On 4 May, the 36th anniversary of the restoration of the independence of the Republic of Latvia, a ceremonial presentation of the country’s highest state honours – the Order of the Three Stars, the Order of Viesturs, and the Cross of Recognition – took place at Riga Castle.
The honours were awarded to distinguished individuals from a wide range of fields whose conscientious, purposeful, professional, and public service, exceptional talent and creative contribution, active civic engagement, courage, and selflessness are of particular significance on a national scale. Their achievements strengthen our state and represent an important contribution to Latvia’s image in the world.
The opening address delivered by the President Edgars Rinkēvičs at the ceremony is available on the website of the Chancery of the President of Latvia.
The Order of the Three Stars
Commander of the Order of the Three Stars:
Her Excellency, former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of Latvia Karin Höglund for her significant contribution to strengthening cooperation between the Republic of Latvia and the Kingdom of Sweden.
Officer of the Order of the Three Stars:
Actress, speech pedagogue, and author Zane Daudziņa, for services to culture, significant creative work, and contribution to the development of stage speech education.
Cavaliers of the Order of the Three Stars:
Chair of the board of the oncology patient support association “Dzīvības koks” Gunita Berķe for her long-standing selfless work and significant contribution to the psychosocial rehabilitation of oncology patients and to strengthening public health;
Artistic Director of the University of Latvia men’s choir “Dziedonis” and chief conductor of the Latvian Song and Dance Festival Uldis Kokars for services to culture and significant contribution to the development of Latvian choral music, particularly men’s choirs, choral conducting, and the strengthening of the Song and Dance Festival tradition;
Head of the Department of Biology and Microbiology at Rīga Stradiņš University, Professor and leading researcher Dr. med. Juta Kroiča for services to medical education and science and for strengthening Latvia’s healthcare sector;
Principal of Mežupe Elementary School and special education teacher Anitra Šneidere for a lifetime of dedicated and selfless work in special education and with children and young people with special needs;
Founder of the reproductive medicine centre “Embrions”, gynaecologist and reproductive medicine specialist Gints Treijs for services to medicine and his outstanding professional contribution to the development of reproductive medicine and the promotion of demographic growth in Latvia;
Director of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia Solvita Vība for her significant work in strengthening Latvia’s national identity and her contribution to shaping the historical memory of society.
The Medal of Honour Class I of the Order of the Three Stars bestowed upon:
Senior football coach at the Sēlija Sports School Imants Siliņš for his long-standing selfless contribution to the development of football and to the patriotic education of school youth.
The Order of Viesturs
Commanders of the Order of Viesturs:
Head of a bureau of the Main Criminal Police Department of the State Police Colonel Romeo Kims for selfless and exemplary service and his merits in maintaining and strengthening the internal security of the Latvian state;
Commander of the Training and Doctrine Command of the National Armed Forces, Rector of the National Defence Academy of Latvia Colonel Māris Utināns for selfless and exemplary service and significant contribution to strengthening the National Armed Forces and national defence.
Officers of the Order of Viesturs:
Commander of the Tukums Unit of the Zemgale Regional Department of the State Fire and Rescue Service Major Viesturs Driķis for long-standing exemplary service and a significant contribution to strengthening the internal security of the Latvian state and to the development of the State Fire and Rescue Service;
Head of the Cadet Department of the State Police College Lieutenant Colonel Māris Liepa for selfless and exemplary service, significant contribution to promoting the professional growth of cadets and to the development of the State Police;
Head of the Border Control Technical Systems Division of the Border Control and Immigration Control Service of the Viļaka Administration of the State Border Guard Major Sergejs Volnobajevs for selfless and exemplary service and his outstanding personal contribution to the technological development and digitalisation of the State Border Guard and to strengthening the security of the state border.
Cavaliers of the Order of Viesturs:
Commander of the Infantry Company (PATRIA) of the 22nd Combat Support Battalion of the 2nd Vidzeme Brigade of the Latvian National Guard First Lieutenant Lauris Briedītis for selfless and exemplary service and significant contribution to strengthening the capabilities of the National Armed Forces and the National Guard;
Veteran of the 25th Combat Support Battalion of the 2nd Vidzeme Brigade of the Latvian National Guard, retired First Lieutenant Edgars Stepāns for selfless and exemplary service and significant contribution to the development of the National Armed Forces and the National Guard.
