The peoples of Estonia. Latvia. and Lithuania all lived freely before forced Sovietization denied them of their basic rights. Soon after deportation began on June 14. 1941. more than 850.000 peoplemore than 10 percent of the Baltic populationhad died from exposure and execution. The reason for these purges and reign of terror was to eradicate all people who attempted to exercise such natural rights as the freedom of expression or the right to emigrateactions which threatened Sovietization. Today the Soviets continue to enforce their campaign of terror. The Baltic peoples live in an environment of fear. mistrust. and hostility. as the Soviets repress indigenous national. cultural. and religious movements in these countries. as well as in all other captive nations. Families have been disbanded and deported. an unknown number of people executed. and the industrial wealth of the nation has been exploited. Yet. throughout all this. the Baltic people have exhibited unfaltering spirit in their fight to preserve their culture. identity. and right to selfdetermination. The ethnic makeup of the Baltic peoples is distinctly different from that of the Russians. in language. culture. common traditions. and religion.
Keywords matched
deported deportation emigrateactions