THE BARRICADES OF RIGA - RESISTANCE TO SOVIET AGGRESSION

The Berlin Wall came down. President Gorbachev had officiated the end of Soviet rule. However, a remnant in Moscow were determined to hang on to the Baltic States. Lithuania was the first to break free on 11th March 1990, seven months after the two million Balts joined hands from Tallinn Estonia, to Vilnius Lithuania, a total of 675 kilometres in peaceful protest.  Estonia formed a transitional course to freedom nineteen days later. Only Latvia remained under Soviet control

Since May 4 1990 Latvia had begun a path to full independence. Soviet officials in Moscow and their supporters in Latvia attempted to halt the Latvian fight for further independence by setting bloody provocations. Blood flowed in a neighbouring city, Vilnius, but the Soviet government wanted to avoid a repeat of the killings earlier in Riga. Fearing an attack from Soviet tanks, 250,000 Latvians flooded Riga. It was to be a peaceful protest but it didn’t happen. Sporadic gunfire echoed through the city. Barricades were made from any materials on hand, blocks, farm machinery, tractors and woodcuts. The purpose was to protect Riga from Soviet repression in the fight for Latvian independence. It was a critical period in the nation’s history.

It was a massive task to feed the protesters, and they spent many nights suffering in the cold, defending their blockades. The protesters demolished a three-storey wooden house to provide barricades in the streets to make a statement to the Soviets who had surrounded the city with thousands of troops.

Not only were the streets blockaded. Barricades surrounded the entire Old City. All government buildings were piled high with obstacles. Soviet tanks could have easily crushed the barricades, but such action would result in reactions from the West. The United States and the West were busy with the Gulf war. Riga, filled with Western journalists watched the events in Latvia closely. Two cameramen in Riga were killed. Both filmed their own deaths as bullets hit them. Two militia officers died. These bloody shootings strengthened the condemnations of the international community who denounced the attacks. Soon after this many of the barricades were removed.

The times of the barricades were legendary, a sign of never-before-seen unity of the Latvian people. People from all ages spent cold nights in the Old City to protect their leaders. People were ready to face tanks with empty hands. They also had prepared for military activity. Some had hunting rifles and World War II weapons ready to fight. The Soviet government was unable to face such a crowd with tanks which would have resulted in a bloodbath larger than Vilnius. This was a clear testimony Latvians had the courage to fight for their freedom at a critical time in their history.

Latvia achieved independence on 21st August 1991.