Latvia Marks 36 Years Since Independence Declaration Amid Renewed Unity Calls

Key facts

• On 4 May 1990, the Supreme Council of the Latvian SSR adopted the declaration 'On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia'.
• Three streets in Latvia are named '4. maija' – in Aglona (Latgale), Ilūkste (Sēlija), and Talsi (Kurzeme).
• Aglona's 4. maija street was renamed from 1. maija street shortly after 1990, and features a hand-carved sign by resident Genādijs Silis.
• Ilūkste's 4. maija gatve replaced 'Padomju iela' (Soviet Street) at the same time.
• Talsi renamed its 9. maija street to 4. maija street only in 2022, after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
• Prime Minister Evika Siliņa stated that 4 May celebrates courage – 'courage to believe in your country, courage to stand up for freedom'.
• Many Latvian towns have a 'Maija iela' (May Street) without a date, often derived from dropping Soviet-era '1.' or '9.' prefixes.

A Day of Courage and Unity

Latvia is celebrating the 36th anniversary of the restoration of its independence, a milestone that Prime Minister Evika Siliņa described as a day to honor courage. 'Courage to believe in your country, courage to stand up for freedom and the ability to express your will,' she said, emphasizing that those qualities were decisive in 1990 and remain vital today. Siliņa urged citizens to celebrate together – with family, at festive events, or simply by taking a break from daily routines. She reminded Latvians that the privilege of celebrating in a free and independent country is not a given. 'It is not self-evident. It is not a gift,' she said.

The Historic Vote of 4 May 1990

The path to independence opened after pro-independence candidates won the elections to the Supreme Council of the Latvian SSR in the spring of 1990. On 4 May 1990, the Supreme Council adopted the declaration 'On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia', expressing the will of the people and setting the country on a parliamentary course to reclaim sovereignty. That vote ended nearly five decades of Soviet occupation and began a transition that culminated in full independence in August 1991.

Streets That Tell a Story: From Soviet Dates to National Holidays

Three locations in Latvia have streets named '4. maija' to honor the independence declaration: Aglona in Latgale, Ilūkste in Sēlija, and Talsi in Kurzeme. All three were renamed after shedding their Soviet-era names, in two cases by simply changing one digit. Aglona was the first to adopt the name, replacing '1. maija iela' (May 1st Street) shortly after 1990. The street is known locally as the 'street of artists and craftsmen', and its sign was hand-carved by resident Genādijs Silis, a woodcarver.

Ilūkste and Talsi: Different Paths to the Same Name

In Ilūkste, the street is called '4. maija gatve' (avenue) rather than 'iela' (street). It was renamed at nearly the same time as Aglona, shedding its Soviet-era name 'Padomju iela' (Soviet Street). The avenue lies in a part of Ilūkste that developed in the second half of the 20th century. Talsi took a much longer route. Its '9. maija iela' (May 9th Street) – named in 1975 to mark 30 years since the end of World War II in Soviet terminology – remained unchanged for over three decades after independence. Only after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 did the Talsi municipality decide to rename it to '4. maija iela'. The change sparked heated local debate; one proposal to revert to the interwar name 'Tirgoņu iela' gained little support.

The Lingering Legacy of Soviet Street Names

Many Latvian towns still have a 'Maija iela' (May Street) without a specific date. According to Agris Timuška, chief linguist at the State Language Centre, these names often derive from dropping the Soviet-era prefix '1.' or '9.' from the original street name. While residents frequently associate 'Maija' with the month of May, Timuška noted that using the precise date '4. maijs' is a more accurate way to honor the national holiday. Talsi was the last city in Latvia to retain a '9. maija' street more than 30 years after independence, reflecting the slow pace of de-Sovietization in some communities.

Unity as a National Imperative

Prime Minister Siliņa stressed that Latvia's strength lies in its people and in unity. She acknowledged that living in social media bubbles can make it seem as if that bubble is the whole of Latvia. 'But we must be able to see beyond that, because Latvia is strong when we are united,' she said. Siliņa described the celebration of 4 May as both a privilege and a shared responsibility, strengthened daily by a sense of belonging and care for one another. Her remarks come at a time when Latvia, like other Baltic states, faces security challenges linked to Russia's war in Ukraine.

The bottom line

• 4 May 1990 marks the restoration of Latvia's independence via a parliamentary declaration by the Supreme Council.
• Three streets in Latvia are officially named '4. maija' – in Aglona, Ilūkste, and Talsi – each renamed from a Soviet-era designation.
• Talsi was the last city to rename its 9. maija street, doing so only in 2022 after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
• Prime Minister Evika Siliņa called 4 May a celebration of courage and unity, urging citizens to look beyond social media divisions.
• Many Latvian towns have a 'Maija iela' that originated by dropping Soviet-era prefixes, a less precise tribute than a dated street name.