Welcome to the Baltic American Freedom League Website

The Baltic American Freedom League's programs are designed to assist the development of democracy and market economies in the Baltic countries, to assure the security of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from outside aggression, to increase awareness of Baltic history and culture and to promote strong, friendly and effective bilateral relations and policies between the United States and the Baltic countries.

The League carries out its activities through public discussions, a speakers' bureau, press interviews, dissemination of information to the public, press and government about Baltic American concerns, seminars, meetings with government and elected officials and educational campaigns aimed at academic and political institutions.

Baltic American Freedom League Strongly Condemns Russian Attack on Georgia
August 11, 2008

The Baltic American Freedom League (BAFL) believes that the Russian attack on Georgia is an aggressive attempt of Russian imperialist expansionism and that Georgia deserves the support of the United States of America and NATO. Georgia has bravely struggled to establish itself as a sovereign and independent country since 1990, when it declared independence from the Soviet Union. Moreover, Georgia has been a staunch ally of the U.S., is a large contributor of coalition troops in Iraq, and seeks to join NATO.

A Russian occupation of South Ossetia would be an enormous setback for Georgia and would be threatening to the other former ex-captive nations. We are very concerned that the occupation of South Ossetia by Russia may encourage further acts of aggression by Russia on Georgia in Abkhazia. The Baltics and other neighboring countries who have Russian citizens living in their midst are further threatened as Russia attempts to not only expand its sphere of influence in the region, but actively seeks to occupy new territories.

We urge the U.S. to support Georgia and immediately issue sanctions against Russia, boycott Russian goods, and issue a warning for U. S. citizens not to travel to Russia during this turbulent time.

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U.S. SENATE CALLS ON THE PRESIDENT TO ASK THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT TO ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOVIET ACTIONS

Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL), Cochairmen of the Senate Baltic Caucus, have introduced a bipartisan resolution S.Con.Res. 87--congratulating the Republic of Latvia on the 90th anniversary of its declaration of independence. The resolution reaffirms the strong ties between Latvia and the United States , based on shared values of freedom, democracy and human rights.

The resolution not only commends Latvia's successes in nation building, economic development and human rights, but most importantly it recognizes Russia's attempts to manipulate Latvia and the other two Baltic countries back into the Russia's sphere of influence, detaching them from the west.

Furthermore, the resolution calls on the President of the United States to issue a proclamation on Latvia's Independence Day, November 18, asking the government of the Russian Federation to publicly acknowledge the illegality of the Soviet occupation of the Baltic countries and to assume responsibility for the consequences of the occupation.

Following the forceful Soviet takeover, tens of thousands of Baltic people were subject to imprisonment, deportation, persecution and execution. Their religious, cultural, and historical heritage was denigrated, and they were forced to accept an alien life of totalitarian domination.

While the Russian government remains fixated on dominating the neighboring countries and backsliding into a Hitler type nationalism, it is critical that the U.S. government reaffirm its support of Latvia 's right to determine its own national destiny and to encourage Russia , as the successor state of the Soviet Union , to assume responsibility for the occupation of the Baltic countries.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the US --Baltic Partnership Charter which was signed by the three presidents of the Baltic countries and President Clinton. It significantly enhanced U.S.-Baltic political, security and economic cooperation. President Bush on the 10th anniversary of the Charter stated: "We appreciate the peoples of the Baltic states who endured tyranny and struggled for independence. They earned their freedom through courage and perseverance, and today they stand with us as a partner in this great alliance, contributing to our common security."

The year 2008 also marks the 60th anniversary of the Declaration of Universal Human Rights. Adoption of S.Con. Res.87 by the Senate would be an appropriate tribute to this significant and noble document. Russia should practice, not just pay lip service to, the principles expressed in the Declaration.

THE AMERICAN LATVIAN ASSOCIATION STRONGLY SUPPORTS THE BIPARTISAN RESOLUTION, AND URGES YOU TO IMMEDIATELY CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE TO ASK THEM TO COSPONSOR S.CON.RES. 87.

Because of the political activities this year--national party conventions and election campaigns--Congress will have a short session. Although November 18 may seem far away, we really do not have much time to get the resolution passed. We have to act immediately.

We also urge you to contact members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the Subcommittee on Europe , which is the first committee to review and make recommendations on the resolution. (See below for names and coordinates.)

Leaders of Latvian organizations should write letters in the name of the organization on the organization's letterhead. Letters from organizations are particularly impressive.

Organizations should organize delegations--of three to six people-to visit the congressperson's local office to ask the congressperson to cosponsor the resolution. It is recommended that you take along a letter or a statement to be forwarded to Washington by the staff.

If you are too tired to write to your congressperson or you do not have the time, or you do not want to be bothered, think of the Latvian "strelnieki" Tirelpurva or Naves sala, think of the school boys at the Battle of Cesis or soldiers in the trenches of Daugavmala stopping the advance of Bermont troops. Think of Soviet tanks rolling through the streets of Riga in 1940 or children deported in cattle cars to Siberia . Think of Latvian legionnaires in the swamps of Volhova or at the Battle of Skundra. Think of Latvian partisans in the forests fighting for years after the return of the Soviets. Think of the Baltic Way or the men and women around bonfires at the barricades in Riga . Then maybe you will not be too busy to write a few letters and drive to Kinko's to fax them to your congresspersons.

Within the next couple of weeks, Representative John Shimkus (R-IL) will submit a similar resolution to the House of Representatives. His resolution, however, will not be as strongly worded as Senator Smith's resolution.

Thank you for your support.

PLEASE PASS ON THIS LETTER TO OTHERS

Valdis Pavlovskis
Director of Public Affairs
American Latvian Association