| Latvia’s and Lithuania’s Russian and Russian-speaking populations have been much discussed and cited as reasons for concern among the Baltic states and their allies because of Russia’s readiness to protect Russian “compatriots” living abroad. All three Baltic States have significant numbers of Russian-speakers that are concentrated in their capitals and in territories close to the Russian border. In Lithuania, Russian-speakers make up 15 percent of the entire population; in Latvia 34 percent; and in Estonia the number might be as high as 30 percent. It seems that the governments of the Baltic States have woken up and have realized the importance of the generation born following the fall of the Soviet Union and after Baltic independence. These people are now in their twenties and they represent the future of Baltic Russian-speakers. It is obvious that many of them are open to Russian cultural support or even passportization, on the other hand, many young Baltic Russian-speakers shun the idea of Moscow’s protection of Russian compatriots along the model of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine. Some experts say Russian speaking people in the Baltic States could expect "a new wave" of attention on behalf of their governments. Primarily, it is because of the concerns about possible consequences of earlier ill-conceived policy toward these large parts of population. “Russian” Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians have been often discriminated because of their ethnic ties to Russia. Many people believe that separatism is impossible in the Baltic States due to Baltic NATO membership. However, there are fears that Russia will increase its political influence in the inner politics of Baltic States through the so-called “Russian parties”, using ethnic Russians’ discontent of “language question” and discrimination on the labor market. What will happen in the Baltic States during times of tensions and crisis? Nobody knows. It is more likely to expect that ethnic Russians (especially the older generation) will tend to rally behind Moscow. Even now most Baltic Russian-speakers whether young or old, tend to follow Russian media and are therefore more receptive to Russian point of view. The more so if own authorities don’t pay attention to the needs of people, these people try to find the support somewhere else. Without changing official policy towards Russian-speakers in the Baltic States the governments couldn’t be absolutely sure of loyalty of Russians living in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Will Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn face their Russian-speakers or will they continue ignoring their rights? We will see. It is high time to decide. | 
