Museum of the Barricades of 1991
Barricades for Freedom --
The Museum of the Barricades of 1991 is dedicated to the people and events that took place in January 1991.
This small museum located in an historic Old Riga building is dedicated to the brave men and women who defended the Latvian Parliament, the Radio and Television Station from Soviet troops that were ordered to put an end to the independence movement. Latvians from all walks of life from around the country braved bitter cold temperatures in January and potential death at the hands of the Soviet army to prevent a communist coup.
Visitors can look at photos on interactive touch-screens, view a scale model of Dome Square during this pivotal event and enter a dark room made to look like a typical barricades scene complete with a Russian soldier holding an AK-47.
Also you will find an exhibit dedicated to the five Latvians who were killed on the night of 20 January 1991
The Museum of the Barricades 1991 in May 2010.wmv
Come join TheCeļotājs visit to the Museum of the Barricades of 1991 located at Krāmu iela 3.
This small museum located in an historic Old Riga building is dedicated to the brave men and women who defended the Latvian Parliament Riga Television Tower and Television Studio from Soviet troops that were ordered to put an end to the independence movement. Latvians from all walks of life from around the country braved bitter cold temperatures in January and potential death at the hands of the Soviet army to prevent a communist coup.
The events started on 14 January 1991, in response to the previous day's massacre at the Vilnius television tower when Soviet troops attacked unarmed crowds - estimated to number between twenty and sixty thousand - killing sixteen, several of whom were run over by tanks, and wounding over 500 more, people from all over Latvia converged on Riga to set up barricades in a do or die situation for the breakaway Baltic republic. Two days later saw the first victim of the Riga barricades when Ministry of Transport driver Roberts Murnieks, a member of a volunteer unit guarding the Vecmilgravis Bridge, was shot in the back of the head by Russian troops.
On 20 January 1991, at 9:07 PM, OMON forces from the Soviet Interior Ministry, known as the Black Berets and members of other, unknown military units launch an attack against the Interior Ministry of Latvia Raiņa bulvāris 6. During the 30-minute exchange of machine-gun and rifle fire, five men were killed; militia officers Vladimir Gomanovič and Sergei Konoņenko were shot killed. Near the ministry, filmmaker Andris Slapinš and high school student Edijs Reikstinš were shot and killed. Cameraman Gvido Zvaigzne dies of his wounds several days later. All were unarmed and shot by snipers who had orders to eliminate all cameramen recording the event. There is also a memorial in memory of Raimonds Salminš, whose van was machined-gunned by Soviets in August of the same year.
Also injured during the 30-minute exchange of machine-gun and rifle fire, were four officers of the Bauska militia, five participants in the barricades, a Russian journalist and a Hungarian journalist. Casualties were also suffered by the attackers. After the battle, the OMON forces move to the building of the Central Committee of the Latvian Communist Party.
Location Hours Open Admission
Museum of the Barricades of 1991
Kramu iela 3
Riga, LV-1050, Latvia
Tel +371 67213525
Museum Web Site:
Hour Open:
Monday - Friday: 10.00 - 17.00
Saturday: 11.00 - 17.00
Sunday: Close
Entrance Fee: Donation
The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia 1940-1991
The Museum was established in Riga in 1993 by the Occupation Museum Assocation to: -
•Provide information about Latvia and its people under two occupying totalitarian regimes, Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, from 1940 to 1991.
•Remind the world of the wrongdoings committed by foreign powers against the state and the people of Latvia;
•Remember those who perished, who suffered, and who fled the terror of the occupying regimes.
The Museum's goal is to portray life of Latvia and Latvians during the three occupation periods. The items in the exhibition tell about Latvia during the more than fifty year long subjugation: about power politics, about Soviet and Nazi terror, about the destruction of Latvia's economy, about Soviet and Nazi totalitarian ideologies, about the opposition to the regimes, and finally, about how the Latvian nation regained its freedom in 1991.
The first section of the exhibit documents the events that led to Latvia's occupation: the Soviet and Nazi pact, finalized on 23 August 1939 by Molotov and Ribbentrop, which divided East Europe into Soviet and Nazi spheres of influence.
