The President noted that the repression by the Soviet occupation regime continued even after the people returned to Latvia after having overcome difficulties. “Although the native land was already under the feet, every day was like a new return from Siberia, as repression continued taking the shape of obstacles in the choice of profession and education, with a stamp in the passport that caused mistrust or even contempt among contemporaries, poorness, and lack of rights,” stated Raimonds Vējonis.
The President of Latvia stressed that the struggle for survival in Siberia continued as a struggle for living in Latvia. “Invisible, personal and very painful. It was quiet heroism that we can only admire and learn from to maintain confidence in Latvia even on a daily basis, alone, and during the hardest times,” said Raimonds Vējonis.
In commemoration of the victims of the Communist regime, the President of Latvia will participate in the solemn flower laying ceremony and address the audience at the Freedom Monument at 1 p.m. Later in the afternoon, the President of Latvia will go to the memorial site of the Latvian Army soldiers in Litene, where he will take part in the commemorative event at the Litene Cemetery and meet with the repressed people at the Commemorative Fire.
