The Baltic republics get independence in 1990. Though they become allies of Russia with pro-Russian governments and never get into the EU, Russians in the Baltics are repatriated to Russia by agreements between Zhirinovskiy and Edgar Savisaar, first president of the Republic of Estonia for the Centrist Party, which was seen as a balance option between the pro-Europeans and the pro-soviets. The rest of the republics mobilize for staying in the still alive union with referenda sanctioned by Gorbachev and the CPSU. Relationships with the west Nationality Policies: