Authors

Kristiana Belska¹;  ¹ Latvian War museum, Latvia

Discussion

The Latvian – Soviet border was established by Article 3 of the Latvian – Soviet Peace Treaty on 11 August 1920. Fourteen days after the treaty’s ratification, both countries were obligated to withdraw their military forces to the border as defined in the treaty. A joint border commission, composed of equal numbers of representatives from Latvia and the Soviet Russia, was formed in 1921 to demarcate the border line and install border markers.
In 1920, the relatively favorable outcome for Latvia in resolving the border issue with Soviet Russia was considered a significant diplomatic achievement. However, situation along and near the border revealed the actual stance of the Soviet Russia toward Latvia — one that diverged considerably from the official statements issued by Soviet authorities. The border protection services of Latvia and the Soviet Russia reflected fundamentally different structures and operational approaches. Unlike in Latvia, the Soviet border guard service operated under the authority of the state security and intelligence agencies. This institutional arrangement shaped both the true objectives of Soviet border policy and the manner in which these were implemented, not only on the Latvian – Soviet border but also on borders with Poland, Romania, Estonia and Finland.
Throughout the 1920's and the interwar period, but especially in the early 1920’s, the core mission of Latvian border guards remained unchanged: to protect the national border. In peacetime, this primarily entailed combating smuggling and preventing illegal border crossings. Nevertheless, along the border with the Soviet Russia, Latvia was also compelled to respond to manifestations of hostile Soviet policies. Some border incidents — including shootings, as well as the detention and abduction of border guards and civilians into Soviet territory — were clearly deliberate actions orchestrated by the Soviet Russia. Others were the result of ordinary criminal activity. However, it is reasonable to conclude that a significant share of these incidents constituted an intentional component of Soviet policy toward Latvia. Such incidents became instruments and methods used by Soviet security services. Similar patterns of behavior were also observed in Soviet interactions with its other western neighbors.
The aim of this case study is to analyze relations between Latvia and the Soviet Russia in the context of border factor. The situation along the border not only reflects the multifaceted nature of Latvian–Soviet relations, but also serves as a valuable case study of how proximity to a hostile ideology can impact the functioning of a state border.