all three baltic states had their freedom back in 1991, when the soviet union came to an end. however, the states all consider the soviet occupation to be illegal, which has been supported by the united states, european union, and united nations. today, the baltic countries are some of the richest and most advanced countries which were part of the soviet union. they became members of the european union and nato in 2004, joined the schengen area in 2007, and became part of the eurozone by 2015.