On 21 August of this year, the 20th anniversary of the actual restoration of independence of our country will be celebrated.

The ceremonial events on this day will begin with an ecumenical service in the Dome Church and the laying of flowers at the Monument of Freedom.

Afterwards, the National Theatre of Latvia will host a gala concert in which local musicians will perform pieces of classical Latvian music. The concert will be broadcast on Latvian Television. Those former members of the Supreme Council and the Congress of People’s Deputies of the USSR who advocated the restoration of the independence of Latvia in 1991 have been invited to the concert.

The main building of the Saeima will be open to the public throughout the day. Inhabitants and guests of Riga will have an opportunity to see the historically impressive interior, the Plenary Chamber and function rooms of the parliament building with their own eyes.

Several topical expositions will also be opened in the Saeima building in honour of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the de facto restoration of independence. Visitors will have an opportunity to see the original copy of the Constitutional Law, which was adopted on 21 August 1991. Photographs and newspapers of the day will also help recall the events of 20 years ago.

Furthermore, official letters from other countries recognising the independence of Latvia, which served as an indisputable sign of regained sovereignty, will also be on display at the parliament building. It is planned that visitors of the Saeima will also have an opportunity to view the awards of the Republic of Latvia.

A special website (www.21augusts.lv) dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitutional law on the Statehood of the Republic of Latvia has been launched. The website features a collection of materials on the role of 21 August 1991 in Latvian history and the latest information relating to the celebrations. The 21 August website also features video interviews with eyewitnesses of the de facto restoration of the independence of Latvia.

On 21 August 1991 the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia adopted the Constitutional Law on the Statehood of the Republic of Latvia, thus restoring the independence of Latvia de facto and marking the country’s return to the family of democratic countries of Western Europe.

This law reinstated the Constitution of Latvia (Satversme) of 1922 with its values of Western democracy and the rule of law. With the adoption of the Constitutional Law, the laws of the USSR became null and void in Latvia. Based on the law of 21 August, other countries recognised the restoration of the independence of Latvia.

Saeima Press Service