Mr Sean O'donnell

Latvian Dissident Mr Sean O'donnell

A common bar in Old Riga. It?s the beginning of summer with an unusually high temperature for Latvia. A thin, sunken in himself individual is sitting near one of the tables placed directly on the pavement of Dome Square. Hair, grey and thinning, once a sportsmanlike figure weighted down by age, achievements and adversities, and slightly bent, his appearance is very ordinary. Even his clothes fail to single him out among the foreign tourists and business people in their sharp suits. It seems that the man has blundered into an inappropriate society. It is difficult to believe that this is Andris Grutups ? the famous and scandalous lawyer, the author of the denationalisation laws and at the same time the least famous and scandalous writer. The man who has managed to be the focus of attention in Latvian society for over twenty years.... Grutups has paid special attention not only to Latvians but also Russians and the Jewish people and therefore expressing respect to those nations and traditions. It must be acknowledged at the same time that Andris Grutups has been most merciless towards those he loves most, Latvians. He has not said such harsh words about any other nation.