THE HISTORY OF CONFRONTATION
1990
November 16
Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev issues a series of accusations
against the Baltic Republics from the podium of the Soviet Supreme
Council, speaking of the need to conclude a new Union Treaty.
November 17
The chairman of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia,
Anatolijs Gorbunovs, and the chairman of the Council of Ministers
of the Republic of Latvia, Ivars Godmanis, meet with Mikhail Gorbachev
and refuse to sign the Union Treaty. Gorbachev threatens to institute
direct presidential rule and an economic blockade.
November 18
There is a national demonstration in Latvia in honor of the country's Independence Day.
November 19
After a protest from the USSR, representatives of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are
banned from participating in an OSCE conference in Paris.
November 21
The Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia sends a letter to Mikhail Gorbachev and
the Supreme Council of the Soviet Union, calling on them to halt interference by special
OMON troops in Latvia's domestic affairs and political life.
November 23
The Soviet Supreme Council gives the president of the USSR unlimited authority to
specify an emergency situation and institute presidential rule.
November 25
The Central Committee of the Latvian Communist Party sets up the All-Latvian Public Rescue
Committee, and its delegates announce that they have the right to sign the Union Treaty.
November 26
A draft of the Union Treaty is published in the Soviet press, along with statements
saying that it can be signed by "authorized representatives".
November 27
Soviet Defense Minister Dmitriy Yazov issues an order which says that the armed forces
have authority to determine what kinds of monuments can be set up in the Soviet republics.
In a televised speech, Yazov threatens to eliminate "those which are ideologically alien".
The Latvian People's Front, meanwhile, launches a petition drive in opposition to the Union
Treaty, collecting 1,002,829 signatures by December 17.
December 1
The Central Committee of the Latvian Communist Party launches a radio station called
Sodruestvo, which is based in the facilities of the Biryuzov Political Military Academy
in Rga. The Supreme Councils of the three Baltic Republics call on the parliaments
of the world to help them in regulating relationships with the USSR. They also call
issue a declaration for the residents of the Baltic Republics, as well as a resolution
on national equality.
December 4
The All-Latvian Public Rescue Committee demands that recently installed monuments
to Latvian Legionnaires at Code, Vecsaule and Dkste be dismantled, saying that if
this is not done, it will "take relevant steps".
December 5, during the night
Four monuments to the Latvian Legionnaires are blown up.
December 6
The All-Latvian Public Rescue Committee calls for direct presidential rule in Latvia.
December 8
A total of 27 democratic parties and political organizations sign
a declaration titled "Unified for Latvia!"
December 10
The first secretary of the Central Committee of the Latvian Communist Party, Alfrds Rubiks,
who is also a member of the Politburo, says at a meeting of the Soviet Communist Party that
Communist Party General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev should remind President Mikhail Gorbachev
that the observation of the Soviet constitution and all Soviet laws must be ensured throughout
the Soviet Union.
December 11
The Latvian People's Front issues an announcement of what must be done before "Zero Hour"
(i.e., the institution of presidential rule in Latvia) and thereafter
December 12
A bomb explodes at 3:10 AM outside the public policy center of the Latvian Communist Party
at Valdemra Street 5 in Rga. The Communist-controlled press accuses Latvian nationalists
of setting off the bomb.
December 13
The chairman of the Soviet KGB, Vladimir Kryuchkov, speaks on central television about
the indivisibility of the USSR.
December 14
The Interfront holds its third congress, issuing a call to the Congress of People's
Deputies of the USSR to institute presidential rule in Latvia and also announcing a campaign
of civil disobedience in Latvia.
December 17
The fourth session of the Congress of People's Deputies is opened in Moscow, and there are
bitter debates between democratic and pro-imperialist forces.
December 18
At 2:45 AM, there is an explosion on the grounds of the Rga garrison's military prosecutor's
office at Vaiodes Street 1. Ten minutes later, another bomb explodes at the building which
houses the Latvian Communist Party's governing committees for the Moscow, Kirov and Rga
districts of the Latvian capital city, at Daugavpils Street 31. Approximately five minutes
after that, a bomb goes off at the Lenin Monument in Brvbas Street.
December 19
Defense Minister Dmitriy Yazov admits that the Soviet armed forces have bombed monuments in
the Baltic States. The Supreme Council and Council of Ministers of Latvia denounce attempts
to destabilize the situation in the republic through acts of terror.
December 20
Speaking at the Congress of People's Deputies, Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze
warns of the approach of dictatorship and announces his resignation.
