Abrene county
Abrene region is a territory of over 1000 square kilometers, currently in the Russian Federation as the Pytalovo District of Pskov Oblast, just northeast of Latvia. The region was controlled by the ancestors of modern Latvians from 5th century until the end of 16th century and is inhabited by Latvians even today. The area was officially controlled by Latvia from 1920 to 1940.
History
This territory was granted to Latvia in 1920 when a peace-treaty between Latvia and the Soviet Union was signed which recognised the independence of Latvia. In 1944 Latvia was reannexed to the Soviet Union during World War II and this territory was detached from Latvian SSR and attached to Russian SFSR. Since then, ethnic Russians have largely replaced the local Latvian population. Abrene, the largest town in region, was renamed to Pytalovo (from Latvian word Pietālava). The region became Pytalovo District of Pskov Oblast.
After Latvia regained independence in 1991, the Abrene region remained in Russia, although Latvia continued trying to assert it through diplomatic means. In 1996, Latvia set the issue aside to facilitate Russian recognition of Latvian independence.
In 2005, President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga said that, most likely, the border agreement which is planned to be signed soon would forever cede the Abrene region to Russia, thereby ending the dispute. This, however, led to protests by a group called Abrenian Union, members of which were once living in Abrene but eventually forced out. That group demands a referendum for the future of Abrene region. The Latvian government tries to get payment from Russia to repay costs of nationalised buildings, land and other property in the territory. Russian president Vladimir Putin maintains that Latvian wishes to get control of the area are against the spirit of Europe.
The region is one of the reasons why the Latvian-Russian border agreement is not signed yet. Latvia wants the 1920 peace treaty recognized as it would declare the latter Soviet occupation and territorial appropriation as illegal.