In the
popular Bastejkalna parks (Bastion
Hill Park) near the Freedom Monument in Rīga, there lie multiple monuments
- a testament to the events that unfolded in Latvia 25 years ago. This week in
January we remember the Barricades, we honor those who lost their lives, and we
remind ourselves that freedom too often comes with the price of human life...
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Edijs Riekstiņš, student |
Latvia had been forcibly conscripted into the USSR since World
War II, when it was Illegally occupied by the Soviet Union. Then, on the fourth of May in 1990, the Supreme Council
of the Republic of Latvia declared the restoration of its independence. Pro-Soviet
forces tried to provoke violence and seize power in Latvia through a climate of
fear and a series of bombings throughout the remainder of the year.
Andris Slapiņš, cameraman |
On January
2nd of the New Year, the OMON (Otryad
Mobilny Osobogo Naznacheniya, a system of special forces units within the Soviet
Ministry of Internal Affairs) seized the national printing house of Latvia and
attacked police officers who were documenting the event. Then on January
4th they seized the telephone exchange in Vecmīlgrāvis. Next it was
the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and soon Soviet troops and armored vehicles
were seen in the streets of the capital. On January 11th of 1991, the
Soviet military launched an attack on Latvia's neighbor to the south,
Lithuania, killing 13 civilians.
Vladimirs Gomanovičs, senior lieutenant |
On January
13th an announcement from the Popular Front was broadcast over
Latvian radio, calling for people to gather in Cathedral Square. 700,000 people
took to the streets of Rīga,
and agricultural and construction machines began arriving to build barricades. Special
points of defense including Latvian Television and Radio buildings, as the
ability to continue to broadcast in the case of Soviet attack would enable the
rest of the world to hear the truth about what was occurring. These barricades
were manned 24 hours a day, men, women, students and even families from all
over Latvia coming to stand in solidarity against Soviet forces.
Sergejs Konoņenko, senior lieutenant |
On January
14th the OMON attacked Brasa and Vecmilgrāvis bridges, then the
following night concentrated their efforts on the Rīga branch of the Minsk
Militia Academy. The first fatality occurred on January 16th;
Roberts Mūrnieks was killed on
a second attack on the Vecmilgrāvis bridge. His funeral three days later turned
into a demonstration, and on January 20th about 100,000 people
gathered in Moscow to show their solidarity and support for the Baltic States.
The two additional casualties were Ilgvars Grieziņš and Gvido Zvaigzne, the fatally injured cameraman (photo source here) |
That
night OMON and other unidentified combat groups attacked the Latvian Interior
Ministry. Two policemen, a student and a cameraman were killed, a second
cameraman dying later of injuries sustained in the attacks.
There
were further attacks such as the May 23rd OMON attack on five
Latvian border posts and the Soviet coup attempt which prompted the Latvian
government to declare full independence, but the violence was mostly contained
to the January confrontations which have come to be known as the Barikādes. Incidentally
Latvia’s independence was recognized by the Soviet Union on September 6th,
the Soviet Union then dissolved that December.
Raimonds Salmiņš, killed in the coup attempt in August |
What a moving post Liene...as my Great Uncle Karlis said "Dievs Sveti Latvija"
ReplyDeleteThank you Dzintra. It is so important to know our history - not just ancient history, but recent history as well. There is so much to learn from the events of 25 years ago, especially in the charged climate of Europe today.
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