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Yeah, I always remember about Red Latvian Riflemen. For instance, about Mr. Edward Berzin, one of the most prominent of them, who was the founder of the Kolyma GULAG and responsible for death of many many Russians. Fortunately, none of my family members died in Kolyma Gulag. A few were sent there but died en route in Siberia. Many thanks to Latvian communist Mr. Berzin, as well as to a couple of Georgian comrades Dzhugashvili and Beria.

People who talk here about Russian occupation do not know or intentionally choose to ignore a simple fact that before so-called occupation Latvia had been a part of Russian Empire for 200 years. Russian empress Anna Ioannovna, who ruled in 1730-1740 was also a Duchess of Kurland (one of the principalities that formed present-day Latvia). After her reign Latvia was gradually incorporated into Russia according to succession laws of that time. In 1917 and later, Latvians were very active participants of the communist revolution. The mentioned Red Latvian Riflemen were Lenin's most trusted bodyguards. And after they had helped to establish the communist dictatorship in Russia, they became clean and independent and very much upset when this dictatorship decided to get them back.

I do appreciate the tragedy of Latvian and other Baltic people. But I will not accept their version of history that they were innocent victims of aggressive Russia. They were the victims of aggressive communist dictatorship that was created with their active participation, and therefore they were the victims of communism as much as other peoples of the former Russian empire were, Russians included. No more, no less.

People who talk here about Russian occupation do not know or intentionally choose to ignore a simple fact that before so-called occupation Latvia had been a part of Russian Empire for 200 years. Russian empress Anna Ioannovna, who ruled in 1730-1740 was also a Duchess of Kurland (one of the principalities that formed present-day Latvia). After her reign Latvia was gradually incorporated into Russia according to succession laws of that time. In 1917 and later, Latvians were very active participants of the communist revolution. The mentioned Red Latvian Riflemen were Lenin's most trusted bodyguards. And after they had helped to establish the communist dictatorship in Russia, they became clean and independent and very much upset when this dictatorship decided to get them back.