Main content
The ‘Barricades’ of Latvia
People from across Latvia took to Riga's streets in 1991, to show their desire for independence from the Soviet Union. More than 500,000 people barricaded landmarks in the city.
In January 1991, more than half a million people protested in Riga, the capital city of Latvia. They wanted to stop Soviet troops taking over important landmarks, so they built barricades and camped out on the streets.
Vents Krauklis was among the demonstrators. He’s been speaking to Laura Jones.
(Photo: People filling the streets of Riga during the Barricades. Credit: 1991 Barricades Museum, Riga/Ilgvars Gradovskis)
Last on
Wed 19 Jul 2023
02:50GMT
´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Tue 18 Jul 2023 07:50GMT´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service
- Tue 18 Jul 2023 11:50GMT´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service
- Tue 18 Jul 2023 17:50GMT´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Tue 18 Jul 2023 21:50GMT´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Wed 19 Jul 2023 02:50GMT´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service
Featured in...
![]()
Soviet history—Witness History
Listen to and download our programmes
Podcast
-
![]()
Witness History
History as told by the people who were there
