Twenty years have passed since October 8, 1998, when the 1st congress of the Latvian National Front (LNF) started its work. The LNF support group of the Supreme Court nominated the Judge Zaiga Raupa as the delegate to the congress. She participated at the congress and spoke during the debates.

That time in the Supreme Court – the establishment and activities of the LNF support group – was recalled by the Senator Vilnis Vietnieks:

“It is hard to recall in details the events of 20 years and more in relation to the establishment of the LNF support group in the Supreme Court. I can just try to outline them briefly.

After the extraordinary meeting of the intelligence which was held in June 1998 when Mavriks Vulfsons proved on the basis of facts the occupation of the independent Latvia and its illegal incorporation in the USSR empire, fresh winds were felt also in the state establishments.

It was felt in the Supreme Court, as well. After the summer vacation majority of the Supreme Court Judges came together at the beginning of September and decided to establish a LNF support group in the Supreme Court. The Judge Andrejs Lepse was elected the head of the group, and the consultant Sandra Sleja (at present, the attorney) – the secretary.

Unfortunately, the list of members of the LNF support group of the Supreme Court is not available any more.

I will just mention the Judges and court employees who work in the Supreme Court at the present time and who were among the members of the LNF support group.

They are: the Chairman of the Department of Criminal Cases of the Senate, the Senator Pavels Gruzins, the Chairman of the Department of Civil Cases of the Senate, the Senator Valerijans Jonikans, the Senators Zigmants Gencs, Ruta Zake and Vilnis Vietnieks, the Judges Ausma Keisa and Andrejs Lepse, the consultants of the Division of Complaints Biruta Puke (at that time the Supreme Court Judge), Inta Kirse (at that time the assistant to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court), the assistant to the Chairman of the Department of Civil Cases of the Senate Roberts Namatevs (at that time the Supreme Court Judge), the specialist of the Division of Document Administration Anda Straume, the driver Valdis Straume.

I remember that on the surface the position of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court regarding the establishment of a LNF support group was neutral, although in his heart Gvido Zemribo supported the LNF members. It was proved by his later activities.

The members of the LNF support group met regularly, discussed current issues regarding the LNF activities, collected donations for the LNF foundation, distributed the newspaper “Atmoda”, worked in the LNF headquarters.”

Vilnis Vietnieks remembers that the Supreme Court staff at that time became united, more friendly, and all this was done for a higher idea – for the independence of Latvia.

 

Information prepared by

Head of the Division of Communications of the Supreme Court Rasma Zvejniece

E-mail: rasma.zvejniece@at.gov.lv, telephone: 7020396, 28652211