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then…the Russian Federation’s Compatriots Policy poses risks to the
development of society in Latvia”. 213
Factors such as Russia’s promotion of values, and its specific interpretation of
the history of Latvia and Russia, as well as Russia’s support for enhancing the
status of the Russian language further widen the divergence between Latvians
and Russians living in Latvia.
4.3 The Russian Authorities’ Connections
with Latvian Political Parties
4.3.1 The Establishment of Harmony Centre
In building relations with Latvia, representatives of the Russian authorities have
been communicating with both official Latvian institutions and particular
political forces, one of which is the political association Harmony Centre.
Harmony Centre was set up in 2005. It managed to unite a number of left and
centre-left political parties in Latvia. One of the co-creators of Harmony Centre
was the leader of the left of centre People’s Harmony Party, 214 Sergejs
Dolgopolovs. 215 In 2004–2005, Dolgopolovs was seeking allies in Latvia and
support from Russia. The Latvian Socialist party joined Harmony Centre in
December 2005. The chairman of the Latvian Socialist party is Alfreds Rubiks,
who was a member of yhe Central Committee of the Latvian Communist party
during the Soviet period. He actively supported the preservation of the Soviet
Union in 1991 and was against the independence of Latvia. Other political forces
in Harmony Centre are not that left-minded. They defend the interests of ethnic
Russians in Latvia and support closer ties with Russia.
According to media sources, the association’s leaders have repeatedly visited
Russia and the association’s creation was supported by the Kremlin. 216 In
February 2005, the Russian Presidential Administration set up a Department for
Inter-Regional and Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries, making Modest
Kolerov its head. The department was tasked with preventing “coloured
revolutions” in neighbouring countries still under Russia’s influence, and as far
as possible renewing influence in the rest of the post-Soviet space, including
213 See the Security Police Report 2011, available at http://www.iem.gov.lv/files/text/DP_2011_p.pdf.
214 The People's Harmony Party was established in 1994. The party’s ideology was based on a centreleft
stance, social democratic values and the protection of minority interests and closer cooperation
between Latvia and Russia. The People's Harmony Party won six of the 100 seats in parliament in
the elections of 1995.
215 Dolgopolovs is a Russian-origin politician; he had been a member of parliament, a member of Riga
City Council for a number of terms and the Vice-Chairman of Riga City Council.
216 Kudors A. (2010): The Guards of Interests, IR, September 28, http://www.ir.lv/2010/9/28/aeiropa.
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