Una Bergmane
@unabergmane.bsky.social
Historian working on Soviet collapse. Author of "Politics of Uncertainty: the United States, the Baltic Question and the Collapse of the Soviet Union." (OUP, 2023)
Researcher at Aleksanteri Institute (University of Helsinki)
From Latvia
Researcher at Aleksanteri Institute (University of Helsinki)
From Latvia
According to the police, around 10,000 people took to the streets of Riga tonight to protest against the (so far unsuccessful) attempts to withdraw Latvia from the Istanbul Convention.
November 6, 2025 at 7:46 PM
According to the police, around 10,000 people took to the streets of Riga tonight to protest against the (so far unsuccessful) attempts to withdraw Latvia from the Istanbul Convention.
Some good news - Latvia REMAINS a party to the Istanbul Convention. For now. Facing unprecedented civil society mobilisation, and after the president refused to sign the withdrawal law, the parliament voted to postpone the decision on the Istanbul Convention until after the October 2026 elections.
November 5, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Some good news - Latvia REMAINS a party to the Istanbul Convention. For now. Facing unprecedented civil society mobilisation, and after the president refused to sign the withdrawal law, the parliament voted to postpone the decision on the Istanbul Convention until after the October 2026 elections.
After receiving a petition signed by more than 62,000 citizens President Edgars Rinkēvičs has exercised his constitutional right to return the law on Latvia’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention to the Parliament for reconsideration.
Big protests in support of Convention planned on Nov 6.
Big protests in support of Convention planned on Nov 6.
November 3, 2025 at 4:41 PM
After receiving a petition signed by more than 62,000 citizens President Edgars Rinkēvičs has exercised his constitutional right to return the law on Latvia’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention to the Parliament for reconsideration.
Big protests in support of Convention planned on Nov 6.
Big protests in support of Convention planned on Nov 6.
More than 50,000 people have signed the petition urging President Rinkēvičs @edgarsrinkevics.bsky.social not to sign the law on Latvia's withdrawal from Istanbul Convention. It seems our populists politicians have completely misunderstood the society they claim to represent and try to manipulate
November 2, 2025 at 7:41 PM
More than 50,000 people have signed the petition urging President Rinkēvičs @edgarsrinkevics.bsky.social not to sign the law on Latvia's withdrawal from Istanbul Convention. It seems our populists politicians have completely misunderstood the society they claim to represent and try to manipulate
Kūtriem un Iesalniekiem būs jāsāk pārdomāt sava no Rosļikova samācītā "naš boļše" retorika.
November 2, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Kūtriem un Iesalniekiem būs jāsāk pārdomāt sava no Rosļikova samācītā "naš boļše" retorika.
On the left: protests in Riga against the Istanbul Convention
On the right: protests in Riga in support of the Istanbul Convention
On the right: protests in Riga in support of the Istanbul Convention
October 30, 2025 at 9:01 AM
On the left: protests in Riga against the Istanbul Convention
On the right: protests in Riga in support of the Istanbul Convention
On the right: protests in Riga in support of the Istanbul Convention
Many thanks for your support!
October 29, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Many thanks for your support!
In Latvia, the opposition - right-wing, Russian speakers, populists - have united to push for withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. They are backed by one of the governing coalition parties, the Farmers and Greens Union. Large civil society protests are expected tonight in Riga against the move.
October 29, 2025 at 2:09 PM
In Latvia, the opposition - right-wing, Russian speakers, populists - have united to push for withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. They are backed by one of the governing coalition parties, the Farmers and Greens Union. Large civil society protests are expected tonight in Riga against the move.
Vai kāds pazīst kādu ZZS vēlētāju? Kā viņiem iet? Tic pasakām par dženderiem, jo atmiņa par īsu, lai atcerētos, ka ZZS konvenciju ratificēja? Saprot, kas notiek, un domā, ka veči labi ģēlas bīda? Neliekas ne zinis un uz vēlēšanām nāks kā no jauna dzimuši?
October 25, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Vai kāds pazīst kādu ZZS vēlētāju? Kā viņiem iet? Tic pasakām par dženderiem, jo atmiņa par īsu, lai atcerētos, ka ZZS konvenciju ratificēja? Saprot, kas notiek, un domā, ka veči labi ģēlas bīda? Neliekas ne zinis un uz vēlēšanām nāks kā no jauna dzimuši?
Today I'm reviewing the Latvian translation of my book. Sections on US foreign policy feel like they describe a vanished world. One that existed in 1990, and to some extent even in 2024, but no longer does. That world was far from perfect, as the book shows, but what has replaced it is despicable.