December 21
At an emergency congress, the Baltic Army Association announces that if the Congress of
People's Deputies does not implement order in the Baltic region, the army will. Behind closed
doors, a plan is worked out on neutralizing Latvia's administrative and power structures
during "Zero Hour". All leave is canceled for KGB, army and domestic military officers.
It becomes known that the KGB has, on instructions from the Central Committee of the CPSU,
developed a plan for a military coup in Latvia.
At 11:22 PM, there is an explosion at the Biryuzov Military Academy at Ezermalas Street 8.
Explosions also occur on December 26 and 27 and January 14 and 16, 1991. There are
no casualties. The Communist-run press blames all of the blasts on Latvian nationalists.
December 23
Several dozen people who are part of a secret military unit are discovered at a KGB hotel
in the Latvian town of Jrmala. The Supreme Council of Latvia announces that any attempt
at a coup in Latvia would endanger peace and security in Europe.
1991
January 2
The OMON forces take over the Latvian Press Building on orders of the Central Committee
of the Latvian Communist Party, thus paralyzing, in part, the publishing of democratic
newspapers and magazines. The deputy chairman of the Supreme Council, Dainis vns,
the deputy chairman of the Council of Ministers, Ilmrs Biers and Interior Minister Aloizs
Vaznis seek entry to the building but are turned back at gunpoint. Criminal police officers
who have been documenting the taking over of the Press Building are beaten up, and their
documents and photo film are confiscated. Their automobile is shot up. The Latvian People's
Front calls for a protest demonstration at the building of the Latvian Communist Party.
January 4
In contrast to claims from OMON officers, Soviet Interior Minister Boris Pugo and Mikhail
Gorbachev deny knowledge about the taking over of the Press Building. A delegation from the
Soviet Interior Ministry, led by Lt. Gen. Solodkov, arrives in Rga for an inspection visit.
January 7
On Mikhail Gorbachev's instructions, Dmitriy Yazov orders special military units to enter
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, the stated aim being to ensure that the military draft proceeds
properly. The commander of the Baltic Military Region, Fyodor Kuzmin, affirms to Supreme
Council chairman Anatolijs Gorbunovs that the military units have arrived and promises that
they will not do anything until January 13.
January 8
The Soviet deputy defense minister for emergency situations, Lt. Col. Achalov, arrives
in Rga secretly to meet with Fyodor Kuzmin and Alfrds Rubiks. Achalov has previously been
one of the chief commanders of the Soviet war in Afghanistan. The board of the Latvian People's
Front decides to organize a national demonstration.
January 9
The White House in the United States denounces the arrival of additional Soviet military
forces in the Baltic Republics. The government of Kazimiera Prunskiene resigns in Lithuania.
January 10
Mikhail Gorbachev issues an ultimatum against Lithuania, demanding the repeal of all recently
approved constitutional acts. An unauthorized Interfront meeting in Rga calls on the government
of Ivars Godmanis to resign. Some 50,000 people attend, and they try to break into the building
of the Council of Ministers when asked to do so by military personnel.
January 11
The Latvian Women's League stages a protest in Rga to oppose the drafting of young men from
Latvia into the Soviet army. A closed meeting of the Military Council of the Baltic Military
Region is held. It is decided to issue automatic weapons to officers and students at military
schools. Military units and armored vehicles increase their presence in the streets of Rga.
January 12
The Council of the Latvian Popular Front announces a national demonstration for January 13
to support the republic's lawfully elected government. The decision is taken to guard
strategically important objects. The presidium of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federated
Soviet Socialist Republic calls on the Soviet government to withdraw its extra military forces
from the Baltic Republics. Anatolijs Gorbunovs and Ivars Godmanis meet with Mikhail Gorbachev
in Moscow and are given a promise that military force will not be used.
January 13
During the evening, tanks encircle the Supreme Council of Lithuania, and military forces
occupy the local television, radio and telegraph facilities. During the event, 14 people are
killed and another 110 are injured. At 4:45 AM, the Latvian Popular Front issues a call for
people to gather in Dome Square to protect the Supreme Council and other strategically important
objects. Dainis vns reads the announcement on Radio Latvia.
At noon, the Supreme Council meets in plenary session to talk about defense issues.
At 2:00 PM, a national demonstration attracts some 700,000 people to the shores of the
Daugava River in Rga. The Baltic Military District's personnel fly overhead in a helicopter,
scattering flyers above the crowd which contain a warning. The chairman of the Latvian Popular
Front, Romualdas Raukas, calls for the erection of barricades around strategically important
objects. After the demonstration, participants march to the Freedom Monument.
