Saeima unveils plaque honouring Statehood Award recipients

Latvia’s parliament, the Saeima, has unveiled a plaque bearing the names of the six recipients of the Statehood Award, LSM reported on Friday.

The plaque was unveiled on September 4 on a wall near the Baltic Hall in the Saeima building. The award honours people whose work goes beyond the requirements of their duties and inspires others.

Among the recipients is Rūta Dimanta, head of the charity organisation Ziedot.lv.

“Our generation is responsible for passing the country on to our children and grandchildren. Therefore, every citizen must work to ensure that we pass on this cherished country in the best possible condition. The Statehood Award is a reminder that we must do more than our duties require,” Dimanta said.

The Statehood Award was established by the May 4 Declaration Club, an organisation named after Latvia’s declaration restoring independence.

“We are truly pleased that now everyone entering the Saeima, whether for a conference or a tour, will be able to see and learn which people have received this high award from the state, the May 4 Declaration Club and the Saeima,” said Velta Čebotarenoka, the organisation’s president.

The plaque was unveiled before the conference “Voices and Echoes of Independence”, organised to mark the 35th anniversary of the adoption of the constitutional law “On the State Status of the Republic of Latvia”.

The May 4 Declaration Club said the conference addresses important questions about the period when Latvia’s independence was restored, including why a coup took place in Moscow and why many Western countries were slow to recognise Latvia’s independence.

The Statehood Award aims to promote public respect and understanding of Latvia’s statehood and strengthen awareness of its social and political importance in the lives of residents.

The first award went to theologian and writer Juris Rubenis; the second to poet, translator, writer and honorary member of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Knuts Skujenieks; the third to philanthropist, public figure and founder of the Vītols Foundation Vilis Vītols; the fourth to Ziedot.lv head Rūta Dimanta; the fifth to Imants Lancmanis, described as the soul of Rundāle Palace; and the sixth to poet and playwright Māra Zālīte.

The president of Latvia is the patron of the Statehood Award.