For the corridors of the archives, it was an explosive day. On 24 August 1991, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia adopted the decision “On ending the activity of USSR state security institutions in the Republic of Latvia”: KGB activity on Latvian territory was declared criminal and directed against the interests of the Latvian people, while the Latvian SSR KGB was liquidated. This came three days after the constitutional law on state status, when the new authority had to do more than declare—it had to take over rooms, files, and control.
The decision followed the failed August coup, as Latvia’s institutions moved quickly to take over Soviet power structures. Liquidating the KGB was one of the practical steps by which the restoration of independence turned into functioning state authority.
Related events
- 1991On 24 August 1991, Russian president Boris Yeltsin signed a decree in Moscow recognizing the state independence of the Republic of Latvia and urged other states to do the same.
- 1991On 24 August 1991, the Supreme Council decided that the law “On the Republic of Latvia Home Guard” would enter into force that same day; the transcript records 83 votes for and 1 against.
- 1906On 24 August 1906, director Voldemārs Pūce was born in Vestiena parish; he later made the film “Kaugurieši” and after the war served a prison term in Vorkutlag.
Footnotes
- 1.https://www.saeima.lv/4maijs/docs/3sesija.htm
- 2.https://www.vestnesis.lv/ta/id/10294
- 3.https://www.vestnesis.lv/ta/id/104512
- 4.https://www.saeima.lv/files/1991_gada_augusta_hronika_e-izdevums.pdf
- 5.https://www.vestnesis.lv/ta/id/209394
- 6.https://www.saeima.lv/steno/AP_steno/1991/st_910824v.htm
- 7.https://lvportals.lv/dienaskartiba/234856-aizsardzibas-ministrs-zemessardze-ir-musu-tautas-vienotibas-speka-un-patriotisma-simbols-2011
- 8.https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voldem%C4%81rs_P%C5%ABce