
History


The twelfth annual Isaiah Berlin Day will take place at the National Library of Latvia in Riga on June 17th, 2022, honoring the work and thought of the Rīga-born British political philosopher.

Researchers have recently uncovered evidence from a dark chapter of Latvian history, state-owned forestry company Latvian State Forests (LVM) reported June 14.

June 14 sees Latvia commemorating the thousands of citizens deported to Siberia by the Soviet occupiers 81 years ago - many of whom never came back.

On Monday, the dismantling of a memorial dedicated to the Soviet army in Jēkabpils began, Latvian Television reported June 14.

Rēzekne City Council decided Tuesday, June 7, that the city's Soviet monument, known as Alyosha, would be moved from the city center to the cemetery near Soviet soldiers' burial sites, Latvian Radio reported.

On May 31, a meeting of the State Heraldry Commission took place at the Ilūkste Culture and Art Center, during which the attendees were introduced to the newly-devised coat of arms of the historical land of Sēlija, which forms a south-eastern portion of Latvia.

On Monday, May 30, the Ambassador of Latvia to the Kingdom of Belgium, Andris Razāns, presented the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a diplomatic note protesting against the intention to remove a controversial monument dedicated to Latvian prisoners of war.

On May 30, in the renovated building at Latviešu strēlnieku laukums 1,the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia will host the grand opening of its new exhibition, the museum said in a release on May 26.

In the Latvian Saeima, a law is in the making which would make mandatory the demolition or removal of sites and objects glorifying the Soviet regime, Latvian Radio reported May 25.

Access to the Soviet monument at Uzvaras Park in Riga will be restricted until August 31, LETA reported on May 16.

At an emergency meeting on Friday, May 13, the Riga City Council decided to instruct the Rīga Monuments Agency to perform all the necessary activities for the dismantling of the Soviet monument at Uzvaras Park.

Since Wednesday, May 11, evening until Friday, May 13, morning, EUR 196,282 has already been raised for the demolition and removal of debris of the 'Victory' monument in Uzvaras park, Pārdaugava.

On May 11 the donations portal “Ziedot.lv” started fundraising for the demolition of the 'occupation monument' in Uzvaras Park and €39 058 has already been collected by Thursday, May 12, morning, according to information on the portal.

In light of the events at the beginning of this week, the police have restricted access to the Soviet monument in Uzvaras Park and its surroundings, the State Police (VP) said on May 11.

Members of Latvia's large Russian minority gathered in Rīga, Uzvaras park, on May 9 to mark the end of World War II and the role of the Soviet Union in victory over Nazi Germany, the so-called 'Victory Day'.

After Ukraine wins against Russia in the war, Latvia should honor Ukraine with a monument, European Parliament's (EP) deputy Sandra Kalniete said in an interview on Latvian Television's morning broadcast on May 9.

On the occasion of Europe Day, celebrated every year on 9 May, the Eurostat statistics agency has produced a set of infographics giving a picture of the EU and each individual Member State.

May 9, 2022 has been determined the day of commemoration of victims in Ukraine due to the Russian war initiated in its territory.

The State Security Service (VDD) has issued a statement warning residents of 'risks of provocation and confrontation' on May 9 and asking them to refrain from visiting Soviet-glorifying monuments.

Dismantling of the Soviet-era monument in Victory Park in Rīga is inevitable, the only question is when it happens and how, Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš (New Unity) said in an interview with TV24 channel Friday the LETA newswire reported May 6.

“Nyet nyet Soviet!” was one of the most popular slogans used once by exiled Latvians in protest against the occupation of the Baltic States. On the day of the restoration of Latvia's independence, May 4, an exhibition of the same name has been opened at the Railway History Museum, Rīga.

May 4, 2022 marks exactly 32 years since the restoration of Latvia's independence after decades of Soviet occupation. On May 4, 1990, Latvia proclaimed its independence from the USSR, and the restoration of the Republic of Latvia.

An emergency meeting of the Jelgava district council on May 3 has taken a decision to dismantle three commemorative stones of the Soviet occupation regime in the administrative territory of Jelgava district, which is separate to the Jelgava city municipality.

On Monday, May 2, an exhibition of photographs 'Glory to Ukraine! Glory to heroes!' is unveiled in the Victory park near the so-called Victory monument, Rīga City Council said.“.

May 1 is exactly is 18 years since Latvia became a full-fledged Member State of the European Union.

A majority of former members of the Supreme Council (Latvian parliament in the post-independence period) are for the dismantling of the so-called 'Victory' monument in Rīga, the representative of the group Velta Čebotarenoka said on April 26.

On April 21, the Ogre municipality council decided to dismantle five commemorative stones of the Soviet occupation regime in the administrative territory of the municipality according to the information on the homepage of the council.

The issue of the Victory monument where the controversial May 9 celebration takes place each year has been discussed for years in the society and among politicians. Now, with the war in Ukraine, the supporters of the dismantling of the monument are urging less talk and more action, Latvian Television's broadcast De Facto reported on April 10.

On March 25 the Baltic countries remember the victims of the 1949 mass deportations, during which over 42,000 Latvian residents (2% of the pre-war population) were deported to labor camps, or gulags, in Siberia.

The European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA) 2022 Annual Conference and Awards Ceremony will take place at the Estonian National Museum in Tartu from 4-7 May 2022, and Latvia will have a keen interest with news that Alūksne Bānītis Station from Latvia is nominated for the title of European Museum of the Year 2022.
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