“The Baltic Way” in Turkey

On September 23, 2019 the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Turkey in cooperation with the Estonian and Latvian Embassies marked in Ankara the 30th anniversary of the „Baltic Way“.

A special commemorative event at the CerModern contemporary art museum of Ankara started with the history-making song „Bunda jau Baltija“ (Wake up the Baltics) and was followed by the screening of the documentary „The Baltic Way to Freedom“ by Latvian director Askolds Saulitis. The film captures the main events in the Baltic countries in their quest for freedom and independence from the Soviet Union.

In addition to the film, an exhibition on the Baltic Way was displayed at the CerModern to provide the guests of the event – among them representatives of the academic and business communities, civil servants and civil activists, also foreign diplomats – with more detailed information on the Baltic Way, a unique joint peaceful political demonstration of the Baltic nations.

80 years ago, on August 23, 1939 upon signature of the so called Molotov – Ribbentrop Pact and its secret protocols, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany divided Eastern Europe into spheres of influence and conquest. 30 years ago, on August 23, 1989 Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians stood hand-in-hand in a 675 km long Baltic Way from Vilnius to Riga to Tallinn to protest occupation and demand freedom.

In their welcoming remarks, Ambassador Audrius Bruzga of Lithuania, Ambassador Annely Kolk of Estonia and Ambassador Peteris-Karlis Elferts of Latvia reminded of the political and historic significance of the Baltic Way and paid tribute to their respective nationals who did not live to see Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania become independent again.