The 1918 declaration
The People's Council of Latvia declared on 18 November 1918 that "Latvia ... is an independent, sovereign, democratic republic," electing Jānis Čakste as Chairman and Kārlis Ulmanis as first Prime Minister.[1]
· Declaration
Declaration of Independence of Latvia, 1918
The People's Council of Latvia proclaimed Latvia an independent, sovereign, democratic republic on 18 November 1918, electing Jānis Čakste as its Chairman and Kārlis Ulmanis as first Prime Minister.
Soviet annexation
Following the secret protocols of the August 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, the Soviet Union militarily occupied and forcibly annexed Latvia in summer 1940, overthrowing its lawful government.[2]
· Administrative change
Soviet annexation of Latvia, 1940
Following the secret protocols of the August 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and a forced mutual-assistance agreement, the Soviet Union militarily occupied and forcibly annexed Latvia in the summer of 1940, overthrowing its lawful government.
The 4 May 1990 declaration
On 4 May 1990, the Latvian SSR Supreme Council adopted a Declaration on the Restoration of Independence, asserting the continued de jure sovereignty of the 1922 constitution and opening a transitional period for the de facto restoration of state power, to end with the convocation of the Saeima.[3]
· Declaration
Declaration on the Restoration of Independence, 1990
The Latvian SSR Supreme Council adopted the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence on 4 May 1990, asserting the continued de jure sovereignty of the 1922 constitution and establishing a transitional period ending with the convocation of the Saeima.
Restoration of independence
On 21 August 1991, the Supreme Council adopted the Constitutional Law on the Statehood of the Republic of Latvia, restoring independence de facto and reinstating the 1922 Constitution.[4]
· Declaration
Restoration of Latvian Independence, 1991
The Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia adopted the Constitutional Law on the Statehood of the Republic of Latvia on 21 August 1991, restoring the 1922 Constitution and Latvia's independence de facto during the attempted Soviet coup.
United Nations membership
The Security Council recommended Latvia's UN membership on 12 September 1991, and the General Assembly admitted Latvia on 17 September 1991.[5][6]
· Recognition
Admission of Latvia to the United Nations, 1991
The Security Council recommended Latvia's admission to the United Nations on 12 September 1991, and the General Assembly admitted it on 17 September 1991.
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: On 18 November 1918, the People's Council of Latvia declared: "Latvia, united within its ethnographic borders (Kurzeme, Vidzeme and Latgale) is an independent, sovereign, democratic republic." Jānis Čakste was elected Chairman of the People's Council and Kārlis Ulmanis became the first Prime Minister.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia, 18 November – the 98th anniversary of the Republic of Latvia (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia) link, article text. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
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2.
Claim: On 23 August 1939, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, whose secret protocols assigned Latvia to the Soviet sphere of influence; under threat of military force, Latvia was compelled to sign a mutual-assistance pact permitting Soviet military bases on its territory. In summer 1940 the Soviet Union militarily occupied and forcibly annexed Latvia, together with Estonia and Lithuania, overthrowing the lawful government and imposing Soviet rule by force.
- Estonia in the grip of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the realpolitik of great powers (Estonian World) link, article text. Source record
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3.
Claim: On 4 May 1990 the Latvian SSR Supreme Council adopted the Declaration on the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia, with 138 votes in favour out of 198 members. The declaration asserted that Latvia remained de jure a sovereign state under its 1922 constitution and established a transitional period for the de facto restoration of state power, to end with the convocation of the Saeima.
- On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia (Wikipedia) link, Content and Transitional period sections. Source record
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4.
Claim: On 21 August 1991, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia adopted the Constitutional Law on the Statehood of the Republic of Latvia, "thus restoring the independence of Latvia de facto," reinstating the 1922 Constitution (Satversme); "the laws of the USSR became null and void in Latvia." An earlier declaration had been adopted by the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR on 4 May 1990, but the 1991 law provided the legal foundation for international recognition.
- Saeima (Parliament of Latvia), De facto restoration of independence of Latvia will be celebrated on 21 August (Saeima) link, article text. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
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5.
Claim: On 12 September 1991, at its 3007th meeting, the Security Council, having examined the application of the Republic of Latvia, recommended without a vote that the General Assembly admit it to UN membership, alongside identical recommendations for Estonia and Lithuania.
- United Nations Security Council, Security Council resolution 710 (1991) (United Nations, 12 September 1991) link, resolution text. Source record
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6.
Claim: The General Assembly, at its 1st plenary meeting on 17 September 1991, having received the Security Council's recommendation and considered Latvia's application, decided to admit the Republic of Latvia to United Nations membership.
- United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly resolution 46/5: Admission of the Republic of Latvia to membership in the United Nations (United Nations, 17 September 1991) link, operative paragraph. Source record
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