Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Repressed and Their Relatives,
Deportations of 14 June 1941 were a part of the Second World War both in Latvia and in our neighbouring countries, Lithuania and Estonia.
Without distinction of nationality or gender, those people who stood up for their country in their thoughts and deeds, the smartest, most enterprising, and brave people, were disrooted and deported.
In the first year of occupation, about 30 thousand citizens of Latvia became the victims of the new power. On the summer day like this, half of them were taken to NKVD concentration camps or lifelong settlement in remote areas of the Soviet Union, decided to suffer and die. We have gathered together today for them, we remember and will always remember this date.
We shall also recall that this is our story of history, which began with the democratic crisis of 1934 and continued with fear in 1940. The story, where every step was a concession, until the rule of law and the popular will became equally worthless. The military occupation by the Soviet Union was followed by the annexation of the seized independent country, and false elections were a cover for brutal repression.
These deportations remind us what the price of freedom actually is most brutally. Our nation’s struggle for our country cost many sacrifices, but the loss of our country cost even more.
Therefore, I also call on you to appreciate and protect the freedom of our country on June 14 as well. We will stand up for strengthening our country. We will always commemorate those who have been deprived of such an opportunity.
