June 18, according to the defense ministry, the Latvian contingent included 117 soldiers, two representatives of the state police and one representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In December 2006, PFC Gints Bleija and PFC Vitālijs Vasiļevs were killed in Iraq when the vehicle in which they were riding was hit by an improvised explosive device. Also in Iraq, Lt. Olafs Baumanis was killed in a June 2004 explosion.

Latvia has condemned Russia’s military offensive against strategic targets in Georgia, which quickly moved beyond the breakaway region of South Ossetia, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and President Valdis Zatlers’ press office announced Aug. 9.

Russian forces began attacking targets in South Ossetia on Aug. 8 in response to a Georgian military operation intent on regaining the central government’s control over the autonomous region. Russia said it is defending Russian citizens in South Ossetia. By Aug. 9, Russian airplanes also had bombed Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia. Reports say hundreds have died in the attacks at the hands of both Russian and Georgian forces.

However, by Aug. 10 media reports said Georgian troops had moved out of South Ossetia. Georgia’s foreign ministry announced a ceasefire and called on the Russians to negotiate.

South Ossetia is situated in northern Georgia on the border with Russia. Ethnic conflict there and in neighboring Abkhazia has continued for years since Georgia regained its independence after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. South Ossetia is de facto autonomous and has been supported by Russia, which since the 1990s has deployed a peacekeeping force there.

Latvian Foreign Minister Māris Riekstiņš had asked the NATO to discuss the effect the conflict may have on the defense alliance and the security of NATO member states. He also asked Russia to stop its military operations because they could further destablize the region.

President Zatlers, attending the Beijing Olympics, joined with the presidents of Estonia, Lithuania and Poland in condeming Russia’s offensive and in questioning whether Russia can be seen as adequate strategic partner with the European Union. It makes no sense, the presidents added, for the EU to continue negotiations about easing visa requirements with Russia.

“What happened in Georgia is a litmus test on the EU’s and NATO’s ability to solve conflicts in the nearby border regions,” the presidents’ statement said, “and it will show all EU and NATO members states, candidate states and other democratic partners whether it is worth being these organizations’ members and partners.”

The Latvian foreign ministry also warned that travel to Georgia at this time should be carefully evaluated.

A small community of Latvians lives in Georgia, mostly in the Tbilisi area, and Latvia has an embassy in the capital.