Ideals of Baltic Way still alive in Latvian society - Silina

RIGA - We may disagree about many things in our everyday lives, but the ideals of the Baltic Way are still alive in Latvian society and we are guided by them, Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity) said at the conference "Join the Baltic Way!" dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the Baltic Way.

In her speech, Silina said that Latvians, Lithuanians and Estonians have shown that together, standing shoulder to shoulder, they are a force that can change history.

"Today, we stand together with the countries of the European Union and NATO, continuing to drive change in the world - by supporting Ukraine, by standing up to Russian aggression and by encouraging others to do the same," the prime minister said.

She noted that people in Latvia understand and know very well that the evil we resisted 35 years ago is the same evil that today is killing Ukrainian families, maiming, torturing, shelling and bombing the people of an independent country in order to occupy a foreign land and oppress a foreign people. "New pretexts, new excuses, new lies are being invented to justify all this," the prime minister said.

The prime minister underlined that these Russian lies and evil can be countered by all the values that were upheld 35 years ago during the Baltic Way - truth, love of freedom, community and unity.

In her speech, Silina thanked the President of the "May 4 Declaration Club", Velta Cebotarenoka, the first Chairperson of the Latvian Popular Front, Dainis Ivans, and others for their work.

In order to look back at the events that took place 35 years ago, when two million people of the Baltic states joined hands in the name of freedom, a conference dedicated to the 35th anniversary of the Baltic Way, "Join the Baltic Way!", is taking place at the Saeima on Friday.