On 12 June 1920, Latvia and Soviet Russia concluded a refugee re-evacuation agreement – even before the peace treaty of 11 August. It provided for the quickest possible return home of people displaced during the First World War and the civil war who found themselves on the other state’s territory. This seemingly technical document affected a vast number of people: by 1 September 1928, more than 236,000 refugees and optants had returned to Latvia.

After the First World War, the Latvian state had to address not only borders and international recognition, but also a massive refugee crisis. The June 1920 agreement was a practical step from a war-ravaged region toward state reconstruction, family reunification, and normal neighbourly relations.