International Front of the Working People of Latvia
Encyclopedia
The International Front of the Working People of the Latvian SSR or Interfront was a pro-Soviet socialist organization in the Latvian SSR
, which during the years 1989–1991, supported Latvia
's remaining part of the USSR.
It was founded, in January 1989, as a reaction to the creation of the pro-independence Popular Front of Latvia
. In 1989, it took part in forming the United Front of Workers of the USSR (Объединенный фронт трудящихся СССР).
The Interfront central leadership published a newspaper Edinstvo . Local sections of the organisation, for example in Liepāja
, published their own information bulletins. Interfront also made radio broadcasts.
Among the leaders of Interfront were Igor Lopatin, Anatoly Alekseyev, and Tatjana Ždanoka
.
Interfront was particularly active during the January 1991 events in Latvia
, during which several civilians and law enforcement officers were killed in clashes with OMON
units loyal to the central government in Moscow.
In September 1991, following the restoration of Latvia's independence from the USSR, the Supreme Council
[transitional parliament] passed a decree proscribing
the Interfront, along with the Communist Party of Latvia
and some other opposition organizations.
As a result of this ban, those known to have been members in Interfront after 13 January 1991 have faced restrictions on naturalization
as citizens of Latvia. Former Interfront activists who hold citizenship of Latvia have been barred from standing as candidates for election to the Saeima
(parliament) or municipal councils.
Latvian SSR
The Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic , also known as the Latvian SSR for short, was one of the republics that made up the Soviet Union. Established on 21 July 1940 as a puppet state during World War II in the territory of the previously independent Republic of Latvia after it had been occupied by...
, which during the years 1989–1991, supported Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
's remaining part of the USSR.
It was founded, in January 1989, as a reaction to the creation of the pro-independence Popular Front of Latvia
Popular Front of Latvia
The Popular Front of Latvia was a political organization in Latvia in late 1980s and early 1990s which led Latvia to its independence from the Soviet Union. It was similar to the Popular Front of Estonia and the Sąjūdis movement in Lithuania....
. In 1989, it took part in forming the United Front of Workers of the USSR (Объединенный фронт трудящихся СССР).
The Interfront central leadership published a newspaper Edinstvo . Local sections of the organisation, for example in Liepāja
Liepaja
Liepāja ; ), is a republican city in western Latvia, located on the Baltic Sea directly at 21°E. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme Region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port...
, published their own information bulletins. Interfront also made radio broadcasts.
Among the leaders of Interfront were Igor Lopatin, Anatoly Alekseyev, and Tatjana Ždanoka
Tatjana Ždanoka
Tatyana Arkad'evna Zhdanok, , born May 8, 1950 in Riga, is a Latvian politician and Member of the European Parliament and a co-Chairperson of For Human Rights in United Latvia; part of the European Greens–European Free Alliance group. Zhdanok is co-chairperson of ForHRUL since 2001...
.
Interfront was particularly active during the January 1991 events in Latvia
January 1991 events in Latvia
The Barricades were events that took place between 13 and 27 January 1991 in Latvia. Latvia, which had declared independence from the Soviet Union a year earlier, anticipated that Soviet Union might attempt to violently regain control over the country....
, during which several civilians and law enforcement officers were killed in clashes with OMON
OMON
OMOH is a generic name for the system of special units of militsiya within the Russian and earlier the Soviet MVD...
units loyal to the central government in Moscow.
In September 1991, following the restoration of Latvia's independence from the USSR, the Supreme Council
Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia
Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia was the transitional parliament of Latvia from 1990 to 1993, after the restoration of independence. The Supreme Council was elected on 1990 as the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR. On 1990 it declared the restoration of independence of Latvia and began a...
[transitional parliament] passed a decree proscribing
Proscription
Proscription is a term used for the public identification and official condemnation of enemies of the state. It is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a "decree of condemnation to death or banishment" and is a heavily politically charged word, frequently used to refer to state-approved...
the Interfront, along with the Communist Party of Latvia
Communist Party of Latvia
Communist Party of Latvia was a political party in Latvia.- Latvian Social-Democracy prior to 1919 :The party was founded at a congress in June 1904. Initially the party was known as the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party . During its second party congress in 1905 it adopted the programme of...
and some other opposition organizations.
As a result of this ban, those known to have been members in Interfront after 13 January 1991 have faced restrictions on naturalization
Naturalization
Naturalization is the acquisition of citizenship and nationality by somebody who was not a citizen of that country at the time of birth....
as citizens of Latvia. Former Interfront activists who hold citizenship of Latvia have been barred from standing as candidates for election to the Saeima
Saeima
Saeima is the parliament of the Republic of Latvia. It is a unicameral parliament consisting of 100 members who are elected by proportional representation, with seats allocated to political parties which gain at least 5% of the popular vote. Elections are scheduled to be held once every four years,...
(parliament) or municipal councils.
See also
- IntermovementIntermovementThe Intermovement was a political movement and organisation in the Estonian SSR. It was founded on 19 July 1988 and claimed by different sources 16,000 - 100,000 members...
, an organization in EstoniaEstoniaEstonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
with similar goals, sometimes also called Interfront