Latvia commemorates victims of Black January
Riga, January 21 (AZERTAC). The event to mark the 23rd anniversary of the Black January tragedy was organized in Latvian capital.
Latvia also commemorates victims of the Barricades.
Members of Azerbaijani Diaspora in Latvia laid flowers on the Freedom Monument.
The Barricades were confrontation between Latvia and forces loyal to Soviet Union in January 1991 in Latvia. The events are named for 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 violently regain control over the country. After attacks of pro-Soviet OMON of 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 Kuldīga and Liepāja). 6 people were killed in further attacks, several were wounded in shootings or beaten by OMON. Most victims were shot during Soviet attack on Latvian Ministry of the Interior on January 20. 1 other person died in building accident reinforcing the barricades. Casualties among Soviet loyalists are considered likely, but exact number remains unknown. A total of 15,611 people have registered themselves as participants of the Barricades.
Other news in this section