The exhibition continues as visitors follow the events of the first Soviet occupation (1940-1941), followed by the Nazi occupation period (1941-1944/45), and finally, the second Soviet occupation (1944/45-1991). The exhibit includes documentations of the peoplesstruggle to renew their independence in the late 1980s and the reclaiming of sovereignty in 1991.
Also in the exhibition is a tribute to the Latvians who lived outside of Latvia during the occupation (during World War II approximately 200 000 Latvians fled West to escape the renewed terror of the Soviet regime, of which approximately 120 000 remained abroad), their cultural life and their contribution to the struggle for a renewed independent Latvia.
The Museum's goal is to portray life during the three occupation periods suffered by Latvia and Latvians. The items of the exhibition tell about Latvia during the fifty plus year-long subjugation: about power politics, about Soviet and Nazi terror, about the destruction of Latvia's economy, about Soviet and Nazi totalitarian ideologies, about the opposition to the regimes, and finally how Latvians regained their freedom in 1991.
Latvia, Riga, The Barricades 1991 - Room #4
Peace and freedom triumph - Latvia, 1991 (the Barricades and Atmoda)
My memories about the Barricades' period in Latvia and our fight for Freedom.
The People of the Barricades of 1991
This presentation shows the people who manned the Barricades of January 1991 and what they went through and what they suffered during this period of time. There are not enough words to describe just what the people of Latvia actually went through and actually suffered as well as their determination to gain their Independence and Liberty from the oppression while living under Soviet rule for the past 50 years.
25 years since Soviets tried to take over
(20 Jan 2016) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY
AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY
Riga - 20 January 2016
++16:9++
1. People with torches waiting to light commemorative bonfire
2. Soldiers and man with flag waiting
3. Close of hand holding Latvian flag
4. Soldiers holding burning torches
5. Close of fire on torch
6. Country leaders and barricades participants lighting bonfire
7. Tilt down of bonfire
8. SOUNDBITE (Latvian) Renars Zalais, Director of Barricades Museum, participated and was wounded at the barricades on 20 January 1991:
Barricades weren't concrete blocks or man made obstacles. The core of barricades were that by these bonfires and by these obstacles, Latvian people sat. Because Latvian people themselves were the barricades that guaranteed Latvia's independence.
9. Girls holding torches
10. Wide of Doma square
11. Latvian flags on buildings
12. Andris Vitolins, artist who participated in barricades and painted slogans on buildings and barricades, approaching a monument for barricades victims
13. Vitolins clearing away snow from monument
14. Close of candle by monument
15. Wide of Vitolins talking about his paintings
16. Pan from his hand to painted sign
17. SOUNDBITE (Latvian) Andris Vitolins, artist who participated in barricades and painted slogans on buildings and barricades:
Yes, if we had a situation right now, if we had to protect our country, I would come and join. Because as it happens, if we have such a crazy neighbour (meaning Russia), it would be just like defending your house or your apartment. If anyone wants to break in, then there is no other way but to fight.
18. Wide of people gathering to lay flowers at Freedom Monument
19. Close of soldiers holding Latvian flag
20. Various of country leaders approaching to lay flowers
21. People laying flowers
22. Wide of people waiting to lay flowers
23. Freedom Monument, people queuing to lay flowers
AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY
FILE: Riga - 20 January 1991
++NIGHT SHOTS++
++4:3++
24. Various of gunfire heard outside Interior ministry, people running from scene, vehicle on fire (++WITH COMMENTARY++)
AP TELEVISION - AP CLIENTS ONLY
FILE: Riga - 21 January 1991
++4:3++
25. Various of bullet holes in windows after overnight shooting
STORYLINE:
With flowers and commemorative bonfires, Latvians on Wednesday marked the 25th anniversary of barricades that were built across the country to defend it against a Soviet attempt to quash the Baltic country's quest for independence.
Hundreds of people gathered in Riga in freezing temperatures to honour the five people killed when Soviet special forces attacked the Interior Ministry on January 20, 1991.
