Latvia has been a free and independent country for over 3 decades. Latvia’s independence was restored on 4 May 1990, thanks in large part to the success of the activities of Latvians in exile.

The story of how Latvians in exile kept the idea of ​​Latvia’s independence alive during Soviet occupation is inspiring, yet undeservedly little known. For decades, Latvians in exile staged political protests and demonstrations around the world, to explain the situation of the occupation of the Baltic states to their local communities, the press, and politicians.

The exiles and their children lived well in their adopted homelands but preserved their Latvian identity and through demonstrations and protests, became the guardians of Latvia’s lost freedom and ambassadors of national will.

The exhibition “Nyet, Nyet, Soviet” describes the history of these political protests and demonstrations, which encouraged Latvians in exile to be not only socially active and responsible but also to understand the price of their country’s freedom and their own involvement in its preservation. The exhibition is deliberately designed as a useful guide for demonstrators, summarising the experiences and recommendations of exiled Latvians.