On September 9, 2021, a reception was held at the Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in the Russian Federation on the occasion of the Baltic Freedom Day. The event was organized together with the Embassy of the Republic of Estonia and the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania. In 2021, the Baltic States celebrate the 100th anniversary of international de iure recognition and the 30th anniversary of the restoration of independence.
The event was attended by the Ambassador of the European Union to the Russian Federation Markus Ederer, representatives of diplomatic missions of the European Union, the United States and other countries, Russian authorities, global companies operating in Russia, and representatives of the Russian civil society. Members of the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian communities also took part.
All those present were greeted by the Ambassador of the Republic of Latvia to the Russian Federation, Māris Riekstiņš, who noted the exceptional importance of celebrating the Baltic freedom. The Ambassador emphasized the importance of the independence of our countries, pointing out that in modern Europe there are still countries in which freedom of speech and freedom of assembly are not self-evident, thus we highly value our independence and freedom.
In his speech, the Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to the Russian Federation, Margus Laidre, noted that in the international arena, Estonia is a country on which its friends can rely on in difficult times.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Lithuania to the Russian Federation, Eitvydas Bajarūnas, also addressed the guests in his welcoming speech. He noted that it brings a lot of joy that all three Baltic embassies together are inviting guests to a joint reception to celebrate. It is also gratifying that we can share our freedom with all our guests, including our Russian friends. This year we also celebrate the 30th anniversary of the restoration of diplomatic relations between the Baltic states and Russia.
During the event, a warm and sincere atmosphere reigned – starting with the performance of the Talava choir, which sang not only the European Union anthem “Ode to Joy” by Beethoven, but also Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian patriotic and folk songs. Also, after welcoming words, the guests had the opportunity to get acquainted with the national dishes and drinks of the three Baltic countries and socialize in the garden of the embassy. We thank Tervise Catering from Tallinn, whose delicacies introduced the best of Estonian national cuisine to our guests.