Bastejkalns
Bastejkalns is a nice and quiet park in the very center of Riga. It was formed in the 19th century after tearing down city bulwarks. On the one side of Bastejkalns you will find the Liberty monument, while on the other – Blaumanis sculpture.
In 1991 Bastejkalns was turned into a battle field when Russian OMON (Special Forces) attacked the building of Interior Ministry of Latvia, right next to what is now the U.S. Embassy. Several journalists were shot dead while filming the attack. A school boy and two policemen also lost their lives during the incident. Now there are memorial stones at the places where it happened.
Soviet Special Forces on rampage in Bastejkalns, 1991:
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