Territorial changes of the Baltic states

Disputed territories of Baltic States are those territories of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, which were in the mentioned countries in the interwar period, but with the Soviet occupation after World War 2, they weren't attached to Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian Soviet socialist republics, being attached instead to Russian SFSR, Byelorussian SSR and Poland. While some or all of these changes of borders have eventually been confirmed by the corresponding governments, some political movements in Baltic States contest these decisions.

This redistributions of lands was based mainly on ethnicity of local populations — so territories that had a clear non-Baltic majority were moved to other republics; as well this happened to territories, which had clear Baltic majority, but were enclaves in areas without Baltic majority (some of these territories were close to titular Soviet Socialist Republics however). As for Latvia and Estonia, territories which did not belong to gubernyas of Estland, Livonia or Courland during the Imperial occupation were detached (however, imperial gubernyas weren't based on nationality, unlike Soviet Socialist Republics, therefore such historical reason is debunked by Latvians and Estonians); in Lithuanian case, the detaching did not have a historical base. During Soviet rule these territories were largely russified, due to insufficient support for Baltic languages there (such as a too small number of Baltic-language schools (no Baltic language schools in most of territories with Baltic majorities), lack of Baltic-language publications etc) and also a significant migration of Russian-speaking people. The territories were not returned to the Baltic States after they gained independence and remain parts of Russia, Belarus and Poland. Various stances exists in Baltic States towards the occupied territories. In Estonia, the territories annexed from Estonia are shown in many maps as part of Estonia. Lithuanians more or less admitted the loss of these territories and do no claim them. Similar Lithuanian maps that show some territories as occupied territories rather than parts of Belarus and Russia were banned after the court ruled that they are illegal in Lithuania.

The following territories have been lost by the Baltic States since the World War II:

• East coast of Narva (including town of Jaanilinn, now Ivangorod), Estonian territory occupied by Russia. Eastern coast of Narva river, is not large.
• Petseri region, a part of the Setumaa region of Estonia in the interwar period, at the south of Lake Peipsi, includes town of Petseri (renamed Pechory by Russians). Larger than the east coast of Narva. Splitting of Setumaa endangers the cultural identity of the Setu people.
• Abrene region a medium-sized region of Latvia with Abrene town and surroundings, larger than Petseri region. Now part of Russia.
• Eastern Vilnius region part of Lithuania in early interwar period (Vilnius region), then occupied by Polish troops; when the Soviets occupied eastern Poland and Lithuania, the western part of Vilnius region was attached to Lithuania, while the whole eastern part, two thirds of the region, were attached to Belarus and an other bit ceded to Poland after the war. The biggest of disputed territories includes cities of Gardinas (now Hrodna) and Lyda (now Lida)
• Suvalkai region - part of Vilnius region in interwar. Ceded to Poland by the Soviets after the WW2 ended. Unlike in regions attached to other Soviet republics, here Lithuanians eventually gained more rights, although were discriminated at first. But even now some towns remains with Lithuanian majority and there are Lithuanian schools.

Historical regions of Lithuania, projecting well beyond current Lithuanian borders