Renars Zalais, who witnessed the fighting at the ministry first-hand, said the date has become a celebration of people who defended the country.
More than 15,000 people built barricades all across Latvia in 1991.
The attack in Riga, and in Lithuania the week before, represented a last show of force for Soviet forces that had occupied the Baltic countries since World War II.
Andris Vitolins, an artist who participated in the barricades when he was just 15, said he would defend his country again.
It would be just like defending your house or your apartment. If anyone wants to break in, then there is no other way but to fight, said Vitolins.
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Provokācijas Anatomija [1996]
Pagājis ceturtdaļgadsimts kopš asiņainākās dienas Latvijas neatkarības atjaunošanas ceļā - uzbrukuma Iekšlietu ministrijai. Par 25 gadus senajiem notikumiem pie kādreizējās Iekšlietu ministrijas ēkas Raiņa bulvārī šodien liecina piemiņas plāksne pie nolupušās fasādes un ar pelēku špakteli aizdarīti neskaitāmi ložu caurumi. Iekšlietu ministrija šīs telpas pameta pirms septiņiem gadiem, tagad te top viesnīca. Bet tieši ar šo vietu joprojām saistās lielākais neatbildētais jautājums par Barikāžu laika notikumiem: kas deva pavēles, vai uzbrukumā piedalījās arī kāds ''trešais spēks'' un no kā lodēm šajā vakarā krita pieci cilvēki?
Ir 1991.gada 20.janvāris, īsi pēc deviņiem vakarā. Pie Iekšlietu ministrijas Raiņa bulvārī sākas apšaude starp PSRS Iekšlietu ministrijas Iekšējā karaspēka pakļautībā esošās Rīgas Speciālo uzdevumu milicijas vienības jeb OMON kaujiniekiem un ministrijas aizstāvjiem. Lodes lido no Bastejkalna un omoniešu ieņemtās Celtniecības ministrijas, vēlākās ASV vēstniecības ēkas, logiem. Apšaudē dzīvību zaudē kinooperatori Andris Slapiņš un Gvido Zvaigzne, skolnieks Edijs Riekstiņš, miliči Vladimirs Gomonovičs un Sergejs Konoņenko. Dramatiskus mirkļus fiksē Jura Podnieka kamera.
Dažādās liecības par 20.janvāra notikumiem apkopotas laikabiedru atmiņās un tiesas materiālos, uzņemtas vairākas dokumentālas filmas. Bet fundamentālu pētījumu nav, jo, kā saka Renārs Zaļais - lai veiktu pētījumu, vajadzīgi dokumenti, bet, ja tādi vispār ir, tie glabājas nepieejamos Krievijas militārajos arhīvos. ''Ļoti iespējams, ka tie varētu būt bijuši kādi mutiski rīkojumi. Bet no kā tie nāca, kas bija īstie organizatori šim 20.janvāra uzbrukumam un kāds bija tā mērķis - tie visi ir jautājumi, uz kuriem atbilžu nav''.
Maz pētītos 20.janvāra notikumus un pretrunīgās versijas savā bakalaura darbā pirms diviem gadiem analizēja arī vēstures students Agris Pastars. Viņš apkopojis gan cilvēku atmiņas, liecības un trūcīgos dokumentus, gan intervējis vairākus bijušos OMON kaujiniekus, kuriem savulaik piesprieda nosacītus sodus un kuri palika uz dzīvi Rīgā. Tomēr nonākt daudz tuvāk patiesībai nav izdevies. ''Visticamāk, ka to patiesību jau noskaidros mūsu mazbērni. Varbūt Krievijā atvērsies kāds specarhīvs vai kāds no šo notikumu plānotājiem uzrakstīs atmiņas vai memuārus. Pagaidām, es uzskatu, mēs varam izvirzīt tikai versijas,'' klāsta Pastars.
