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Englishman in Latvia

@englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social

200 followers 290 following 550 posts

PR/communications practitioner aka Alan Anstead. Based in Latvia and the UK. Podcaster, blogger and teacher of comms.

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Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · Dec 7

Brief intro: I’m a PR/comms person who teaches and creates content. I have a complicated background as an Irish Brit and former British diplomat. I live mainly in Riga, Latvia, but also in Long Melford, England. I love my three countries and support the oppressed wherever they live.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 6h

With no opposition figures to persecute, the Russian regime has started to turn on pro-Kremlin supporters. Russian media commentators and military bloggers are having to label posts ‘foreign agent’ and in one case ‘terrorist’! Internal struggles about money and influence. That’s Russia today.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 6h

In an anti-America statement, Putin orders Russia to immediately start explosive testing of nuclear weapons in the Arctic. The first time since 1990. Only another rogue state, North Korea, has tested nuclear weapons this century. Russia’s intention will cause environmental degradation. Cold War 2.0

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 17h

Brussels is the latest airport to be shut down by drones. A police helicopter unsuccessfully tried to chase it down. Passengers will spend the night at the airport. Russia has a track record of working with organised crime in Europe to cause disruption.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 4d

The Russian state has seized $50bn worth of private holdings from Russian businesses and oligarchs since 2022 to pay for the war in Ukraine. Apparently, Putin’s sole aim is to replace the democratic Ukraine with a Russia-friendly autocratic state like Belarus.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 7d

Looks like Russia has a banking crisis. Putin forced banks to pay for the war in Ukraine by lending money to arms manufacturers. Around 23%, £143bn, of Russian banks’ outstanding corporate loans are to arms companies. Three of the largest banks are apparently applying for a state bailout.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 7d

The mayor of Omsk in Russia said that Russians living in the Baltic States who are not given the privileged status they deserve can come to Omsk, where he promised them everything. Not even clever propaganda!

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 7d

Interested in what it was, and still is, like to live in a Soviet era housing block? Listen to my podcast episode ‘On Rīga’s Soviet microdistricts’. Some great stories too!

Illustration of a Rīga apartment block with trees around it.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 8d

Things don’t look good for Putin. The price of oil crashed. Sanctions and tarrifs are biting. China and India stopped buying Russian oil. Russian generals are lying to Putin about battlefield successes for fear of falling out of windows. The Russian economy is probably in recession. The end is near.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 9d

The UN finds that Russia is committing crimes against humanity by using drones to chase and then bomb Ukrainian civilians. To Russians with their superiority complex, it is a sport.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 9d

Following Putin’s speech after at last managing to launch a nuclear missile, Trump hit back hard mocking Putin for taking so long to conquer Ukraine. He added “They know we have a nuclear submarine, the best in the world, right off their coast. It doesn’t need to fly 8,000 miles.”

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 9d

Desperate Putin sent his economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev to the US to hold immediate talks with Trump and state officials, but forgot to check whether they were actually in the USA. The US president, Mr Rubio and Mr Bessent were all on a tour of Asia! Dmitriev spent three days meeting no one.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 10d

The Soviet propagandist Putin claimed Russia had successfully tested its Burevestnik cruise missile – powered by a nuclear engine spewing radiation and capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. When they last tried to launch it in 2019, five Russians were killed in the resulting nuclear accident.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 10d

The Soviet spokesperson Peskov said that sanctions imposed by the U.S. on Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft were "an unfriendly step", but said that Russia seeks to build friendly relations with all countries, including the U.S. The man’s nose is growing ever longer!

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 11d

For the third night this week, Vilnius Airport in Lithuania is closed due to weather balloon’s from Belarus flying over it. The balloons, carrying contraband cigarettes, are likely to be the Belarus dictator’s collaboration with Putin to cause trouble.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 11d

Norway’s defence minister warns that Russia is preparing for war with NATO by amassing nuclear weapons and attack submarines in the Arctic Circle.
He said Putin was trying to gain full naval control over the Arctic region to block Nato allies’ access to resupply shipping routes in wartime.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 12d

Russian forces in the Dnipro delta in Ukraine are starving to death, drinking river water, or trying to escape on makeshift boats before Ukrainian drones exterminate them. The Russian state doesn’t care: they are expendable. There are many more Russians in that vast country to replace them.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 12d

Russia today: they use drug dealers and petty criminals to carry out their provocative attacks in Western Europe. A mafia state?

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 13d

The Guardian report that an attempt by Russia to connect the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to the Russian grid in time for Vladimir Putin’s birthday earlier this month was foiled by Ukrainian forces operating behind enemy lines, who damaged a newly completed connection.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 14d

Putin celebrated the cancellation of his summit with Trump by launching 400 missiles and drones on Ukraine, killing seven people, including two children. Russia also tested nuclear missiles as a threat to NATO.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 15d

“An immediate ceasefire in Ukraine would mean only one thing: most of it would remain under Nazi rule,” said soviet foreign minister Sergei Lavrov following a phone call with Marco Rubio. It is clear that Russia wants the whole of Ukraine under their control.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 17d

After speaking to Putin, Trump was shouting and swearing at Zelenskyy during their White House meeting last week. Trump told Zelenskyy to accept whatever Putin proposes. Trump is so desperate for a Nobel medal yet doesn’t understand that bullying is a short term tactic.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 17d

Looks like Russia has tried at least twice to poison former Syrian President Assad in Moscow, a nuisance to Putin. However the quality of Novichok has fallen, together with petrol supplies and other commodities in the mafia state that is called Russia. He needs to avoid being near windows.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 19d

Putin knows how to play Trump: dangle some commercial deal and a red carpet meeting and Trump will not give Tomahawks to Ukraine.

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 19d

Hungary has said they are a sovereign state and will ignore EU law and the ICC and gladly welcome Putin. So time to stop all EU funding to Hungary, European Commission?

Englishman in Latvia @englishmaninlatvia.bsky.social · 19d

A dilemma for Putin: how to fly to Budapest for a summit with Trump? The direct route is 3 hours over Ukraine. Highly unlikely. A longer route is 6 hours over Poland. They might force him to land and arrest under the ICC warrant. So he will probably take an 8 hour route over Turkey and water.