Remembering the deportations of Latvian residents to Siberia and other far-away regions of the Soviet Union on 25 March 1949, today all of Latvia commemorates the victims of the Communist genocide.
Today at 16:00 p.m. there will be a moment of remembrance of victims of Communist genocide in Tukums near Tukums II railway station. Residents can travel to the event by bus, which leaves Katrīnas Square at 15:30 p.m.
In Vāne residents are invited to come and lay flowers and candles at the memorial. Remembrance events will take place in Matkule at 12:00 a.m. at the memorial stone, at 12:30 a.m. in Zante at the memorial stone and 15:00 p.m. at Kandava station.
In Kandava a moment of silence and remembrance event will be organized at the memorial stone at 15:30. At 16:00 there will be a musical event at Kandava Municipal Research Museum.
In Lapmežciems there will be a moment of commemoration of victims of Communist genocide in the park at 12:00 near the memorial stone. In Time and Degole resident are invited to come and bring candles and flowers to local memorials – Tume Park, Vecmoka near Lazdu library and Degole’s Garauši parish.
In Slampe residents are invited to bring flowers and candles to the memorial stone Zelta josta. Residents are also invited by Džūkste Culture Centre and Džūkste elementary school to come to the Stone of the Repressed for a moment of silence at 11:20.
◾️ 1949. gada 25. martā Staļina režīms izsūtīja 42 125 okupētās Latvijas iedzīvotāju uz Sibīriju, lielākā daļa bija sievietes un bērni.◾️ 73 gadus vēlāk Putina režīms izdara kara noziegumus pret ukraiņu tautu. Cits laiks, tā pati diktatūra, kas veic noziegumus pret cilvēci. pic.twitter.com/G7xgr9rjv3
— Ārlietu ministrija ?? | #StandWithUkraine ?? (@Arlietas) March 25, 2022
Residents are also invited to bring flowers and candles to Pūres Culture Centre.
In Dobele there will be commemorative events organized at the memorial stone at Dobele railway station at 12:00-15:00.
In Biksti a moment of remembrance will be organized at 12:30 at Biksti railway station’s memorial stone.
A special remembrance event ‘I remember you in pain… Children of Siberia Echibition’ will be organized in the small hall of Jaunbērze People’s Centre 12:00-15:00.
A remembrance event will be held at memorial Sainītis in Dobele at 13:00-15:00.
At 18:00 a remembrance event of victims of Communist genocide will be held at Auce railway station.
At 12:00 Bēne will organize a remembrance event together with Aivars Lubānietis and association of pensioners Atvasara.
Jelgava will hold a remembrance event in Svētbirzis at 13:00.
Latvian residents who were deported in 1939 will be commemorated in Bauska at 16:30 at the Brīvības Boulevard with a performance from men’s quartet under Jāņis Āboliņš.
In Rezekne residents commemorate the victims of deportations in prayer at a service in Rezekne’s Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
A commemorative event will be held at Stirniene memorial stone in Varakļāni at 11:00. Ilūkste Catholic Church will hold a commemorative service. A moment of remembrance will be held near Eglaine, Nīcgale railway station in Augšdaugava. In Skrinda Family Museum there will be a history event dedicated to events of 25 March in Latvia and the region.
An event to commemorate the victims of Communist genocide will be held at 11:00 in Kuldiga at the memorial stone on Pētera Street.
In Skrunda a commemorative event will be held at 14:00 near the railway cart set up as a memorial to deportations.
In Alsunga residents are invited to bring candles and flowers to the memorial to victims of Communist genocide at 12:00. At 13:00 residents are invited to come to a commemorative event in Vārdupe. Participants of the even will be invited to plant snowdrops to commemorate the people who did not return from Siberia and those who are no longer among the living. In Renda residents are invited to commemorate the people from this region by laying flowers and lighting candles at the memorial stone. In Lēna the moment of commemoration of victims of Communist genocide will take place at a memorial stone at 13:30.
In Valmiera the commemorative event will be held at 16:00 at the railway station.
In Rūjiena, a commemorative event will be held at Ternejas Park with participation of surviving deportees. A musical event is planned.
In Mazsalaca a commemorative event will be held on Sniedzēnu Mountain at 13:00 together with Mazsalaca residents who have suffered political repressions.
A moment of remembrance of victims of Communist genocide will be held at Saldus railway station at 13:00. Residents will be brought to the event and from the event by a bus for free.
An event will be held at Gulbele railway station at 12:00. At 19:00 residents are invited to bring candles to the memorial to victims of repressions in Gulbene and listen to visualized memories of survivors of repressions.
In Aluksne a commemorative event will be held at the Image of the Mother at 10:00 and after that – at Aluksne Large Cemetery.
In Cesis a commemorative event will be held at 13:00 at Pils Square 9.
On 25 March 1949 there was the most massive deportation of Latvian residents to Siberia and other far-away regions of the Soviet Union. 44 000 people were deported to Siberia – families with children and elderly people. Among the deportees were 3 369 children under the age of seven, as well as 7 621 under the age of 16. The goal of deportations was to destroy economically strong farms and suppress the resistance of the population.
Today all flags in Latvia are put on display with a black ribbon to signify mourning.