OMON krimināllietā sākotnēji bija apsūdzēti vairāk nekā 100 cilvēku, no kuriem gan izdevās notiesāt tikai 15 - vairums saņēma nosacītus sodus. Dažiem piespriesta arī reāla brīvības atņemšana. Piemēram, Mihailu Bruju Rīgas apgabaltiesa notiesāja uz 6,5 gadiem cietumā, tādu pašu termiņu piesprieda Mihailam Sevastjanovam. Taču abi arvien atrodas meklēšanā ārpus Latvijas. ''Melno berešu'' tiesas iznākums daudzos radīja vilšanos. Bet jāņem vērā, ka daudz ko noteica sākotnējā izmeklēšana - tajā liela loma bija LPSR un vēlāk Krievijas prokuratūrai.
Kā intervijās presē atzinusi bijusī Latvijas Ģenerālprokuratūras Sevišķi smago noziegumu izmeklēšanas pārvaldes priekšniece Rita Aksenoka, kad lieta 1992.gadā no Maskavas atgriezās Rīgā, daudzas liecības un lietiskie pierādījumi bija pagaisuši.
Rigas City laukums ''Squares''
Come and join ''TheCelotajs'' take a stroll through the many Rigas City laukums ''Squares''. The first square we come to is Doma laukums Square where many different festivals and evens are held including the yearly Rigas Christmas Market. During Latvias struggle for independence in 1991, Doma laukums became the center of the Barricades that surrounded the area in January 1991. Embedded in the square is a plaque from UNESCO. Moving from Doma laukums to Liva laukums located between Meistaru iela and Kaļķu iela, we can see street vendors selling their wears from carts, with beer gardens outlining it. Moving to the corner of Liva laukums and Zirgu iela you well find this stone figure of an ancient Livonian god, which was found in 1851 in a field near Salaspils. The Livonian were the tribe that was living here when Bishop Albert arrived in 1200. Looking back to Kaļķu iela you will see a garden planted in rows with a beer garden in the background. Leaving Livu laukums and moving to Pils laukums which is located across the street from Riga Castle also known as Castle Square. As we walk through the Pils laukums we can see a well kept lawn, flowers, shrubs and trees that line the foot path. Crossing the street to the other part of Pils laukums we can see a stone abstract sculpture. Moving on we will come to a monument to UZ SIBIRIJU AIZVESTAJIEM LATVIJA BERNIEM 1941-1949 To Siberia AIZVESTAJIEM LATVIA CHILDREN Leaving Pils laukums and following Torņa iela to Jēkaba laukums where we will find a well kept lawn and a flower garden located in its center. As we leave Jēkaba laukums and move to Akadēmijas laukums which is located across the street from the Academy of Science. Akadēmijas laukums is a small laukums with a small garden of plants located in its center.
The Latvian National Museum of Art.wmv
Come join TheCeļotājs visit to the outside area of the Latvian National Museum of Art located at Krišjāņa Valdemāra iela 10a.
The main building of the Latvian National Museum of Art on Krišjāņa Valdemāra iela is one of the most impressive in the Park and Boulevard Circle area of Riga. It was designed by the museum's first director, the Baltic German architect and art historian Wilhelm Neumann and built in 1905. The structure, as well as the parameters of the exhibition rooms, corresponded to the level of requirements required standard for an art museum in the Europe of at the previous turn of the centuries. The majestic façade is designed in the baroque and classicist styles; the sculptural group of the central fronton was created by the sculptor August Volz. The interior of the building -- in the lobby and the ornaments of the staircase banister feature elements of Art Nouveau. The top-floor lobby is adorned by with six decorative semi-circle circular paintings by the great Latvian painter Vilhelms Purvītis and a master of Estonian classical art Gerhard von Rosen.
The building is a listed architectural landmark of national significance. Reconstruction and restoration work is scheduled in the foreseeable future.
The permanent exhibitions of the museum trace the development of professional art in the Baltic region and Latvia from the mid-1700s to the present day, as well as feature featuring a number of significant episodes periods in the Russian art of from the 18th century to the first half of the 20th century. The Russian art collection of the Latvian National Museum of Art is the richest in the Baltic countries.
