Saeima marks 35th anniversary of Latvia's de facto restoration of independence

Latvia's Saeima convened a ceremonial session on Wednesday to mark the 35th anniversary of the de facto restoration of the country's independence. According to the parliament's press service, Speaker Daiga Mieriņa and Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs delivered addresses during the sitting.

Invited guests included deputies of the Supreme Council who voted for the restoration of independence in 1991, the President, and representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps.

A day of commemorations

Before the session, at 11 a.m., deputies took part in a flower-laying ceremony at the Freedom Monument. In the afternoon, the Speaker was also due to attend the Statehood Award ceremony at Riga Castle, an event established in honor of August 21.

Visitors to the Saeima building can view the original text of the constitutional law "On the Statehood of the Republic of Latvia," as well as a photo exhibition titled "The Vote That Changed History," depicting the events surrounding the restoration of independence.

Historical background

On August 21, 1991, the Supreme Council adopted the constitutional law that ended the transitional period and completed the de facto restoration of independence. The decision was made despite occupying armored vehicles rumbling near Dome Square and a military helicopter circling above the parliament building. The law reinstated the Satversme (Constitution) and separated Latvia's legal system from that of the USSR.