Enforce order and security in Latvia 1818

On 18 November, 1918 the People’s Council of Latvia proclaimed the independence of a new state – Republic of Latvia. A crucial issue was establishment of a strong executive power to enforce order and security in Latvia that was devastated by World War I. On 19 November Dr.Miķelis Valters became the first Minister of Interior in the newly formed Cabinet of Ministers, he was also the only professional politician with suitable education in the Temporary government of Latvia.

M.Valters had to commence his work during the most critical and confusing years of Latvian history, when the actual power was in the hands of German occupation authorities and the territory of Latvia was torn apart by armed forces of two countries.

The main tasks of the Ministry of Interior at the dawn of a new state were: to form and organize capacitated interior system units, int. al. a strong and trustworthy police; to create a legislative basis; to regulate issues regarding immigration and emigration as well as transit through the Republic of Latvia; to commence the renewal of national economy; to establish capacitated local government.

One of the first structures of the Ministry was Internal Defence Division and it was engaged in the creation of police forces. Afterwards also Emigrant and Refugee Transportation Division and Foreigner Division which was employed in foreigner immigration, residence and emigration issues were established. In 1919 the Passport Division was founded which was employed in passport issuance. Also a Local Government Division was founded that later became a Department with two Divisions – Rural Local Government Division and City Local Government Division which were employed in formation of local governments and legislative basis.

In 1912 the State Construction Inspection was established, which later was reorganized into Construction Board of the Ministry of Interior. Its task was to coordinate renovation and construction of buildings, elaborate the necessary legislative basis. Construction Board approved projects of industrial and public buildings.

The Ministry of Interior was also responsible for oversight of volunteer firefighters.

Ministers of the Interior of Latvia after acquisition of state independence in 1918

Dr. Miķelis Valters
1918.18.11 – 1919.09.12

Arveds Bergs
1919.09.12 – 1921.18.06

Alberts Kviesis
1921.18.06 – 1923.25.01

Pēteris Berģis
1923.25.01 – 1923.26.06

Alfrēds Birznieks
1923.26.06 – 1924.09.05

Pēteris Juraševskis
1924.09.05 – 1924.17.12

Eduards Laimiņš
1924.17.12 – 1926.17.12
1928.24.01 – 1931.24.03

Marģers Skujenieks
1926.17.12 – 1928.24.01

Ansis Petrēvics
1931.24.03 – 1931.06.12

Jānis Kauliņš
1931.06.12 – 1933.23.03

Gotfrids Mīlbergs
1933.23.03 – 1934.17.03

Vilis Gulbis
1934.17.03 – 1939.17.01

Kornēlijs Veitmanis
1939.17.01 – 1940.20.06

Contemporary history of the Ministry of the Interior

On 4th May 1990 the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia adopted a Declaration on Reestablishment of State Independence”.

People of Latvia regained the independence they had lost 50 years ago, but still it had to be defended. Communistic forces in the USSR and in Latvia as well could not allow strengthening of Latvian statehood.

The input of employees of the Ministry of the Interior in maintaining sovereignty must be mentioned. They built an organized force that had to be taken into consideration by opponents of Latvia’s independence. Along with development of the structure of the Ministry of the Interior one of the main focuses was on fighting forces that would not allow for the situation in Latvia to stabilize. In 1990-1991 soldiers of the special operations unit OMON that was under Moscow’s command attacked different objects of the Ministry of the Interior several times. On 20th January 1991 an assault was made on the building of the Ministry of the Interior. While protecting it two police (former militia) officers were killed – Sergejs Konoņenko and Vladimirs Gamanovičs, several employees of the Ministry were injured. Each year the administration of the Ministry attend events in the honor of the commemoration of defenders of the barricades at the Monument of Liberty and Bastejkalns where the memorial sites are located.
 

Ministers of the Interior of Latvia after reestablishment of state independence in 1990

Aloizs Vaznis
04.09.1990. - 20.11.1991.

Ziedonis Čevers
20.11.1991. - 02.08.1993.

Ģirts – Valdis Kristovskis
02.08.1993. - 10.11.1994.

Jānis Ādamsons
10.11.1994. - 21.12.1995.

Dainis Turlais
21.12.1995. - 10.07.1997.

Ziedonis Čevers
07.08.1997. - 09.04.1998.

Andrejs Krastiņš
02.05.1998. - 26.11.1998.

Roberts Jurdžs
26.11.1998. - 16.07.1999.

Mareks Segliņš
05.05.2000. - 01.10.2002.

Māris Gulbis
11.07.2002. - 09.03.2004.

Ēriks Jēkabsons
15.03.2004. - 21.10.2005.

Dzintars Jaundžeikars
02.11.2005. - 07.11.2006.

Ivars Godmanis
07.11.2006. - 20.12.2007.

Mareks Segliņš
20.12.2007. - 12.03.2009.

Linda Mūrniece
12.03.2009. - 03.11.2010.

Linda Mūrniece
03.11.2010. - 06.06.2011.