In 2000 the museum was accredited and received confirmation from the State Authority of Museums its operation as a state recognized museum. The year 2000 also introduced important changes in the life of the museum; the Ministry of Culture abolished the Association of Latvian Art Museums and reorganized the structure of the member museums. It was decided to give independent legal status to individual museums. At the same time the Arsenāls Museum of Art was abolished being united with the State Museum of Art. On the basis of these two museums has been organized one united museum of national importance which since September 2005 has a new name -- the Latvian National Museum of Art.
The Latvian National Museum of Art
Krišjāņa Valdemāra iela 10a
Riga LV-1010, Latvia
Phone: (+371) 67 325051
Fax: (+371) 67 357408
Email: :lnmm@lnmm.lv
Website:
Barikades1991 - 20 gadus vēlāk
Filma veltīta maniem līdzgaitniekiem, kuri ticēja un bija gatavi darīt visu, lai īstenotu sapni par Latvijas valsts neatkarības atgūšanu!
Presently only in Latvian language, if there will be interest I will do a translation. Basically, the film is an overview of the events that took place in Latvia during January 1991, when the struggle for independence reached its culmination. Inhabitants travelled from all corners of the country to the capital city Riga, to defend the renewed independence of the Republic of Latvia, constructing Barricades against tanks and Soviet special forces troops.
Those Who Died for Latvian Independence and Liberty
On 14 January 1991, in response to the previous day's massacre at the Vilnius television tower when Soviet troops attacked unarmed crowds - estimated to number between twenty and sixty thousand - killing sixteen, several of whom were run over by tanks, and wounding over 500 more, people from all over Latvia converged on Riga to set up barricades in a do or die situation for the breakaway Baltic republic. Two days later saw the first victim of the Riga barricades when Ministry of Transport driver Roberts Murnieks, a member of a volunteer unit guarding the Vecmilgravis Bridge, was shot in the back of the head by Russian troops. ----
On 20 January 1991, at 9:07 PM, OMON forces from the Soviet Interior Ministry, known as the Black Berets and members of other, unknown military units launch an attack against the Interior Ministry of Latvia Raiņa bulvāris 6. During the 30-minute exchange of machine-gun and rifle fire, five men were killed; militia officers Vladimir Gomanovič and Sergei Konoņenko were shot killed. Near the ministry, filmmaker Andris Slapinš and high school student Edijs Reikstinš were shot and killed. Cameraman Gvido Zvaigzne dies of his wounds several days later. All were unarmed and shot by snipers who had orders to eliminate all cameramen recording the event. There is also a sixth stone similar memorial in memory of Raimonds Salminš, whose van was machined-gunned by Soviets in August of the same year. ----
Also injured during the 30-minute exchange of machine-gun and rifle fire, were four officers of the Bauska militia, five participants in the barricades, a Russian journalist and a Hungarian journalist. Casualties were also suffered by the attackers. After the battle, the OMON forces move to the building of the Central Committee of the Latvian Communist Party.
Рига 1991 РМШ Мос 1 Riga
Рига 1991 РМШ Мос 1 пирс Riga
Barikāžu TV | janvāris 1991
1991. gada barikāžu laika televīzijas ziņas
filmēja: Pēteris Blūms
montāža: Jānis Blūms | 2010 gada janvārī
At the Barricades
Over 15,000 Latvians participated in the Barricades movement that successfully prevented a renewed Soviet takeover in 1991. One Riga woman recalls the dramatic events she witnessed there. (Video: Toms Dzenis / The Tiziano Project)
Баррикады
В Риге начались мероприятия посвящённые памяти баррикад 1991.года. Продлятся они до следующего понедельника. В эти минуты на Закюсале участники тех событий разожгли большой памятный костёр, огонь в котором обещают поддерживать вплоть до шесть часов утра. А немногим ранее на острове побывали и школьники.
Riga Barricades Anniversary Freedom Monument 2016
Riga - The hearth of the baltics
di Gianluca Procaccini
The Riga City history is more than eight hundred years long, and it has an abundance of dramatic events stored in countless volumes of works and monuments, legends, songs, memoirs and tales.
