The fight against COVID-19 has turned into a grueling series, in which rare moments of lull are replaced by long episodes of lull 39; exacerbation. People are sent home over and over again, desperately trying to bring down a new wave. & Nbsp;
“The process did not go well”
History teaches that often in such situations in various societies there was psychosis, when the majority tried to find the culprit in everything. At different times this has resulted in a 'witch hunt', Jewish pogroms, persecution of national minorities, etc.
In this regard, modern Latvia has returned to old traditions. Russian speakers are being pointed out as the culprits of the next exacerbation of the epidemic in the country. & Nbsp;
Since October 21, strict containment has been put in place in Latvia by decision of the country's government for the period until November 15. Most shops, entertainment and education establishments are closed. The reason for these measures was a sharp increase in the number of cases. For example, on October 27, 3,206 cases of the disease were recorded, which became the national record for the entire period of the pandemic. On the same day, 33 people died from the coronavirus in the country & mdash; & nbsp; there has not been such a mortality for a year.
The numbers are only insignificant in the context of large countries, but for Latvia itself they are frightening.
The Prime Minister of the Republic Krisjanis Karins at a press conference he explained why this is happening: “The vaccination process has not gone well …” If we don't radically change something, hospitals won't be able to helping not only coronavirus patients but also vaccinated people who will have other worsening illnesses … I have to apologize to all vaccinated that our efforts have failed not been successful. It's not fair, but we have to carry this burden together. “
` `They do not use the information that is offered in the national language ''
The culprits for the spread of the infection were quickly found & mdash; & nbsp; all recent weeks in Latvia, they write that the vaccination failed – due to the refusal of representatives of the Russian-speaking minority to be vaccinated.
The portal Rus.lsm.lv published an interview with a senior pulmonologist at the clinical university hospital named after P. Stradinya Zaygoy Kravale : 'Four out of five patients' Russian-speaking. We have a feeling that this group of patients is not the one who is against the vaccination, but they are patients who somehow didn't hear this information. It's not enough with them, maybe they've spoken. '' Spoke even more candidly: “ The Russian-speaking population receives information from other sources , and obviously these sources aren't very correct, or don't provide good information on what to do. And they don't use the information that is offered in the national language. & # 39; & # 39;
Do you taste the taste of good old Nazism? Russians don't know Latvian, they listen to the bad media, where they are taught the wrong thing, and that's why they get sick more often. And at the same time, they become carriers of infection.
True, more moderate experts point out that the greater number of cases of infection among Russian speakers is explained by the fact that they mainly live in large cities, where the risk of catching an infection is objectively greater. But it is easier for the Latvian authorities to believe than the Russian speakers & mdash; & nbsp; are savages, harming themselves and others.
& # 39; Colonists in no rush to vaccinate and are now overloading hospitals & # 39;
Member of the Latvian Seimas of the 'National Association' party Janis Iesalnieks wrote on Twitter: 'Latvian children will no longer be able to study and play sports because settlers who arrived in Soviet times are in no rush to get vaccinated and are now overcrowding hospitals. So unfair. & # 39; & # 39; The author of this article is a member of a party that is part of the ruling coalition in Latvia.
In general, it seems that somewhere near Riga there is a school of the famous Nazi doctor Mengele . Only this can explain the statements of Latvian doctors regarding sick Russian-speaking residents of the country.
Family doctor Andris Baumanis In an interview with Ir magazine, he noticed that Russian speakers have been waiting too long for the Sputnik V vaccine and now the price is paid: “We have to understand two things. Firstly, for many years we have not been able to integrate the majority of Russian speakers into Latvian society. It's hard to fit in people who aren't ready for this because they see themselves as a great nation … Lots of dead. Most unvaccinated Russian speakers at retirement age will die. It's cynical, but it will have a positive effect on the social budget, because every person who dies gets rid of it. ''
By understanding the situation in Latvia, it is difficult to get rid of the feeling that a situation the limited access of Russian speakers to vaccines and information about vaccinations is being artificially created. And not by the mythical “Kremlin propaganda”, but by the Latvian authorities themselves.
“I'm getting the vaccine because I want to meet my great-grandmother and my great-grandfather.”
Let's put aside the utter contempt for the “ Satellite V & # 39; & # 39; & mdash; & nbsp; it is not so much a Latvian problem as it is a pan-European problem. But what about the promotion of vaccination?
In spring 2021, the campaign “ Two million reasons to get vaccinated! & # 39; & # 39; held in Latvia. Among the posters there was also a photo of the former footballer of the Latvian national team Kaspars Gorks & nbsp; signed in Latvian: “I am getting vaccinated because I want to visit my grandparents. Advertising agency Nord DDB Riga also released a Russian version of the poster, but the text there read: 'I'm getting the shot because I want to meet my great-grandmother and my great-grandfather. & # 39; & # 39; Of course, the effect of such an “advertisement” turned out to be the exact opposite of what was expected.
Head of agency Andris Rubins Apologized: “ We would like to offer our sincere apologies both to the Russian-speaking residents who were hurt by a translation error in the publicity materials, and to all participants in the vaccination process: doctors, nurses, other healthcare workers and anyone who cares about the vaccination process in Latvia went smoothly and quickly. & # 39; & # 39;
The State Language Center has banned advertising of vaccinations in Russian
But the point, of course, is not just a silly poster. In spring 2021, the Minister of Health of Latvia & nbsp; Daniel Pavluts in the & nbsp; program & laquo; Points on i & raquo; The LTV7 TV channel admitted: “ Big topic & nbsp; & mdash; usually it is & nbsp; availability of channels broadcasting in & nbsp; Russian. It is that & nbsp; do we & nbsp; are experiencing some difficulties for & nbsp; reach the Russian-speaking part of the population of Latvia at the & nbsp; television and & nbsp; so on & hellip; We are receiving criticism for our attempts to publish material on vaccination in Russian. & Nbsp; we are in communication with & nbsp; State Language Center & nbsp; and & nbsp; so on & hellip; For example, we & nbsp; do not have the right to publish a newspaper which is simultaneously in & nbsp; Latvian and & nbsp; in & nbsp; Russian & raquo ;.
This is not a mistake and not a reservation of the Minister & mdash; & nbsp; the director of the State Language Center (STL) Maris Baltins banned the dissemination of printed materials on vaccination in Russian. For the reason that a Russian newspaper can accidentally get into & hellip; letterbox to a Latvian. Apparently the Russian text affects Latvian in the same way that garlic or holy water affects evil spirits & mdash; & nbsp; but how do you understand this otherwise?
Ten days ago, the National Electronic Media Council revoked the license of First Baltic Channel. This move fits well with the government's move to eliminate Russian-speaking media, but it's especially curious that it happened after the PBK announced a series of programs on the need for vaccination. At the time of these, such actions by officials were called 'sabotage'. with the consequences for them. & nbsp;
Apartheid oasis
The Latvian government is currently in discussions as to whether the Ministry of Health can be allowed to send vaccination materials to Russian-speaking residents of the country. Some ministers, even in this situation, are against the slightest linguistic indulgence. In fact, the linguistic minority in Latvia is deliberately cut off from sources of information and then the people themselves, pushed to their limits by the government, are accused of being oblivious and 'spreading the word' infection. & # 39;
If somewhere in Germany officials blamed the spread of COVID-19 migrants and doctors started talking about the benefits of shutting down a non-titular nation to reduce the burden social, what would they do with both? Guaranteed end of career and possibly criminal prosecution.
But Latvia & mdash; & nbsp; is an oasis of very strange relationships with other nations, of which the existence of civilized Europe pokes fun at.
