Dual citizenship – the search for an unknown number of potential Latvian citizens

Uldis Ozoliņš | 

On Oct. 1, the recently adopted law on dual citizenship came into effect in Latvia.This law has the potential to affect thousands of people, including many readers of Latvians Online.

Practically, the law affects two categories of people:

  • For exiles from Latvia or their successors, it means they can have dual citizenship of both Latvia and their host county; this replaces the earlier arrangement where Latvia in general did not recognize dual citizenship and one had to renounce one’s other citizenship in order to take up Latvian citizenship.
  • For those who already have Latvian citizenship, it makes it legal to obtain dual citizenship with a wide range of countries, without giving up Latvian citizenship.

Some history is in order, to understand why this has come about.

Traditionally Latvia, like many other countries still around the world, did not recognize dual citizenship. Its basic citizenship law dates from that adopted in 1919, when dual citizenship was prohibited.

This policy line was followed when Latvian citizenship became an issue again after regaining independence in 1991, when dual citizenship continued to not be allowed, with one major exception.

The exception was for those who had gone into exile in the West during World War II, and were outside Latvia during the long years of Soviet occupation. The basis of Latvian citizenship law post-USSR was that Latvia, like Estonia, counted as citizens all those who had been citizens in 1940, at the time of Soviet takeover, plus their descendants. Exiles thus were theoretically Latvian citizens, but many had taken up citizenship in other countries. Thus, to make this a limited and controllable exception, the 1994 adopted Citizenship Law allowed exiles to renew Latvian citizenship provided they registered by July 1995, thus making them the only ones with dual citizenship. After this time, to gain Latvian citizenship they had to give up any other citizenship they had obtained.

For many reasons – lack of knowledge, lack of information and publicity, lack of administrative arrangements – many exiles however did not take up the opportunity to renew their citizenship, and the closing of this opportunity in July 1995 was widely criticised. Moreover, it led to significant contradiction in the way Latvian citizenship was granted. When the Soviets took over the Baltic States in 1940 through a process of threats and blackmail, many Western countries including the US, Britain and most Western European countries did not recognize their incorporation into the Soviet Union. And Latvian embassies and consulates, albeit with vastly reduced capacity, continued to operate and issue Latvian passports in many countries, so that we had a paradoxical situation where some held these ‘old’ Latvian passports but if for whatever reason they had not applied for renewed citizenship in 1995, they were not now recognised as Latvian citizens.

The reason for restricting citizenship to those who had been citizens in 1940 was that during the Soviet period, vast numbers of settlers came to the Baltic States; many never learnt the local languages nor in many cases did they know anything about the history, culture or background of these countries, as the Soviet Union repressed any expression of national history. On regaining independence, Latvia did not recognise these settlers as citizens, though it did provide a means of naturalisation, dependent on passing a language and history test. This has been a controversial policy, and even today is particularly criticised by Russia and by some elements within Latvia, but it shows how sensitive the issue of citizenship can be.

However, it was perhaps not the pressure from former exiles that led to the eventual change, but to another striking circumstance affecting Latvia: the now hundreds of thousands of Latvians who have left Latvia in the last 20 years or so to work elsewhere, many of whom have taken up citizenship in countries where they settled. As Latvia’s population had fallen from 2.5 to 2 million in this time, Latvia was faced with a huge brain drain and flight of the economically able. And, precisely a flight of citizens: if Latvia had stuck to its policy of not allowing dual citizenship, many would have given up their Latvian citizenship to take up that of their host country, and their children – in many cases granted citizenship of their host country at birth – would never have been able to become Latvian citizens.

But there was one more complication. Not all countries in which Latvians live and work are necessarily, let us say, friendly towards Latvia. So, for those already with Latvian citizenship, Latvia limited the range of countries where dual citizenship is allowed, limiting it to the European Union, NATO and European Free Trade Association countries, as well as countries where many Latvians had settled – Australia, New Zealand and Brazil.

For those without Latvian citizenship however, but who do have Latvian exile roots, they can apply for Latvian dual citizenship regardless of which other country has given them existing citizenship, provided that other country does allow dual citizenship.

So, the pressure to change the citizenship law grew from two directions – exiles and the more recent largely economic emigrants.

For those who are former Latvian citizens or their descendants, you can apply for Latvian citizenship now at any embassy or consulate (see the list of diplomatic and consular representations on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website) presenting relevant documentation as prescribed by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (Pilsonības un migrācijas lietu pārvalde – PMLP), which details how you can apply (Admissibility of Dual Citizenship). There is no language or history test for such applicants. 

