Barrikaden
IV Sowjetische Okkupation, Wiederhergestellte Unabhängigkeit

In January 1991, opponents of Latvia's independence attempted to stop the process of restoring independence and overthrow the legitimate power of the Republic of Latvia. To counter this aggressive behavior, barricades were built around many strategic buildings and large numbers of people were on duty. Due to widespread public involvement, opponents of independence failed to seize power. The barricades of January 1991 are an excellent example of non-violent resistance of international significance.

Through the political reforms implemented in the USSR in the second half of the 1980s, the Baltic society clearly expressed its desire to restore the independence of the Baltic States. In 1988, popular movements were established in the Baltic States (in Latvia - the Latvian People's Front or LTF), which soon announced that their main goal was to restore the independence of the Baltic States. In Latvia, the LTF won the elections held in March-April 1990, which enabled the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on May 4, 1990, with the support of more than two-thirds of the deputies. Despite the victory in the elections and the adoption of the Declaration, the central government of the USSR did not recognize the Declaration of Independence.

Despite Gorbachev's promises not to use violent methods to change power in the Baltics, Lithuania and Latvia in January 1991, the USSR army and internal affairs attacked local authorities and strategic sites. In Latvia, the aggravation of the situation reached its highest point of escalation on the 14th and 20th. January, when periodic attacks on Latvian authorities by USSR special forces fighters took place. These attacks killed civil servants and civilians. The active involvement of the public in blocking access to public administration institutions and strategic objects (barricades) disrupted the attempt to overthrow the legal power in the Republic of Latvia.

In the fight against aggressors in January 1991, non-violent resistance methods were skillfully used. At the request of the government and the LTF, barricades guarded by unarmed civilians were quickly set up around nationally important sites. Residents from all over Latvia took part in the creation of the barricades, and representatives of rural areas came with heavy agricultural, forestry and other machinery. Participants were on call and, if necessary, regularly replaced. Volunteers provided food, medical assistance points were set up, and doctors were on duty. About 40-50 thousand people took part in the barricades directly, and several hundred thousand people took part in various rallies. Barricades in each object were created based on the real situation. Both trucks, placed in a tight column, and timber were used to create the barricades around the Council of Ministers building.

Despite the fact that the Gulf War broke out in the Middle East during the barricades, events in Riga resonated around the world. Boris Yeltsin, chairman of Russia's Supreme Soviet, called on soldiers and officers not to take part in acts of violence against the people of the Baltic republic. A rally was held in Moscow on January 20, gathering around 100,000 people in support of the Baltics. The USSR recognized the independence of the Baltic states only when it had actually collapsed after the August 1991 coup in Moscow. The events of the barricades in 1991 are one of the symbols of the restoration of Latvia's independence. After the restoration of independence, extensive events commemorating the events of the barricades are being held. Barricade participants have been awarded memorials to barricade participants. The 1991 Barricade Museum has been open at Krāmu Street 3, Riga, since 2001.