The archeological discoveries in the territory of Riga testify that a settlement existed there already in the 12th century. A broadening was formed in the place where the Rīdziņa River ran into the Daugava, which is the present region of Albert's Square; this was called Riga Lake. This place was convenient for a harbor because settlements of local tribes -- the Cours and the Livonians were formed in its vicinity.
At the end of the 12th century, crusaders came here as well when the German merchants tried to widen and strengthen their area of activities along the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. Their first leader Bishop Berthold in 1198 was killed in action near the Riga Old Mountain. When the chronicler Indriķis recorded the word Riga, it appeared for the first time in the written sources. The next bishop Albert in 1201 moved from Ikšķile to Riga, and after negotiations with the local Livs started to build a fortification near the Riga Lake. 1201 became the official year of the foundation of Riga. Already in 1202 the first colonists German landowners came here. Little by little Riga became an aggression base against the local Baltic tribes. In the 13th century trade boomed in Riga, and it became one of the main intermediaries between the West and the East.
Even by the end of the 16th century disagreements about governmental rights did not cease among inhabitants of Riga: --bishops, Knights of the Sword (later - Livonian) and Riga's landowners. Sometimes the disagreements grew into armed conflicts.
As a result of the Livonia war (1558-1583), after a little state of Livonia failed, Riga fell under the subordination of Poland. Later when Poland waged a war with Sweden (1600-1629), after fierce resistance Riga in 1621 fell under the Swedish rule and became an administrative center of its Baltic division. The 18th century started with the Northern War (1700-1721), in which Russia and Sweden struggled for supremacy in the Baltic Sea. As a result, in 1710 after long-term siege and plaque epidemic Riga fell under the rule of Russia.
Industry rapidly grew in Riga during the second half of the 18th century. German guilds lost their monopoly position in manufacturing and trade. In the 19th century Riga became one of the main seaports of the Russian Empire and an important railway transport junction. During the second half of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century the area of Riga increased 10 times, in 1913 the number of inhabitants was 80 times higher than in the beginning of the 18th century. Riga was the second largest city (after St. Petersburg) in the western part of Russia.
1915-1917 was the breaking point in the development of Riga when with the start of World War I it became at the front line of the war. About 200,000 workers and members of their families together with industrial enterprises were evacuated from Riga to the central part of Russia.
By the end of World War I the possibility emerged to establish an independent Republic of Latvia, which through the complicated political situation, was proclaimed on 18 November 1918. The Latvian liberation war broke out. Riga endured severe sufferings during this time (1918-1919), experiencing three different changes of political regimes. After August of 1920 the devastated Riga became the capital of equally devastated Republic of Latvia. During 1920-1930 Riga developed into the center of trade, light and food industries, as well as an important cultural and educational center.
Soviet tanks came to the streets of Riga on 17 June 1940. The Soviet Union occupied Latvia.
During the World War II the Old Town of Riga suffered hard, the port and railway junctions were destroyed. After the war Riga became one of the biggest centers of the western part of the Soviet Union, where according to the industrialization plans both light industry and significant enterprises of the military industrial complex were developed. Riga became also the center of the Baltic military district. In order to provide the newly built enterprises with manpower, extensive immigration from other Soviet Republics started. As a result, the number of the inhabitants in Riga increased by seven times from 1950 till 1980.
Restoring Latvia' sovereignty, Riga became the center of the Awakening Movement. In January 1991, the population of Latvia gathered on barricades in Riga to face the possible attack from the USSR military units.
The history of Riga over more than 800 years testifies that the city has vast experience being proud and rich and knowing how to rise once again after war, starvation and disaster. And how to be proud again.
Soviet Occupation Documentary in Latvia Room #1
LATVIA....CHANGING OF THE HONOUR GUARD AT THE FREEDOM MONUMENT IN RIGA.
The Freedom Monument in Riga, Latvia is a symbol of the people singing, working and fighting for their freedom. The guards stand for one hour periods on guard and change every hour from 9am until 6pm every day.......