Ministers and Council of Ministers employees set in motion the bringing of heavy agricultural
and construction equipment, as well as trucks full of logs to Rga so that barricades can be set
up. These orders are implemented during the night and the following day. Barricades are set up
in Rga, as well as in Liepja and Kuldga.
The chairmen of the Russian, Estonian and Latvian Supreme Councils meet in Tallinn, signing a
declaration in which military activities in the Baltic Republics are denounced. The chairmen of
the Baltic Supreme Councils call on the secretary general of the United Nations to assemble a
meeting of the Security Council and an international conference to talk about the situation in
the Baltic Republics.
The chairman of the Supreme Council of the Russian Federated Soviet Socialist Republic,
Boris Yeltsin, calls on Russian soldiers and officers to refrain from any military attacks
against Baltic civilians and institutions.
January 14
Speaking at a meeting of the Supreme Council of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev supports
Interior Minister Boris Pugo's view that the Soviet armed forces behaved properly in Vilnius.
Fyodor Kuzmin issues an ultimatum against Anatolijs Gorbunovs, demanding the repeal of laws
which have been adopted by the Latvian Supreme Council.
At 2:50 PM, OMON forces attack people who are guarding the Vecmlgrvis bridge. Members of
the forces shoot at the cars of participants, beat up several people, threaten them with weapons
and steal their property.
At 6:45 PM, OMON forces attack people at the Brasa bridge, throwing Molotov cocktails at cars
and causing a fire.
At 8:00 PM, there is another attack at the Vecmlgrvis bridge. During the course of the day,
17 automobiles have been burned.
The Svoboda radio station claims several times that there is to be a military coup in Latvia
January 15
During the night, OMON forces twice attack the Rga branch of the Minsk Military Academy at
Zeu Street 8. Students are beaten up, facilities are damaged and weapons are stolen.
Later, the Interfront gathers some 10,000 people at a stadium in Krija Barona Street.
The All-Latvian People's Rescue Committee announces that it is taking over power in Latvia.
January 16
Funerals are held in Vilnius for the victims of the January 13 attack. It is a national day
of mourning. The Supreme Council of Latvia organizes members of the council to stand duty at
the Supreme Council building during the night.
At 4:45 PM, during an attack at the Vecmlgrvis bridge, Roberts Mrnieks is shot and killed,
while two other people are injured.
At 6:30 PM, OMON forces attack the Brasa bridge, injuring one person.
January 17
The American-led Operation Desert Storm is launched to liberate Kuwait. A state of
emergency is declared on the barricades in Rga. A strike committee that has been set up by
the Latvian Communist Party declares that a fascist regime is being instituted in Latvia.
A delegation from the Supreme Council of the USSR comes to Rga and announces upon its return
to Moscow that it supports the institution of presidential rule in the republic.
January 18
The Supreme Council of Latvia decides to set up a unified national self-defense commission.
January 19
The funeral of Roberts Mrnieks turns into a people's demonstration. During the night,
OMON forces detain and beat up five members of a volunteer national guard unit.
January 20
Some 100,000 people attend a demonstration in Moscow to support the Baltic Republics, calling
on Mikhail Gorbachev, Dmitriy Yazov, Boris Pugo and Vladimir Kryuchkov to resign in the wake of
the bloodshed in Vilnius.
At 9:07 PM, OMON forces and members of other, unknown military units launch an attack against
the Interior Ministry of Latvia. During the battle, militia officers Vladimir Gomanovich and
Sergeiy Kononyenko are killed. Near the ministry, filmmaker Andris Slapi and high school
student Edijs Rieksti are shot and killed. Cameraman Gvido Zvaigzne dies of his wounds
several days later. Injuries are suffered by four officers of the Bauska militia, five
participants in the barricades, a Russian journalist and a Hungarian journalist. Casualties
are also suffered by the attackers. After the battle, the OMON forces move to the building of
the Central Committee of the Latvian Communist Party.
January 21
The Supreme Council of Latvia calls on young people to go to work in the Interior Ministry
system. Anatolijs Gorbunovs goes to Moscow to meet with Mikhail Gorbachev and talk about what
is happening.
January 22
Boris Pugo denies that he ordered the OMON forces to attack the Interior Ministry.
A participant in the barricades dies.
January 24
The Council of Ministers of Latvia sets up a Public Safety Department which takes over
the guarding of the barricades.
January 25
A national day of mourning. The funerals of the victims of January 20 are held. Most
participants at the barricades go home.
Prepared by Viktors Daugmalis
