Barikades Memorial - Riga, Latvia
N 56° 57.051 E 024° 06.311
35V E 323944 N 6315643
The Barikades (English: Barricades) Memorial is a memorial to those who died on January 20, 1991 during confrontations between Latvia and forces loyal to the Soviet Union. The memorial is located behind St. James’s Cathedral in Riga, Latvia.
Waymark Code: WMPNCQ
Location: Latvia
Date Posted: 09/25/2015
Views: 5
"Located on Jekaba Iela (Jacob Street) is a pyramidal memorial which was unveiled in 2007 by the State President Vaira Vike-Freiberga. The monument is dedicated to those who lost their lives during the confrontations, known as The Barricades, between Latvian and Soviet Union forces in 1991. The inscription details wording from a Latvian folk song."
-- Source
The first four lines of the inscription on the front of the memorial are from a Latvian folk song and the remaining two lines identify the year and name of the Barricades confrontations. The inscription is in Latvian and reads:
Tev Dievin Speks, Varite,
Tev Gudrais Padominš.
Dod, Dievin, Speku, Pratu,
Nelauj Otra Vergam But.
1991. Gads
Barikades
[ENGLISH TRANSLATION]
The Force He Was You,
The Wise Man You Padominš.
Go, God, Power, Mind,
Do Not Allow The Other To Be A Slave.
1991
Barricades
The following names of those who died during The Barricades confrontations are on the back of the monument. They are: Roberts Murnieks, Andris Slapins, Gvido Zvaigzne, Sergejs Konanenko, Vladimirs Gomanovics, Edijs Riekstinš, Ilguars Griezinš, and Raimonds Salminš.
The following information about The Barricades is from Wikipedia:
"The Barricades (Latvian: Barikades) were a series of confrontations between Latvia and forces loyal to the Soviet Union in January 1991 which took place mainly in Riga. The events are named for the popular effort of building and protecting barricades from 13 January until about 27 January. Latvia, which had declared restoration of independence from the Soviet Union a year earlier, anticipated that Soviet Union might attempt to regain control over the country by force. After attacks by the Soviet OMON [Special Purpose Mobility Unit] on Riga in early January, the government called on people to build barricades for protection of possible targets (mainly in the capital city of Riga and nearby Ulbroka, as well as Kuldiga and Liepaja). Six people were killed in further attacks, several were wounded in shootings or beaten by OMON. Most victims were shot during the Soviet attack on the Latvian Ministry of the Interior on January 20. One other person died in a building accident reinforcing the barricades. Casualties among Soviet loyalists are considered likely, but the exact number remains unknown. A total of 15,611 people have registered as having been participants of the Barricades.
On 20 January, about 100,000 people gathered in Moscow to show their support for the Baltic states, calling on Soviet officials to resign in connection with the events in Vilnius. That evening turned out to be the deadliest at the Barricades after the OMON and other unidentified combat groups attacked the Latvian Interior Ministry. Two policemen, a schoolboy, and a cameraman were killed. Another cameraman died later of his injuries. Four Bauska policemen were injured, as were five participants of the barricades, a Hungarian journalist, and a Russian journalist. It was noted that the attackers also suffered casualties. After the battle, the OMON moved into the Latvian communist party building. By the 20 January, the government also urged the transfer of control of the barricades to government forces. This was seen by some as disaffection with the whole idea. This opinion was enforced when part of the barricades were demolished after the government took control of them."