[iM8t]

Eastern European here.

Yes, the heritage of the iron curtain is slowly disappearing, but I would not say that it is happening as fast as the author thinks it is.

As an example, there is still a serious division between the "nationals" and "occupants" (Russian speaking people) in Latvia. We have different politicians, celebrations, churches, companies and neighborhoods for people speaking in either the Latvian or Russian language.

Youth still tries to get away from the country since the working conditions are not the best. I'm lucky to be working in IT, where it's much better than the for the rest of the population (developers tend to make more than our politicians), but that's due to western countries looking for cheap IT labor (cheap for them; but good money for locals).

[Asooka]

As another Eastern European, can I just say good riddance. At least good riddance to the defeatist depressive attitude that followed the collapse of the communist experiment. Our actual traditions and culture don't seem to be in any danger of disappearing coughexcluding the immigrantscough and with the influx of western capital the ones interested in preserving them have the means to do so.

[guard-of-terra]

> and "occupants" (Russian speaking people)

Who you also consider "non-citizens"[1], but not in the sense that they're citizens of some other state, you just refuse part of country's population of some citizen rights (like voting) as if it was Apartheid all over again.

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-citizens_(Latvia)

[temp-dude-87844]

The "non-citizen" issue is a way for Latvia and Estonia to display their continued displeasure of having subjected to have played host to USSR military forces in 1940 that then paved the way for their military occupation by Germany in 1941 and then a counter-occupation that turned into a result indistinguishable from de facto annexation by the USSR in 1944.

It's a long-lasting grievance that could perhaps be eased by some diplomacy, but is instead being used by all aggrieved parties to further antagonist, and nationalistically protectionist agendas. There is little practical incentive for either Latvia or Russia to soften first, for reasons more than just national pride: this is a power play like any other. In truth, the status, while somewhat derogatory, is not particularly horrific, and impacts people's daily prosperity or international mobility little.

It's disingenuous to try to frame it as a human rights violation; it's most certainly not, but it is a festering issue that doesn't make reconciliation any more likely or easier.