Freedom cannot be taken for granted today - Silina

RIGA - Freedom cannot be taken for granted even today, and we should be grateful to those who stand up for Latvia, Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) said during today's solemn part of the government meeting on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the 1991 Barricades.

In her address, she stressed that the time of the barricades gave the opportunity to live in a state governed by the rule of law and democracy. It was not only the then Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis and the entire Council of Ministers who safeguarded it, but the people, said Silina.

The Prime Minister highlighted the sense of unity that existed between the decision-makers and the people at that time, and the ability to come together in an unusually short time, because everyone had one goal - a free Latvia.

Silina stressed that we should remember that freedom cannot be taken for granted even today, and we should be grateful to those who stood up for Latvia's freedom.

The Prime Minister expressed her gratitude to Godmanis as the head of government at the time, to the other ministers and to the staff of the State Chancellery, some of whom have been working in the institution for 35 years.

Godmanis also addressed the current Cabinet of Ministers. He pointed out that he had told those who took part in the barricades that they were all brave people, and the barricades proved it. Godmanis also wished those who are currently in leading positions in the country to be courageous.

He expressed his conviction that the solidarity of Latvian ministers with the country is high. He reiterated his wish for the government to have courage, but at the same time not to lose the thinking and rationality that ministers possess.

As reported, construction of the barricades in Riga began in the evening of January 13, 1991. The objective was to defend the building of the Supreme Council, the Television Tower, bridges over the Daugava River, and other objects of strategic importance. The Soviet special forces unit OMON took action on January 16. Roberts Murnieks, a driver working at the Ministry of Transport, was shot dead as OMON attacked the Vecmilgravis Bridge.

The bloodiest events were on January 20, when OMON attempted to assault the Interior Ministry building. Five people were killed: schoolboy Edijs Riekstins, two police officers - Vladimirs Gomonovics and Sergejs Kononenko, and Riga Film Studio cameramen Andris Slapins and Gvido Zvaigzne.