October 4, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Today I'm reviewing the Latvian translation of my book. Sections on US foreign policy feel like they describe a vanished world. One that existed in 1990, and to some extent even in 2024, but no longer does. That world was far from perfect, as the book shows, but what has replaced it is despicable.
"We've had vicious kings, and we've had idiot kings, but I don't think we've ever been cursed with a vicious idiot for a king!"
September 30, 2025 at 6:10 PM
"We've had vicious kings, and we've had idiot kings, but I don't think we've ever been cursed with a vicious idiot for a king!"
Šorīt pie Daugavas
August 23, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Šorīt pie Daugavas
August sky over the Baltic sea in Latvia
August 9, 2025 at 8:47 AM
August sky over the Baltic sea in Latvia
Congratulations to @associationruta.bsky.social for holding the second annual RUTA Conference in Ukraine! Many, many thanks to the RUTA Board of Representatives, the conference team, and especially to @terezahendl.bsky.social for their extremely hard work under very difficult circumstances!
July 1, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Congratulations to @associationruta.bsky.social for holding the second annual RUTA Conference in Ukraine! Many, many thanks to the RUTA Board of Representatives, the conference team, and especially to @terezahendl.bsky.social for their extremely hard work under very difficult circumstances!
In early 1990, just before Gorbachev’s visit to Lithuania, hundreds of Latvians sent telegrams to the Lithuanian national movement Sąjūdis, expressing their support for Lithuania’s plans to declare independence.
June 20, 2025 at 5:32 AM
In early 1990, just before Gorbachev’s visit to Lithuania, hundreds of Latvians sent telegrams to the Lithuanian national movement Sąjūdis, expressing their support for Lithuania’s plans to declare independence.
Viena no manām mīļākajām grāmatām latviski!
June 14, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Viena no manām mīļākajām grāmatām latviski!
"There is no free Ukraine without free Baltic countries. " Kharkiv, 1989.
(Collection of Museum of the Popular Front of Latvia)
(Collection of Museum of the Popular Front of Latvia)
June 3, 2025 at 12:36 PM
"There is no free Ukraine without free Baltic countries. " Kharkiv, 1989.
(Collection of Museum of the Popular Front of Latvia)
(Collection of Museum of the Popular Front of Latvia)
I'm reading Darya's book right now. And I agree with Epp Anus who said that it is a book that makes one a better person. It is a very hard and a very necessary read.
May 6, 2025 at 9:27 AM
I'm reading Darya's book right now. And I agree with Epp Anus who said that it is a book that makes one a better person. It is a very hard and a very necessary read.
35 years ago, the Supreme Soviet of Latvia adopted the declaration "On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia", starting a transition period towards full independence. The best way to celebrate this day is to donate to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. stopify.org.ua
May 4, 2025 at 5:49 AM
35 years ago, the Supreme Soviet of Latvia adopted the declaration "On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia", starting a transition period towards full independence. The best way to celebrate this day is to donate to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. stopify.org.ua
Looking forward to our panel at the Baltic Studies Conference in Cambridge this Saturday 11am.
April 23, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Looking forward to our panel at the Baltic Studies Conference in Cambridge this Saturday 11am.
Rīga today, Rīga for ever
April 4, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Rīga today, Rīga for ever
Vectētiņa grāmatas.
April 3, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Vectētiņa grāmatas.
Dear friends, please join this crucial RUTA webinar about student-led protests in Serbia. Already this Friday, April 5, 4 pm Kyiv time! @associationruta.bsky.social
ruta-association.org/event/disrup...
ruta-association.org/event/disrup...
March 31, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Dear friends, please join this crucial RUTA webinar about student-led protests in Serbia. Already this Friday, April 5, 4 pm Kyiv time! @associationruta.bsky.social
ruta-association.org/event/disrup...
ruta-association.org/event/disrup...
On March 25, 1949, the Soviet Union committed one of its many crimes against humanity deporting 90,000 Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians to forced settlement in Siberia.
- 70% of them were women and children
- 2850 were solitary elderly
- 185 were unaccompanied minors
- 146 were disabled
- 70% of them were women and children
- 2850 were solitary elderly
- 185 were unaccompanied minors
- 146 were disabled
March 25, 2025 at 8:11 AM
On March 25, 1949, the Soviet Union committed one of its many crimes against humanity deporting 90,000 Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians to forced settlement in Siberia.
- 70% of them were women and children
- 2850 were solitary elderly
- 185 were unaccompanied minors
- 146 were disabled
- 70% of them were women and children
- 2850 were solitary elderly
- 185 were unaccompanied minors
- 146 were disabled