Latvia Since 1918
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Riga Municipality Annual Report 2018
Riga, 2019 CONTENT Report of Riga City Council Chairman .................................................................................................................... 4 Report of Riga City Council Finance Department Director ................................................................................... 5 Riga Municipality state ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Riga City population.............................................................................................................................................. 6 Riga Municipality economic state.......................................................................................................................... 7 Riga Municipality administration structure, functions, personnel........................................................................... 9 Riga Municipality property state .............................................................................................................................. 11 Value of Riga Municipal equity capital and its anticipated changes...................................................................... 11 Riga Municipality real estate property state........................................................................................................... 11 Execution of territory development plan ............................................................................................................... -
Kruk Latvia Statues
Conference on the Historical Use of Images Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 10-11 March 2009 Wars of Statues: Ius imaginum and Damnatio memoriae in the 20th century Latvia. Sergei Kruk In Latvia outdoor sculpture functions as a medium of political communication. Transformations of political regime engendered the alteration of representation politics aimed at attesting the new power relations. Not always the authorities can topple down a monument and erect a new one to propagate an unambiguous political message. More subtle methods are exploited to depreciate the unwanted sculptures and to break in the public sphere with new political messages. This paper conceptualises the peculiarities of this kind of political communication in semiotic terms. Among the most popular practices are renaming of monuments, change or addition of inscriptions, circulation of new explanations, permitting of natural decay and banal vandalism, modification of environment around the sculpture, and its inclusion in rituals. Outdoor sculpture as a medium of political communication Latvia has experienced several waves of erection and destruction of monuments in the 20th century. The change of representation practice coincided with the political transformations in the state. As a part of the memory rewriting project, ostensibly the commemoration of persons and events asserted the regime change and legitimised the power relations. Sculpture’s peculiar role in political communication owes to the treatment of visual icon in Russian and Latvian cultural tradition. Roman legal terms ius imaginum and damnatio memoriae are used in the title to highlight that the controversy over outdoor sculpture has deep roots in the millennia long debate on visual iconicity. -
A Reconstructed Indigenous Religious Tradition in Latvia
religions Article A Reconstructed Indigenous Religious Tradition in Latvia Anita Stasulane Faculty of Humanities, Daugavpils University, Daugavpils LV-5401, Latvia; [email protected] Received: 31 January 2019; Accepted: 11 March 2019; Published: 14 March 2019 Abstract: In the early 20th century, Dievtur¯ıba, a reconstructed form of paganism, laid claim to the status of an indigenous religious tradition in Latvia. Having experienced various changes over the course of the century, Dievtur¯ıba has not disappeared from the Latvian cultural space and gained new manifestations with an increase in attempts to strengthen indigenous identity as a result of the pressures of globalization. This article provides a historical analytical overview about the conditions that have determined the reconstruction of the indigenous Latvian religious tradition in the early 20th century, how its form changed in the late 20th century and the types of new features it has acquired nowadays. The beginnings of the Dievturi movement show how dynamic the relationship has been between indigeneity and nationalism: indigenous, cultural and ethnic roots were put forward as the criteria of authenticity for reconstructed paganism, and they fitted in perfectly with nativist discourse, which is based on the conviction that a nation’s ethnic composition must correspond with the state’s titular nation. With the weakening of the Soviet regime, attempts emerged amongst folklore groups to revive ancient Latvian traditions, including religious rituals as well. Distancing itself from the folk tradition preservation movement, Dievtur¯ıba nowadays nonetheless strives to identify itself as a Latvian lifestyle movement and emphasizes that it represents an ethnic religion which is the people’s spiritual foundation and a part of intangible cultural heritage. -
FREEDOM MONUMENT the Unveiling of the Freedom Monument
