The end of the 1980’s is known as a period of rapid democratic reform in the USSR (Perestroika). This period was marked by a rise in civic engagement. After many years people were able to organise NGOs freely.  >>

Latvia joined the European Union on 1 May 2004. The area of Latvia is around 64,600 square kilometers. Latvia consists of 4 ethnographic regions: Vidzeme, Kurzeme, Zemgale and Latgale. The capital of Latvia is Riga. The state language is Latvian. An independent Latvia was proclaimed on 18 November 1918. >>

The population of the country is about 2,270,000. Latvia’s population has historically been formed on a multi-ethnic basis, especially in the towns >>

Sergey Zhuravlev, chairman of the Uley (‘Beehive’) Russian Cultural Centre and Professor Boris Infantyev, Co-president of the Riga Society of Slavonic History. >>

Vladimir Rybakov, head of the Nellia Centre, historian Ninel Podgornaya and the great princess Grand Duchess Leonida Georgievna of Russia during her visit to Riga in May 2000. >>

The Old Believers society was founded in 1908. Closed down in 1940. Restored in 1994. >>

The Baltic-Slavonic Society for Cultural Development and Co-operation (BSS) was founded in 1988. >>

The Liepāja Russian Community founded in 2004. One of the most active working Russian organisations today. >>

Russian students celebrating Shrove-tide. >>

Members of the Veche Society by the memorial to Soviet soldiers, who perished in the liberation of Jelgava in 1944. >>