This is the Russian Embassy in Liepaja. It faces Jurmala (Seaside) Park. It is quite secure; there would be no climbing the fences here. My colleagues at the university watched with great care the national election that took place in Oct. 2010. By a narrow margin the Latvian party won. Latvia is a tiny nation of 2 million residents. Only 57% are ethnic Latvian; at least 33% are ethnic Russian.
My friends are concerned that the Latvian culture is dying because of the media. Moscow's deep pockets have enabled the formation of numerous TV and radio stations; they greatly outnumber Latvian. Impressionable young people are hearing subtle messages of a non-Latvian ideology. My friends are certain that while Russia will never again attack Latvia militarily, they seek to influence Latvia through social means.