The question of removal of Soviet monuments (symbols of the Soviet era) in Лethonia, which was occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union until 1991, them worsened the already bad relations between Riga and Moscow, further intensified by the Russian military intervention in Ukraine and the intensified rhetoric of the Kremlin towards the Baltic states.

But if you visit it Riga, you will encounter an unusual and less confusing situation because it seems that Russian is even more dominant than the native language лethnic language. According to some estimates, the ratio of those who speak lethnic language and those who speak Russian in the country is almost equal, and is also estimated to be almost one third.

Regarding whether Russia could intervene militarily in the small Baltic states, the opinion of the local population is that although there is fear, such a thing seems almost impossible, especially since all the Baltic states are also members of NATO.

"Some people are really scared, including some of my friends. They think Russia can attack the Baltic states. But I still do not believe in that, because it sounds too crazy even for Putin. We are part of NATO and they should support and protect us. But if Russia does not attack again, I believe that NATO will not protect us, because we are too small - says for Free Press 28-year-old tour guide Alain Geroyan.

Although the prevailing opinion in the country is that Russian aggression against Ukraine is not justified, there are still those who have the opposite opinion.

"Unfortunately, some of my not-so-close friends support the Russian invasion. "I tried to talk to them about it, but they do not want to hear another opinion," Geroyan explained.

Washington Post recently published a survey of about 1.300 respondents in Estonia and 1.000 in Лethonia и Lithuania in which the question of what is the biggest threat to their countries.

Most survey participants in Estonia (71%) and Lithuania (66%) identified Russia as a greater threat than any other potential risk.

Majorities in all three Baltic states also support an even greater NATO presence on their territory - with Estonia and Lithuania showing overwhelming support - with more than three-quarters of those polled advocating more NATO troops in those countries.

A smaller percentage of respondents in L.ethonia (59 percent) supported the growing NATO presence.

While the respondents believe that NATO will defend them in case of military aggression by Russia, exactly in Lethonia this percentage is the lowest and is about (50 percent), while in Lithuania that percentage is 67 percent, and in Estonia it is 61 percent.

One of the questions from the poll is also whether the respondents would defend their country in case of Russian military aggression. Respondents in Estonia are most likely to take up arms, that is 11 percent said they would enlist in the military, and 21 percent said they would volunteer.

In Lithuania, 8 per cent are willing to go into the military and 19 per cent to volunteer, while lethonic respondents are most skeptical in this regard - only 4% said they would enlist in the military, and 12% said they were willing to volunteer.