Saeima of the Republic of Latvia

Interviewer.

...At that time we touched upon not only history but also the cobble-stones of Riga. We touched each other without fearing the consequences. Our courage was stronger than the racket, the sound of helicopter blades and everything else surrounding us...

D. Ābiķis.

Exactly! Besides, we had this feeling of absolute unity. It was quite different from what we hear today – we, the people, are down here and you, the government, are up there. Up there... At that time we felt united as a single whole.

Interviewer.

It was 1991... with the Putsch... it brought special feelings....

D. Ābiķis.

The Putsch was something different, since... it was clear that as far as the Putsch was concerned, everything was to be decided in Moscow. It was a different situation. It was different, and it was clear that basically everything depended on what happened in Russia.

And then we had... I admit, we had a feeling of fatality, for on the barricades we had the conviction – at least I was convinced – that we could make a difference, but during the Putsch there was no such feeling. Basically, it all was decided in Moscow, and I still have to admit that the personality of Yeltsin, who in my opinion is a great political figure, an exceptional figure in Russian history... I believe his contribution to Latvia was immense... it cannot be overestimated... The fact that we were able to regain independence... Of course, one should not exaggerate the role of an individual in the course of history, yet in this case we are talking about an immense contribution.

Interviewer.

What are your personal recollections of the crucial three days on 19, 20 and 21 August?

D. Ābiķis.

Well, my recollections... if the memories from the barricades are still very vivid and clear... I can still remember what we did day by day, but the events of August are less clear in my mind. What I do remember is that we had... If in January our spirits were high and we felt optimistic, then in August we felt rather depressed. We felt very depressed, and it is no wonder that... And it was... Frankly speaking, it all put immense pressure on our minds. It was a depressing time, a difficult time.

And when we finally realised that we had won, when it was clear that the Putsch had failed and we had won, we were overwhelmed with joy and at one point could not contain our emotions.

I remember that when the Putsch was over... I remember how we organised spontaneous meetings; in one such event, if I am not mistaken, Rolands Rikards, a member of the Supreme Council, and Gulbis, a member of the Supreme Council, if I remember correctly, were among us... you know, those elected from Pārdaugava area of the city of Riga. And there we had a large meeting where we addressed the people... This happened throughout Latvia... All the members of the Supreme Council went out to address the people... And the emotions were overwhelming; you could not pull yourself together. And I remember that I went to the countryside – to Līgatne – and still could not get back on the normal track. It seemed to me that I had to go outside and talk to people, that I had to go to the Līgatne paper mill and talk and talk... At one point I realised there’s something wrong with me... that I cannot contain myself... I thought to myself that I should go to the forest, have a nice walk, pick some mushrooms and calm down. But no! I returned home... and I still had an unremitting urge to go outside and communicate with people. And then, I admit, I took more than a few shots of vodka and finally slept like a baby. Thank God, in the morning I woke up feeling like my normal self; without the turbulent emotions, I was able to calmly comprehend what had actually happened.

Interviewer.

I am sure you remember how important for us it was to have a quorum in the voting when we all knew what kind of document was being drafted.

D. Ābiķis.

Oh, yes, yes! I remember, it all happened hastily, for at that time the OMON troops started to drive around the Old Town in their armed personnel carriers, as you may remember. They made a huge racket outside, and we thought they were coming to storm the Supreme Council building. It made us speed up the adoption of the document. And, if I’m not mistaken, I had to attend some kind of a committee meeting – that’s what we had at that time....

Interviewer.

Yes, yes, and we all were somewhere around or inside the main building of the Saeima.

D. Ābiķis.

We were at the buildings of the Saeima at all times; we did not leave at all. And we had a committee meeting in the building across the street or in the same building, if memory serves me right. And then I... And then we learned that it was time for voting, time to adopt the declaration on the irreversible independence of Latvia... on discontinuing the transition period and finalising Latvia’s independence. And then we ran in frantic haste... All I know is that a part of us voted without having completed the registration procedure, for it all was... And it turned out that the number of votes exceeded the number of registered voters. And now we should probably reconstruct these events to restore the historic truth, for there were people, and maybe even I was one of them who voted... you know...

Interviewer.

So you had enough votes, and the total number of votes exceeded the number of registered voters.

D. Ābiķis.

Exactly. And since there was too little time to register properly, many names are still not included in the minutes of the sitting. That is how it happened. But, thank God, after the voting... the Putsch failed rather soon, and we were relieved. I cannot remember precisely, but I believe there was only a day between these events...

Interviewer.

Yes, it was a very short period... We also tried to follow developments in Moscow, tried to play our cards right... tried to stay put...

D. Ābiķis.

Well, we all were hoping for the Putsch to fail, and, thank God, when we saw the insecurity of the committee, you know, what was its name?... the rescue committee? They looked very insecure...

Interviewer.

And what were your impressions of the so-called rescuers...

D. Ābiķis.

Their hands were shaking; they were exchanging worried glances....

Interviewer.

They were televised after the performance of the Swan Lake....

D. Ābiķis.

Yes, and it seemed as if they had little or no chance of winning.

Interviewer.

And what was the role of family, love and friends in all the episodes that you just mentioned?

D. Ābiķis.

Well, of course, the support of friends, relatives and family was essential. I wouldn’t have physically... for instance, during the barricades in January, my wife... we did not leave the Old Town for five days.... at least I stayed for five days in a row. I didn’t leave the Old Town; I wanted to be close to the Supreme Council building at all times just in case it was necessary to take swift decisions. She brought me clean shirts. In August it was a bit different. In August... She brought me clean shirts, but in August... at that time we also agreed… the situation seemed to be dangerous, and most of us did not spend the nights at home.

Interviewer.

Yes, we did not sleep at home and sent our families to the countryside, to safety... those of us who lived in the same house on Lubānas iela....

D. Ābiķis.

Yes, my wife and I moved to the home of a distant relative and spent some time at her place. You know....

Of course, support from your loved ones cannot be overestimated. It was essential... It gave us strength. At the same time, I know families in which the husband had joined the Popular Front, but the wife supported the Interfront... Unfortunately, there were families that up until these events had lived in happy harmony, yet were torn apart by politics...