Rinkēvičs: Repressions must be spoken about openly, especially for young Latvians
President Edgars Rinkēvičs, in a message to participants of the 27th gathering of Latvia's politically repressed persons in Ikšķile, said experiences of repression must be discussed openly. He noted this is especially important for Latvia's younger generation.
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Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs sent a message to participants of the 27th gathering of Latvia's politically repressed persons, held in Ikšķile. In his address, the president expressed appreciation for those who once endured repression and stressed the importance of continuing to speak about these experiences.
According to Rinkēvičs, what people lived through during the era of repressions may today seem almost unbelievable to many. However, the president said this does not mean such events should be met with silence or allowed to fade from memory — on the contrary, these experiences must be spoken about loudly and openly.
Message aimed at the younger generation
The president particularly emphasized that preserving and sharing memories of repression is important specifically for Latvia's younger generation. In doing so, he highlighted the significance of testimonies from repressed persons in passing historical experience on so that it is not lost over time.
The gathering of Latvia's politically repressed persons in Ikšķile has now taken place for the 27th time, bringing together people whose lives were once affected by repression. Such meetings allow witnesses of these events to share their memories and help keep this part of history present in public awareness.
