This week commemorates the events in Lithuania and Latvia that marked the de-facto beginning of the end of the Soviet Union. The Soviet tanks’ shoot at the Lithuanian people in Vilnius and the TV tower. In Riga, a siege of the Interior Ministry took place. For this week back in ’91, the two Baltic States became the top news story for the world media at the time of the Gulf War in Iraq.
In Lithuania, the Soviet Army units captured television tower and surrounded parliament building. Some residents were killed. In Riga on the call of the Latvijas Tautas Fronte (Latvian People’s Front), people young and old, Russian and Latvian were building barricades to protect government builings against a potential repeat of the Vilnius events in Latvia’s capital. Everywhere people were gathering – by the Council of Ministers, television building in Zakusala, international communication centre on Perses street, on Brasa viaduct and Vecmilgravis brigde. It was a display of unique solidarity among the people. That was especially true for those gathered in Dome Square, where people gathered in a festive mood.
Developments in Latvia that year are now called the “singing revolutionâ€, because it started with manifestation on Mežparks stage before Tautas Fronte congress. Later people expressed their solidarity in singing.
There are signs of that time in Riga: a barricade fragment by the Saeima building, Barricade museum in the Old Town on Kramu iela and memorial sign at Bastejkalns in rememberance of five of our own that were killed in January 20, 1991 among them also cameraman Andris Slapins. Every year in January in remembrance of barricades in Dome Square people are making fire.
Peteris remembers it also.
If you were curious about the Singing Revolution these days (German view) you had to wait for some radio or TV coverage almost a few minutes reporting only. On top of it incidences in Riga and Vilnius were commented from correspondents residing in Moskwa. This kind of reporting was rather obscure. The public sympathised with Gorbatchev, for that reason the turn of the Baltics to independence was covered rather with distrust.
Interesting.
I remember a few things from that year. Most of which I plan on sharing them in a week. But for now, those were the days when I watched CNN for the first time on terrestrial TV.
I watched the Baltic chain on CNN; one of the reasons I’m in the Baltics now.
BTW, a big political kerfluffle, Aleks, in the Baltics. Vaira Vika has said that she will attend the May 9 meeting in Moscow, after it was agreed that the decision would be made in harmony with the other Baltic State.
Landbergis from Lithuania stated that this proved that Lavia “has always been a weak link.”
Ruutel made a statement on radio, but it was obvious from his tone that he was put out.
I’m moving right now, and busy, so maybe you can fill us in on the scoop.
Was in the works, Scott! I didn’t expect her decision to come so quickly. In today’s post I was going to ponder it, compare it and decide what she could do. Now, it’s a completely different ball game!
I was there, In Riga, on baricades several nights in row. I remember these times very well, the emotions in air, people ready to everything and without shade of fear. I have never seen in my life such solidation as then.
That’s great Sandra. And BTW, welcome back to blogging.
Yes, solidarity among the people of Latvia is perhaps what we’re missing at the moment.
I doubt if there will ever be such things as the singing revolution or the baltic chain again. Seems that the Baltics will never be completely free of Russia. Hopefully the border contract they are signing now will bring some peace. It was a huge debate in Estonia – a part of our land, where Setu’s live will go back to Russia. The prime minister Parts said that without giving up land, Estonia would have never been in EU or NATO. I guess that is the destiny of small countries. Always controlled by others in some way or another.