Memorial sign "Footprints" Memorial site

The Baltic Way (Estonian: “Balti kett”, Lithuanian: “Baltijos kelias”) was a unique non-violent resistance movement that took place on the 50th anniversary of the Hitler-Stalin Pact - on August 23, 1989. It involved almost 2 million Estonian, Lithuanian and Latvian citizens, joining hands for 15 minutes and forming a 670-kilometer human chain connecting the capitals of all three Baltic states, thus demonstrating the common desire of Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians to regain their national independence. On July 30, 2009, the Baltic Way movement was included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Documentary Heritage List.

The memorial sign “Footprints” in Riga, at the intersection of Vaļņu and Kaļķu streets, is a gift from the Lithuanian artist Gitenis Umbras and the Lithuanian capital Vilnius to Riga on the 25th anniversary of the Baltic Way commemoration. The ceremonial unveiling of the plaque took place on August 30, 2013 in Old Riga, at the intersection of Kaļķu and Vaļķu streets, and was attended by the Chairman of the Riga City Council Nils Ušakovs, the Mayor of Vilnius Artūrs Zuoks and the Ambassador of Estonia to Latvia Mati Vārmans. The same plaque was also placed on May 20, 2013 in Vilnius on Cathedral Square and on August 20 in Tallinn on Freedom Square.