A letter to the Estonian-Latvian Psychoanalytic Society, Tallin and Riga (2010)

My psychoanalytical home is the Estonian-Latvian Psychoanalytic Society (ELPS) which is a Provisional Society of the International Psychoanalytical Association (IPA). Training process of the ELPS is organised according to Eitingon model. Basic requirements for graduation are Four years of theoretical training (two weekends per month) Two cases under supervision The completion of personal training analysis The Estonian-Latvian Psychoanalytic society is a very young and developing group which was founded in 2010 and comprises colleagues from two neighbouring Baltic countries—Latvia and Estonia. Shared historical longings and aspirations for independence from totalitarian realm and oppression brought us together as close relatives and laid the foundations for psychoanalysis in our countries. Some important socio-political events illustrate this common thriving for freedom: The Baltic Way was a peaceful political demonstration which took place on 23 August 1989 when approximately two million people joined their hands forming a 600 km long human chain through the Baltic countries, thus demonstrating their unity in efforts towards freedom from the Soviet Union and commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Molotov- Ribbentrop Pact Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia declared the reestablishment of their independence from the Soviet Union in the spring of 1990 and had to defend it with non-violent resistance barricades of January 1991 which culminated in bloody incidents when declarations were pronounced illegal by the USSR’s central authority After a failed coup in Moscow, the Soviet Government finally recognised the independence of all three Baltic States on 6 September 1991 It was a new beginning poignantly reflected in the lines of the Hymn for The Baltic Way “The Baltics Are Waking Up!” (1989): “And the sea starts to wave, Three sisters wake up from the sleep, Come to stand for themselves. The Baltics are waking up, The Baltics are waking up, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia!” The Baltic Republics were the first in the former Soviet Union to conduct democratic elections and to declare their independence. Withdrawal of Russian troops from all Baltic States followed some years later and was completed only in August 1994. Skrunda-1, The last Russian military radar in the Baltics, officially suspended operations in August 1998. We were lucky! Our historical struggles created a strong emotional bond with the Ukrainian people who are now fighting for their independence and freedom.