Tag #Viktor Alksnis

What were the key events in Viktor Alksnis's life that shaped his unwavering pro-Soviet and later pro-Russian stance?

Viktor Alksnis, grandson of a Latvian "enemy of the people" executed in 1938, lived a life marked by staunch loyalty to the Soviet Union, culminating in outspoken support for Russia's actions in Ukraine. Despite his Latvian heritage, he denied the existence of a distinct Latvian nation and served in the Soviet Air Force, rising to become a senior inspector. His political career involved advocating for regions resisting secession from the USSR, including Crimea, foreshadowing his later support for Russia.