Other events in Baltic States

Latvian journalist and author Jukka Rislakki has been awarded the Cross of Recognition, one of Latvia's highest state decorations, information in Latvijas Vestnesis official newspaper says.

The Finnish journalist has been awarded the Cross of Recognition Fourth Class for his merits in the service of Latvia.

Rislakki is also popular in Latvia as a cartoonist. He has written "The Case for Latvia: Disinformation Campaigns Against a Small Nation", a book meant for foreign readers who do not know much about Latvia, but are fed with various media-generated myths about the Baltic country.

The Cross of Recognition (Croix de la Reconnaissance), whose motto is "Pour les honnetes gens" ("For the People of Honor), was founded in 1710 in the southwestern Latvian port city of Liepaja in honor of the years of glory of the former Dutchy of Courland and Semigallia.