On Wednesday, January 20, marking the 30th anniversary of Commemoration Day of Defenders of the Barricades (1991) and paying tribute to the victims of the barricades, the officials of the Ministry of the Interior and its subordinate institutions participated in a flower-laying ceremony at the resting places of the defenders (Riga Forest Graves), at the Freedom Monument and at the Memorial Stones in Bastion Hill.
"On the 30th anniversary of the Barricades (1991), I would like to express my gratitude to all participants of the barricades for their selflessnes for the sake of Latvia, and I call on everyone to commemorate and homage the victims of the barricades. The common action of the participants at the historically significant moment of time will always remain in the memory of the nation, confirming that in protecting the restored independence of Latvia, Latvia's freedom against military actions and opponents of independence has been defended. These memories serve as an inspiration to the Latvian people in moments of trials, ” S.Ģirģens.
In the flower-laying ceremony participated the Minister of the Interior Sandis Ģirģens, the Parliamentary Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior Signe Bole and the State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior Dimitrijs Trofimovs.
Every year on January 20, the victims of the Barricades 1991 are commemorated in Latvia and also at the Ministry of the Interior. One of the most dramatic moments in the history of the Barricades was the attack on the Ministry of the Interior on January 20, 1991, and several Bauska militia officers were seriously injured in the shooting, but Lieutenant of Militia Vladimir Gomanovich, Commander of the Government Security Service, and Sergei Kononenko, Inspector of the Interior Department, were killed.
Prepared
Ministry of the Interior
Communication Department