The Medal of Honour Class I of the Order of Viesturs bestowed upon:
Inspector (canine handler) of the Canine Unit of the Border Control and Immigration Control Service of the Daugavpils Administration of the State Border Guard Warrant Officer Vitālijs Bulavskis for selfless and exemplary service and special merits in guarding the state border;
Staff Sergeant of the Command Group of the Training and Doctrine Command of the National Armed Forces, Command Sergeant Major Gatis Melngalvis for selfless and exemplary service and significant contribution to the modernisation of the instructor training system of the National Armed Forces and the patriotic education of soldiers of the National Defence soldiers;
Communications and Information Systems Engineer of the Communications and Data Flow Control Group of the Systems, Communications and Data Exchange Section of the Control and Reporting Centre of the Airspace Surveillance Squadron of the Air Force of the National Armed Forces Staff Sergeant Dmitrijs Terentjevs for selfless and exemplary service and significant contribution to strengthening the security of Latvia’s airspace.
The Cross of Recognition
Commander of the Grand Cross of the Cross of Recognition:
Composer Pēteris Vasks, for an outstanding and enduring contribution to Latvian music and culture.
Commanders of the Cross of Recognition:
Honorary Consul of Latvia in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Dr Henri Diederich for his selfless work and contribution to strengthening relations between Latvia and Luxembourg;
Chair of the Council of the Mechanical Engineering and Metalworking Industry Association Ivars Eniņš for his long-standing, significant, and selfless contribution to the development of Latvian industry, the promotion of innovation, and the strengthening of export capacity;
Entrepreneur, founder and Chair of the Board of SIA “Lat Eko Food” Egija Martinsone for her significant contribution to the national economy, selfless work in the development of the food sector, and the promotion of Latvia’s name worldwide;
Entrepreneur and Chair of the Board of AS “MADARA Cosmetics” Lote Tisenkopfa-Iltnere for her significant contribution to the national economy, selfless work in the development of natural cosmetics production, and the promotion of Latvia’s name worldwide;
Director of the “Daile” Music House Anda Zadovska for her significant creative contribution to Latvia’s cultural space and to the preservation of cultural heritage.
Officers of the Cross of Recognition:
Latvian community social and cultural activist in Brazil, Chair of the Latvian Association in South America and the Caribbean Renāte de Karvaļo-Albrehta for her selfless work in nurturing and preserving Latvian identity and promoting Latvia;
Chair of the Board of SIA “Virtu”, member of the Board of the Latvian Association of Architects, architect Anda Kursiša for her significant work and contribution to strengthening Latvian architecture and shaping the urban environment;
Former long-serving Director of Mārupe State Gymnasium Jānis Lagzdkalns for his long-standing work and significant contribution to promoting high-quality general education and the patriotic upbringing of school youth;
Deputy Executive Director of the Council of Sworn Notaries of Latvia Vija Piziča for her long-standing, selfless professional contribution to the development of Latvia’s justice system and notariat, and to strengthening a democratic legal state;
Director of Valmiera Library Daiga Rokpelne for her notable creative contribution to the development of the library sector and the growth of civil society;
World War II researcher Udo Intis Sietiņš for his long-standing selfless work and significant contribution to researching the fate of Latvian soldiers during the World War II and passing this knowledge on to future generations;
Long-serving Head of the troupe of the New Riga Theatre Ārija Vecvanaga for her significant contribution to the development of Latvian theatre art.
Cavaliers of the Cross of Recognition:
Teacher at the Radio electronics Laboratory of the Ventspils Creativity Centre Viktors Bagienskis for his long-standing creative and multifaceted contribution to the development of interest-based education in Latvia;
Director of the “Social Service” Agency of Saldus Municipality Ina Behmane for her long-standing significant contribution to the development of social work in Latvia;
Teacher of the “Electronics and Robotics” group at the Children and Youth Centre “Riga Pupils’ Palace” Jānis Ozols-Ozoliņš for his long-standing creative and multifaceted contribution to the development of interest-based education in Latvia;
Head Nurse of the Operating Unit of the Thoracic Surgery and Invasive Pulmonology Clinic at the Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Centre of Riga East Clinical University Hospital Anda Vanaga for her long-standing selfless work in medicine and patient care;
Senior Art Expert at the Collection Research Department of the Latvian National Museum of Literature and Music, music history pedagogue Dr. art. Inese Žune for her long-standing significant contribution to the research and promotion of Latvia’s cultural history and music.
The Medal of Honour Class I of the Cross of Recognition bestowed upon:
Nurse of the Clinical Diagnostics Centre at the Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases Centre of Riga East Clinical University Hospital Daina Viļķina for a lifetime of selfless service devoted to medicine and public healthcare.