FREEDOM MONUMENT The unveiling of the Freedom Monument. November 18, 1935. The Freedom Monument is one the most outstanding historical, architectural and artistical monuments in Latvia. It was erected using donations from the people as a symbol of Latvia’s independence, which shows the respect and affection the Latvian people have towards their fatherland and freedom. The idea to build a monument dedicated to Latvia’s freedom was first announced in 1920, during the final days of the battles for independence. The project design competition was held in several rounds and lasted eight years. The monument’s Kārlis Zāle’s 100th birthday celebration. October 28, 1988 foundation stone was put into place on November 18, 1931. The Freedom Monument was unveiled and dedicated on November 18, 1935. It was constructed using sculptor Kārlis the monument leading upwards to the statue of Freedom, Zāle’s (1888-1942) design called Mirdzi kā Zvaigzne (Shine Like which holds three stars above her head, symbolizing the a Star). Ernests Štālbergs was the lead architect on the project, three historical regions of Latvia – Kurzeme, Vidzeme and with the iconic Freedom statue made by the Swedish metal Latgale. The universal ideas depicted on the Freedom craftsman Ragnar Myrsmeden (1889-1989). Monument are expressed in a spiritual and artistic form. The sculptural characters are genuinely, morally and aesthetically The idea of Freedom is depicted on the moment in a clear enlightening. architectural and sculptural language, enriched by symbolism and the depiction of historical events within the sculptural The Freedom Monument is 42.7 meters tall. groups: an obelisk as a bright and rousing carrier of the The monument is made up of 56 sculptures divided into idea of freedom, inspired by the characters and symbols on 13 sculptural groups on several levels. -
OUR PATH to INDEPENDENCE Curator ILMĀRS ZNOTIŅŠ THOSE PEOPLE in the PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WAS US
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia Photo exhibition dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the barricades 1991 OUR PATH TO INDEPENDENCE Curator ILMĀRS ZNOTIŅŠ THOSE PEOPLE IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WAS US. So courageous and fearless. Resolved and steadfast. Bewildered and hopeful, overcome by naive enthusiasm. So full of conviction and strong, so fervent and self-denying. Industrious and unsel sh. Empathetic and just. And so joyfully radiant and happy. Those ve years – from the rst feeble sprouts of daring planted by the human rights protection group ‘Helsinki 86’, to the spontaneous enthusiasm and fervour of the masses not yet cognizant of their power until the conscious demand for the renewal of Latvia’s independence – those years one cannot forget. So rm was our stubbornness, our resolve, our will – to be free. We would be free. That conviction came from our parents’ and grandparents’ stories, from our ancestral legends, from memories of our childhood and youth, which had taken root in our senses and our conscience so forcibly that even an axe couldn’t excise them, from old photographs or the pages of a book that bear testimony that once there was a Latvia. Day by day it grew in strength, carrying all of us along, and only the rare person could stand aside and not get involved. The window that had been opened a crack to get rid of stagnant air, was ung wide open by a gust of wind and nothing could then delay the bracing tornado, that turned inside out all the lies, the myths, that which had been silenced over the decades under a layer of dust and rubbish to reveal a clean and shining vein of truth. -
A History Untold by Valdis V
“Tearing Apart the Bear” and British Military Involvement in the Construction of Modern Latvia: A History Untold by Valdis V. Rundāns BASc, Waterloo, 1975 BA, Victoria, 2008 A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER of ARTS in the Department of History © Valdis V. Rundāns, 2014 University of Victoria All rights reserved. This thesis may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without the permission of the author. ii Supervisory Committee “Tearing Apart the Bear” and British Military Involvement in the Construction of Modern Latvia: A History Untold by Valdis V. Rundāns BASc, Waterloo, 1975 BA, Victoria, 2008 Supervisory Committee Dr. Serhy Yekelchyk (Department of History) Supervisor Dr. Perry Biddiscombe, (Department of History) Departmental Member iii Abstract Supervisory Committee Dr Serhy Yekelchyk (Department of History) Supervisor Dr. Perry Biddiscombe (Department of History) Departmental Member Despite significant evidence to the contrary in the Latvian language, especially the memoirs of General Pēteris Radzinš, Latvians, historians included, and others, have persisted in mythologizing the military events of 8 October to 11 November 1919 in Riga as some sort of national miracle. Since this Latvian army victory, first celebrated as Lāčplēsis Day on 11 November1920, accounts of this battle have been unrepresented, poorly represented or misrepresented. For example, the 2007 historical film Rīgas Sargi (The Defenders of Riga) uses the 1888 poem Lāčplēsis by Andrējs Pumpurs as a template to portray the Latvians successfully defeating the German-Russian force on their own without Allied military aid. Pumpurs’ dream and revolutionary legacy has provided a well used script for Latvian nation building. -
