Latvia marks 85th anniversary of 1941 Soviet deportations

On June 14, Latvia commemorated the 85th anniversary of the 1941 Soviet‑ordered deportations that removed more than 15,400 citizens, including 3,751 children, from the country to remote camps in Siberia. President Edgars Rinkēvičs attended several official ceremonies, speaking at the Memorial to the Victims of Communist Genocide in Riga, laying wreaths at the Gulbene railway station, and joining remembrance events at the Lielvārde and Liepāja sites.

Local authorities across the nation organized floral tributes, candle lighting and cultural programs. In Liepāja, a service at the Central Cemetery was followed by a concert of the "Aija" women’s choir. In Ilūkste, a church service was accompanied by a moment of silence at the monument to the deported. Hundreds of participants, including representatives of political‑repressed groups, youth organisations and veterans, gathered to honour the victims and reflect on the tragedy that reshaped Latvian history.