Baltic States – CIS, EU – Baltic States, Latvia, Russia, Security, Society

8% of respondents said that, if Latvia was attacked by Russia, they would join the Home Guard, 7% said they would try to resist in some other way, while 24% said they would be supporting those resisting the invasion.

14% of respondents said that they would leave Latvia, while 6% would do something else. 25% said they would not do anything in particular and continue to live as usual.

Of male respondents, 16% would join the Home Guard if Latvia was attacked by Russia, 15% would try to resist in some other way, 15% would be supporting those resisting the invasion, 11% would leave Latvia, 6 would do something else, 20% would not do anything.

The survey also found that 55% of respondents believe Latvia is worth protecting it in every possible way, even if that meant significant loss of life. 26% disagreed with this.

Most of those who believe that Latvia is worth protecting it in every possible way are young people 17 to 25 years old as well as senior citizens aged 61 and older, respondents with primary or higher education, Latvians, employees in the public sector, average or high income earners, residents of Greater Riga Region and Vidzeme, and residents in rural areas.

Most of those who disagreed with this are residents aged 26 to 45, non-Latvians, private sector employees, low-income earners, residents of Kurzeme, Zemgale and Latgale.

In total, 54% of respondents said that, should an armed conflict begin in Latvia, they would remain in the country, while 31% said they would leave the country.

Another finding of the survey is that 62% of respondents believe that every resident of Latvia should learn the basic military skills. 29% disagreed with the proposition.

The survey was carried by SKDS research center last November, interviewing 1,019 residents aged 17 to 74 at their homes.