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Latvian Orthodox Church would allow itself be used as a means for the
implementation of Russian foreign policy in all situations. 292 In the abovementioned
study, Muiznieks points out three major events in Latvia related to the
Orthodox Church: the exhibition of the Tikhvin icon of the Mother of God in
Riga in 2004, the ROC Patriarch Alexy II’s visit to Latvia in 2006 and the
inclusion of Metropolitan Alexander, the head of the Latvian Orthodox Church,
in the official delegation of the President of the Republic of Latvia for a
presidential visit to Russia in 2010. 293 The third, however, is an example of the
use of Latvia’s soft power towards Russia rather than the other way around.
In recent years, a number of senior Latvian officials have shown symbolic
support for the Orthodox community in Latvia – for example, the arrival of the
Tikhvin icon in Latvia in June 2004 was supported by President Vaira Vike-
Freiberga, Alexy II received a warm welcome during his visit to Latvia in 2006
and President Valdis Zatlers greeted believers at the Orthodox Christmas. 294 The
visit of Alexy II took place at the invitation of President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. 295
Before the visit, Modest Kolerov, the head of the Russian presidential
administration’s Department for Inter-Regional and Cultural Relations with
Foreign Countries, stated that Russia would evaluate the Patriarch’s agenda for
his visit to Latvia as it would set Latvia’s priorities in its bilateral relations with
Russia. 296 This showed that Russia’s foreign policy implementers were using the
Patriarch’s visits as a diplomatic tool.
The political party, For Human Rights in a United Latvia (FHRUL), 297 led by
Tatjana Zdanoka, organized an exhibition in 2008 on Russians in Latvia, which
was held in the Moscow House in Riga – a building owned by Moscow City
Council. One of its financial backers was Moscow City Council. Part of the
exhibition was devoted to the history of Old Believers in Riga. The Old
Believers, followers of an older form of Russian Orthodox beliefs, arrived in
Latvia in the 17th century to avoid repression caused by a schism in the Russian
Orthodox Church. A proclamation by the Republic of Latvia in 1918
strengthened the legal position of Old Believers. 298 The Old Believers are loyal
to the Republic of Latvia and enrich Riga and Latgale (Eastern Latvia) with their
unique cultural-religious heritage. Tatjana Zdanoka explained that she wanted to
292 Kudors A. (2012): ‘Orthodoxy and Politics in Latvia’, in Pkhaladze T. (ed.): Religion as the
Instrument of Russian Foreign Policy towards Neighbouring Countries: Georgia, Latvia, Ukraine.
Tbilisi: ICGS, pp.101–114.
293 Muiznieks N., (2011): op. cit. p. 63.
294 Kudors A., (2012): op. cit. pp.101–114.
295 Ibid.
296 Delfi (2006): “Russia will assess the program for Patriarch Alexy II’s visit in Latvia”, Delfi,
26.05.2006, http://www.delfi.lv/news/world/other/krievija-izvertes-patriarha-aleksija-ii-vizitesprogrammu-latvija.did=14555830.
297 See supra note 30.
298 Kudors A. (2012): Orthodoxy and Politics in Latvia, in Pkhaladze T. [ed.] op. cit. pp.101–114.
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