Latvia

In the early hours of 7 May, three Ukrainian drones entered Latvian airspace. Two of those fell onto Latvian territory near the Russian border, setting off a chain of events culminating in the collapse of the government. This is the price the Latvian ruling class is having to pay for turning the country into the most bellicose ally to Ukraine, thereby letting NATO put a huge target on their back.

It is no secret that the class struggle in the Baltic states has been stagnant since the restoration of capitalism in 1991. But now, we are beginning to see a change in the situation, with a national, three-day strike by education workers in April. This is a sign of things to come.

This letter gives a glimpse of life in westernised, capitalist Latvia. Wealth at one end of society, while 70% of the population is classed as poor.