The Ministry of Defense invites the public to attend the solemn event on Saturday, August 31, at 15:00 at the Latvian War Museum, Smilšu Street 20, Riga.
Atis Švinka, Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, will deliver the opening remarks at the event, and then a discussion will take place with participants including the President at the time, Guntis Ulmanis, other key figures and historians.
Also, during the event, Dr. Hist. Gatis Krūmiņš will outline the losses caused by the occupation army of the USSR.
A musical accompaniment during the festive event will be provided by the ensemble of the National Armed Forces National Guard Orchestra.
Entry to the event is free, and it is organized by the Latvian Occupation Research Society in cooperation with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Latvian War Museum and the National Guard.
31 August 2024 sees 30 years since the withdrawal of the armed forces of the Russian Federation was completed.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Baiba Braže also marked the occasion saying: “With three decades having passed since the Russian army left Latvia, it is important to be aware of the symbolic, political and legal significance of this event, as it paved the way for the full sovereignty of our country."
After the withdrawal of the former USSR army, Latvia, along with the other Baltic States, had real possibilities for further integration into European and transatlantic structures such as the European Union, NATO and the OECD.
