On 14 June, Latvia commemorates the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Communist Terror - one of the most tragic dates in the country's history, associated with the mass deportations of thousands of Latvians carried out by the Soviet regime in 1941.

On this occasion, the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Latvia took part in the commemorative ceremony held at the “History Tactile” Memorial to the Victims of the Soviet Occupation in Riga. The ceremony was attended by President of the Republic of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, representatives of the Latvian Government and Saeima, members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Latvia, and representatives of civil society.

For Ukraine, this date carries a special significance. Both the Ukrainian and Latvian peoples endured the crimes of the totalitarian communist regime, including mass repression, deportations, and attempts to eradicate their national identity.

Today, as Russia continues its full-scale armed aggression against Ukraine and resorts to the forced deportation of Ukrainian citizens, including children, the remembrance of the victims of the past acquires even greater importance.

We express our solidarity with the Latvian people in honouring the memory of the victims of communist terror and extend our gratitude to Latvia for its unwavering support of Ukraine in its struggle for freedom and independence.