The extraordinary thing is that no-one knows how many potential Latvian citizens there could be to take advantage of these changes in the law. Thousands certainly. Hundreds of thousands? Maybe. For some, Latvian citizenship may mean no more than an ability to have a passport that allows one to travel and stay (not necessarily work) in any EU country and perhaps easier access to other countries. For others who simply missed out in 1995, it brings them back to a citizenship that they deserve. And for children of Latvians born outside Latvia, it means that Latvian citizenship is guaranteed and many will make use of this to deepen their connection to Latvia.

PBLA publikācijas nedēļas nogales latviešu skolām

Daina Grosa | 

Lielā latviešu emigrācijas viļņa rezultātā latviešu nedēļas nogales skolas, kas atrodas ārpus Latvijas turpina pieaugt skaitā. Ja pirms pieciem gadiem Eiropā bija saujiņa latviešu skolu, tad 2013./2014. mācību gadu iesākot tādu jau ir apaļš 50.

Prieks dzirdēt, ka latvieši paši, dzīvojot katrs savā pasaules pusē, gatavi sarosīties un paši piestrādāt pie tā, lai viņu bērni un mazbērni regulāri satiekās ar saviem latviešu vienaudžiem un arī piestrādā pie savas latviešu valodas, lai tā neaizmirstas, ikdienu dzīvojot citas valodas vidē.

Lai mūsu bērniem, kas atrodas ārpus Latvijas – vai tas būtu nesenajā emigrācijā vai trešajai paaudzei trimdinieku, kas vēl arvien sīksti turās un cenšās savu valodu uzturēt – būtu daudzveidīga mācību viela, pēdējos pāris gados Pasaules brīvo latviešu apvienības (PBLA) Izglītības padome ir izdevusi vairākas darba burtnīcas un lasāmgrāmatiņas, ko bērni var izmantot nedēļas nogales skolu mācību stundās. Tikpat labi darba burtnīcas var arī izmantot mājās, vecākiem pašiem palīdzot saviem bērniem vingrināties valodu.

Mācību grāmatas “Roku rokā Latvijā”, “Vieglā un saprotamā latviešu valodas gramatika” un “Latviešu valoda 2” ir Rīgas starptautiskās skolas (International School of Riga) latviešu valodas skolotājas, Unas Auziņas, gara darbs. Auziņa, strādājot ikdienā ar bērniem, kuriem latviešu valoda nav dzimtā valoda, ir sapratusi, kā vislabāk viņiem “piekļūt” un ieinteresēt spert pirmos soļus latviešu valodas apgūšanā. Darba burtnīcas domātas bērniem no pirmsskolas vecuma līdz apmēram 5. klasei, jo “Latviešu valoda 2” jau ir domāta bērniem vecākās pamatskolas klasītēs.

Noderīgas mācību procesā ir mazās lasāmgrāmatas, kur bērni var lasīt vieglā valodā rakstītus tekstus – vienkāršus, bet saistošus stāstiņus par bērna ikdienu. Katru stāstiņu bērns varētu attiecināt uz sevi, jo lasāmgrāmatu tēmas ir universālas. “Mani sauc”, “Man patīk”, “Mana ģimene”, “Kur es dzīvoju”, “Mūsu māja”, “Laukos pie vecmāmiņas” – visas ir tēmas, ar kurām jebkurš bērns var identificēties. Līdz šim sērijā publicētas 16 lasāmgrāmatas, kopumā paredzēts izdot 32 grāmatas. Šogad tika izdotas 8 grāmatas un 2014. gadā PBLA paredz izdot nākamās 8 grāmatiņas šinī sērijā.

Visas mācību burtnīcas var Rīgā nopirkt PBLA pārstāvniecībā, Lāčplēša ielā 29/5, vispirms piezvanot Leldei uz 67282980 vai rakstot uz lelde@pbla.lv

Cenas darba burtnīcām ir 3 LVL par katru “Roku rokā Latvijā”, “Vieglā un saprotamā latviešu valodas gramatika” un “Latviešu valoda 2” darba burtnīcu bet tikai 1LVL par katru lasāmo grāmatiņu.

Ziemeļamerikā šos mācību materiālus var iegādāties ALA Apgādā, rakstot Dacei Copeland: dace.copeland@wmich.edu un Austrālijā no Dainas Grosas: epasts daina.gross@pbla.lv

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Divas no 2013. gadā izdotajām PBLA lasāmgrāmatām.

