Baltic States – CIS, Financial Services, Latvia, Legislation, Russia

Although "Russkiy Mir" calls itself a cultural organization, only a few of the foundation's leaders have anything to do with culture. For instance, the director of the foundation is Vyacheslav Nikonov, grandson of former Soviet Union Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov, writes LETA.

According to "Re:Baltica" estimates, the total amount of grants approved by "Russkiy Mir" in Latvia since 2008 exceeds EUR 170,000. The funds were used for organization of cultural events, conferences, publishing of textbooks and making films, which mostly glorify the might of the Russian nation and never mention the occupation of the Baltic countries.

Even though "Russkiy Mir" considers itself a cultural organization, the recipients of the foundation's money in Latvia include politicians and social activists: former Saeima members Jakovs Pliners and Valerijs Buhvalovs, European Parliament member Tatjana Zdanoka, Harmony Center's leader Nils Usakovs, one of the initiators of the state language referendum Aleksandrs Gaponenko, and others.

During an investigation that continued for several months, "Re:Baltica" established that over 20 organizations in Latvia had received money from "Russkiy Mir" the past four years, however, only one organization included information about that in its annual report.

Pliners revealed to the researchers that his foundation "Vecaki berniem" (Parents for Children) had received over EUR 50,000 from "Russkiy Mir", whereas Buhvalovs, a co-author of several books with Pliners, received another EUR 12,000 from "Russkiy Mir".

One of the projects organized by Buhvalovs teaches pupils the importance of World War II via quizzes, essay contests and singing of wartime songs. For instance, one of the questions in a quiz is, "What is the first and last name enshrined on the side of the soviet "JS" tank?", where the right answer is, Joseph Stalin.

The foundation has also supported the creation of a methodological material for schools and a 30-minute film "Remembered Forever" by Buhvalovs' son, Antons.

The amateurish video features patriotic songs, footage from Soviet-era war films with tanks and cannons, photographs found on the Internet showing veterans celebrating May 9 at the Victory Monument in Riga, indicates "Re:Baltica".

"Russkiy Mir" funding is also associated with Zdanoka, who, though, is very evasive when asked to comment her collaboration with the Russian foundation. In an article printed in the January edition of "Russkiy Mir" magazine, Zdanoka informs that the situation can only be improved for the Russian-speakers in Latvia if they show that they are a force to be reckoned with, just as they did in 2003 and 2004 when protests against the reform of Russian-language schools were held in Latvia.

"Re:Baltica" reminds that Zdanoka also regularly participates in the annual assemblies of "Russkiy Mir".

At the moment, "Russkiy Mir" has two official centers in Latvia, at the Baltic International Academy and at Daugavpils University. Each year, the centers receive funding worth EUR 18,000, as well as books and office machinery, and grants for various projects.

Usakovs is also associated with "Russkiy Mir". Organization "Perom" unites almost all of the more active non-governmental Russian youth organizations in Latvia, most of which are associated with Harmony Center and its leader, Riga Mayor Usakovs.

"Mums pa celam" (Going Our Way), one of the organizations united by "Perom", receives money from "Russkiy Mir" to publish monthly school newspaper "Prishkolnaya", more than 5000 copies, distributed in more than 40 Russian schools in Latvia.

The most notable project of "Mums pa celam" is the "May 9" project, headed by Usakovs, whose goal is to care for World War II veterans and celebrate Russia's victory over Nazism.

"Resembling Soviet-era patriotic films about conscientious pioneers, some 400 schoolchildren took part in various campaigns in 2009, meeting with war veterans and presenting them with gifts. On May 9, at the Victory Monument in Riga, vodka flowed, red carnations withered, and thousands of people pinned the Ribbon of St. George to their chest," writes "Re:Baltica".

By 2011, "Russkiy Mir" had established 66 culture centers all over the world, with a total budget of EUR 13 million. Five of these centers are located in the Baltic countries.