The Churches of Old Riga Mežaparks
2,5 h riga in olden tiMes 3 h CLASSICAL OLD RIGA and today The House of the Blackheads, Albert’s Square, John’s Town Hall Square, Dome Square, the Three Yard, city wall, St. Peter’s Church, Town Hall Square, Brothers, St. Jacob’s Cathedral, the Swedish Gate, Kalķu Street, Big Guild and Small Guild, Mikhail Saeima, Powder Tower, Bastion Hill, the Freedom Chekhov Riga Russian Theatre, The “Cat’s” House, Monument, the Latvian National Opera, the Dome Square, Riga Cathedral, Jēkaba Street, the University of Latvia. Freedom Monument, Bastion Hill, Powder Tower. THE CHURCHES 2 h 3 h OF OLD RIGA Mežaparks The Anglican Church, Riga Cathedral, St. John’s Wooden buildings and architecture of Mežaparks, Church, St. Jacob’s Cathedral, St. George’s Church, Ķīšezers lake, Mežaparks – the park of culture and St. Mary Magdalene’s Church, St. Peter’s Church, recreation. Reformed Church, Our Lady of Sorrows Church. art nouveau in riga 3 h kalncieMa quarter 2 h Old Riga, Alberta Street, the so-called Buildings and objects (buildings, market, shops) on embassy or silent district. the corner of Kalnciema Street and Melnsila Street. parks and gardens 3 h spīķeri quarter and 2,5 h OF RIGA central Market Bastion Hill, the Esplanade, Kronvalda Park, Arkādijas Market squares and pavilions of Central Market, Park (+ optional tour to Ziedoņdārzs Park, Vērmanes streets of the Spīķeri quarter, take a look at/visit the Garden, Victory Park, Viesturs Garden Park). concert hall, art shops and shops of farm goods. THE CIRCLE 2 h historical wooden 2 h of Boulevards Buildings of ķīpsala The Esplanade, Bastion Hill, the Latvian National Exploratory walk around the streets of Ķīpsala, Opera, the National Theatre, the Art Academy taking a look at its historical wooden building of Latvia, the Riga Latvian Society House, the infrastructure and enjoying the panoramic views University of Latvia, the Freedom Monument. -
The Three Occupations of Latvia 1940–1991 SOVIET and NAZI TAKE-OVERS and THEIR CONSEQUENCES
The Three Occupations of Latvia 1940Ð1991 SOVIET AND NAZI TAKE-OVERS AND THEIR CONSEQUENCES OCCUPATION MUSEUM FOUNDATION ¥ RéGA 2005 THE Translation PERFIDIOUS Secret Additional Protocol. HANDSHAKE In connection with the signing of the Non-Aggression On the cover: German Treaty between the German Reich and the Union of Fuehrer Hitler's Soviet Socialist Republics, the plenipotentiary signatories emissary, Foreign of both parts have considered in strictly secret discus- Minister Joachim von sions the question of delineating their mutual spheres of Ribbentrop, and Soviet interest in Eastern Europe. These discussions have led to Dictator Joseph Stalin the following result: shake hands on concluding the 1. In the event of a territorial and political SovietÐGerman rearrangement in the areas belonging to the Non-Aggression Treaty, Baltic States (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithua- known as the nia), the northern boundary of Lithuania shall HitlerÐStalin Pact, in represent the boundary of the spheres of Moscow on 23 August influence of Germany and U.S.S.R. In this 1939. connection the interest of Lithuania in the The Treaty allowed Hitler to invade Poland Vilna area is recognized by each party. on 1 September 1939 unleashing World 2. In the event of a territorial and political rearrange- War II. ment of the areas belonging to the Polish state, the For 22 months two spheres of influence of Germany and the U.S.S.R. shall totalitarian powers, the be bounded approximately by the line of the rivers Soviet Union and Nazi Narev, Vistula and San. Germany, were allies in The question of whether the interests of both parties this crime against peace. -
Latvia 2019 International Religious Freedom Report
LATVIA 2019 INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT Executive Summary The constitution provides every person the right to “freedom of thought, conscience, and religion,” and specifies the separation of church and state. By law, eight “traditional” religious groups (seven Christian groups and Jews) receive rights and privileges other groups do not. In addition, six new religious groups registered during the year. Draft legislation to provide restitution to Jewish Holocaust victims in accordance with the 2009 Terezin Declaration was withdrawn after a procedural defeat in parliament in June. On March 16, approximately 250 persons, including 10-15 veterans of the Nazi Waffen-SS and four members of the National Alliance (NA) party, participated in the annual march for Latvian Legionnaires who fought as conscripts of the Waffen-SS against the Soviet Union in World War II (WWII). An estimated 1,100 people were in the total crowd of supporters, protesters, media, observers and passersby, according to police, one third less than recent years. In its Freedom of the World 2019 report, the nongovernmental organization (NGO) Freedom House said support for the event continued to decline. Various groups, including the Latvian Anti-Nazi Committee, again condemned the march. A European Commission (EC) survey published in September showed that 12 percent of respondents believed discrimination on the basis of religion or belief was widespread in the country, while 67 percent said it was rare. A Special Eurobarometer survey of perceptions of anti-Semitism published in January showed that 14 percent of respondents believed anti-Semitism was a problem in the country, and 7 percent believed it had increased over the previous five years. -