Daina Gross is editor of Latvians Online. An Australian-Latvian she is also a migration researcher at the University of Latvia, PhD from the University of Sussex, formerly a member of the board of the World Federation of Free Latvians, author and translator/ editor/ proofreader from Latvian into English of an eclectic mix of publications of different genres.

Otra puse releases album, collaborates with other Latvian musicians

Egils Kaljo | 

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One of the most remarkable comebacks in Latvian popular music was the return of Otra puse. Having stayed relatively quiet during the end of the 90s and most of the first decade of the 21st century, the group released the album Nakts vai rīts in 2009, which was a major success and signalled the return of the group to the forefront of Latvian popular music, from where they had long been gone. Nakts vai rīts went on to win best pop album of 2009 and the song ‘Nakts vai rīts’ also won the “Radio Hit” award the same year at the Latvian Great Music Awards.

Of course, following up on a hit record is no easy matter, and Otra puse took their time crafting the follow-up (though there was a Christmas-themed album – Piparkūku sirsniņa – also in 2009), and in 2013 released Uzzīmē mani.

Though in the early 1990s Otra puse began as a project of Aigars Grāvers, of the band Jumprava, as the years went by the core of Otra puse became vocalist Normunds Pauniņš and keyboardist Ivars Makstnieks. As the group is an off-shoot of Jumprava, a band known for their use of synthesizers, Otra puse’s music is also synthesizer-based.

Otra puse’s songs are often about relationships, and their lyrics (many of which are written by long-time lyrical collaborator Ivars Kurpnieks), which are often in a direct, heart on one’s sleeve manner, have kept their songs on a very personal level, resonating with many listeners. The first song on the album, ‘Uzzīmē mani’, lyrics by veteran Latvian DJ Roberts Gobziņš, contains all of the trademark Otra puse elements – catchy, synthesizer-based introduction, Pauninš’s deep baritone, and personal lyrics. Pauninš sings “Esmu tā, kā tu mani uzzīmē” (I am how you draw me), while Makstnieks’ keyboards provide the solid foundation to one of the best songs on the album. The song also features co-lead vocalist Antra Stafecka, of the “Okartes skatuve” talent show, and her voice provides a distinctive contrast to Pauniņš’ vocals.

One of the major occurrences in springtime Latvia is the breaking of the ice in rivers, called “pali”, and lyricist Kurpnieks has used this imagery as a metaphor for a relationship in the song “Ave Pali”. “Saplaisās ledus, pāri upei tā nebūs, kas tad nokļūs pie tevis” (The ice breaks, there will be no path over the river, who will be able to reach you) describing with an aching sincerity the loneliness of two people who are unable to reach each other, in what is yet another standout track on the album. The song also features co-lead vocals by Aija Andrejeva (formerly known as Aiša).

Though the core of the group remains Pauniņš and Makstnieks, they are backed up by varied musicians, such as guitarists Arnolds Kārklis, Jānis Čubars, and Egons Kronbergs, bassist Jānis Olkešs, and drummer Mārtiņš Miļevskis, among others. Due to the album having taken four years to record, musicians came and went, and, perhaps because of that, Uzzīmē mani is slightly more uneven than Nakts vai rīts, and more of the songs have a ‘techno’ feel to them (since not many of the songs have an actual drummer, but have programmed drums), which at times gives the songs an overly ‘slick’ feeling to them. Songs like ‘Balss’ and ‘Kā nav tā nav’ would have worked better with a more organic feel with actual rather than programmed instruments.

Uzzīmē mani is a worthy follow-up to Nakts vai rīts, with a number of very strong songs and memorable melodies. Otra puse, who celebrated their 20th anniversary in 2013, are still going strong after their comeback, recording songs that still affect listeners with their personal lyrics and catchy hooks. The tandem of Pauniņš and Makstnieks are still a formidable combination, and Uzzīmē mani shows them at the top of their game.

Otra puse website: http://www.otrapuse.net

Details

Uzzīmē mani

Otra puse

Otra puse,  2013

OP001

Track listing:

1. Uzzīmē mani

2. Neaizej

3. Balss

4. Mana pilsēta

5. Ave Pali

6. Uguns ledus

7. Dejo ar lietu

8. Kā nav tā nav

9. Asaras par dimantiem

10. Bez tevis

11. Paldies Tev

12. Kā nav tā nav (remixed by Ivars Tiliks)

Egils Kaljo is an American-born Latvian from the New York area . Kaljo began listening to Latvian music as soon as he was able to put a record on a record player, and still has old Bellacord 78 rpm records lying around somewhere.