It is a great honour to join you today and to bring greetings from the Government of the Republic of Estonia on this important occasion.
Today, on August 23, we gather to commemorate Black Ribbon Day – a day of remembrance for the victims of totalitarian and authoritarian regimes.
This date was not chosen by chance.
On August 23, 1939, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact. Its secret protocols divided Central and Eastern Europe into spheres of influence and sealed the fate of many nations, including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and others. What followed was occupation, repression, deportation, war, and the loss of freedom for millions of people.
Fifty years later, on August 23, 1989, approximately two million Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians joined hands across the three Baltic countries in what became known as the Baltic Way. Stretching hundreds of kilometres from Tallinn through Riga to Vilnius, this extraordinary human chain was a peaceful protest against Soviet occupation and a powerful call for freedom.
Täismahus artikkel on loetav Eesti Elu tellijatele
Igal nädalal toome me sinuni kõige olulisemad kogukonna uudised ja eksklusiivsed lood uutelt kolumnistidelt. Räägime eestlastele südamelähedastest teemadest, kogukonna tegijatest ja sündmustest. Loodame sinu toele, et meie kogukonna leht jätkuks pikkadeks aastateks.
Hind alates $2.30 nädalas.