Latvia My Country My City
“My country and my city“ April, 2021 Markuss Leitāns Riga Secondary school No. 18 LATVIA 2 SOME IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT LATVIA • Latvia is located in the north of Europe. • Our neighbouring countries are: Russia, Estonia, Lithuania and Belarus. • We are one of three Baltic states. • Latvia declared its independence on November 18, 1918, making Latvia only 102 years old. 3 4 5 6 7 THE INFAMOUS LEGEND ABOUT LATVIAN FLAG • The flag was first used in the 13th century making it the 3rd oldest flag in the world. • A legend refers to a mortally wounded chief of a Latvian tribe who was wrapped in a white sheet. The part of the sheet on which he was lying remained white, but the two edges were stained in his blood. 8 SOME IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT LATVIA • The capital city of Latvia is Riga. • Latvia was established in 1201 by German bishop Albert. • There are roughly 1,887,000 inhabitants in Latvia right now as we speak. • The official language of Latvia is Latvian, Russian being the secondary language in Latvia. 9 10 Riga 11 HISTORY OF RIGA • The history of Riga begins as early as the 2nd century, when Livs used to live here. • In 1207, Bishop Albert started on fortification of the town. • First arrival of German merchants in Riga started Christianization. • Riga’s Central Market is one of Europe’s biggest markets. It is famed for its pavilions housed in giant zeppelin hangars left behind by the German army after World War I. 12 13 INFO ABOUT RIGA • One third of Latvia’s population live in Riga (approx. -
Latvia 1988-2015: a Triumph of the Radical Nationalists» Is Dedicated to Latvia’S Most Recent History
Book 3. Formation of a new historical memory, or the Whitewashing of Nazism in Latvia The Baltic Centre of Historical and Socially Political Studies Victor Gushchin Latvia 1988 - 2015: a triumph of the radical nationalists The victory of the Western countries in the “Cold War” with the Soviet Union, formation of a unipolar world led by the US and revision of arrangements of the USSR, the USA and Great Britain in Yalta and Potsdam in1945 and the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Declaration) of 1975 – as the main reason of the Evolution of the Republic of Latvia of the 4th May1990 starting from cancellation of the universal suffrage to the relapse of totalitarianism: the construction of the so-called “Latvian Latvia”, Russophobia, suppression of the rights of ethnic minorities, restrictions on the freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, revision of the results of the World War II and the Neo- Nazi propaganda. Book 3. Formation of a new historical memory, or the Whitewashing of Nazism in Latvia Riga 2017 UDK 94(474.3) “19/20” Gu 885 The book Latvia 1988-2015: a triumph of the radical nationalists» is dedicated to Latvia’s most recent history. On May 4, 1990, the Supreme Soviet (Supreme Council) of the Latvian SSR adopted the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the Latvian Republic without holding a national referendum, thus violating the acting Constitution. Following this up on October 15, 1991, the Supreme Soviet deprived more than a third of its own electorate of the right to automatic citizenship. -
Russian Minority in Latvia
Russian Minority in Latvia EXHIBITON CATHALOG Foundation of MEP Tatjana Ždanoka “For Russian Schools”, Riga-Brussels 2008-2009 Riga-Brussels 2008-2009 The Exhibition “Russian Minority in Latvia” is supported by the Foundation of MEP Tatjana Ždanoka “For Russian Schools”, by European Parliament political group “Greens/EFA” as well as the External Economic and International Relations Department of Moscow City Government and the Moscow House of Fellow Nationals. Author Team: Tatjana Feigman and Miroslav Mitrofanov (project managers) Alexander Gurin, Illarion Ivanov, Svetlana Kovalchuk, Alexander Malnach, Arnold Podmazov, Oleg Puhlyak, Anatoly Rakityansky, Svetlana Vidyakina Design by Victoria Matison © Foundation “For Russian Schools” ISBN 978-9984-39-661-3 The authors express their gratitude for assistance and consultation to the following: Metropolitan of Riga and all Latvia Alexander Kudryashov and priest Oleg Vyacheslav Altuhov, Natalia Bastina, Lev Birman, Valery Blumenkranz, Olga Pelevin, Bramley (UK), Vladimir Buzayev, Valery Buhvalov, Dzheniya Chagina, Yury Chagin, Chairman of the Central Council of Latvian Pomorian Old Orthodox Church Biruta Chasha, Alexey Chekalov, Irina Chernobayeva, Nataliya Chekhova, Elina Aleksiy Zhilko, Chuyanova, Vitaly Drobot, Yevgeny Drobot, Dmitry Dubinsky, Nadezhda Dyomina, Editor in chief of daily newspaper “Vesti Segodnya” Alexander Blinov, the Vladimir Eihenbaum, Xenia Eltazarova, Zhanna Ezit, Lyudmila Flam (USA), vice-editor in chief Natalya Sevidova, journalists Yuliya Alexandrova and Ilya Svetlana