Peace Treaty between Latvia and RSFSR signed. Recognition of Independence of Latvia

On August 11 1920 in Riga Latvia and RSFSR signed a Peace Treaty, which declared Independence of Latvia. The Treaty of Riga fixed the Soviet-Latvian border, and stipulated the establishment of diplomatic and consular relations between two countries.

During World War I the territory of Latvia was occupied by German troops. After signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk on March 3 1918 occupation regime was introduced in Baltic countries. In November 1918 the People’s Council of Latvia proclaimed the independence of the new country, however German troops, who joined forces with the White Guard, started to struggle for the rule in Latvia. As a result a Civil war broke out in the country, where Latvian Bolsheviks were supported by units of the Red Army. By January 1920 the Soviet Government Army faced defeat, whereas units of the Latvian Government succeeded in getting control over the territory of Latvia and some districts of Pskov province. When in April 1920 the situation at the front became stable, Soviet-Latvian peace negotiations were launched.

The Peace Treaty between Latvia and RSFSR (Peace Treaty of Riga) was concluded by the RSFSR delegates A. A. Joffe, Ya. S. Ganetsky and delegates of the Latvian government — J. J. Vestmanis, P. R. Berģis, A. K. Buševics, E. A. Kalniņš, K. J. Pauļuks. The Peace treaty declared the end of the war between two countries. Latvia was bound not to provide support to the White Guard movement. The Soviet Russia recognized independence and sovereignty of the Latvian State. Both parties undertook to forbid the dislocation in their territory of any army with which one of the parties to the Treaty has entered into a war convention. The treaty also stipulated settlement of property, financial and economic issues. Under the conditions of the Peace Treaty the Soviet Russia took responsibility for all the promissory notes of Latvia being a part of a former Russian Empire to foreign countries and paid monetary compensation (4 million rubles in gold) for the property evacuated to Russia during World War I. Besides Latvia received 2 volost of Drissa district (Vitebsk province) and 3 volost of Ostrov district (Pskov province).

The Peace Treaty between Latvia and RSFSR signed in 1920 had a significant role in establishment of peace in Baltic countries and blockade breakthrough, organized by Entente countries around the Soviet Russia during the Civil war in 1918-1922.

Lit.: История Латвии. XX в. Рига, 2005; Министерство иностранных дел СССР. Документы внешней политики СССР. Т. 3 (1920.07.01 — 1921.03.18). M., 1959. С. 101-116; Peace Treaty between Latvia and Russia. Rīga, August 11, 1920 [Electronic resource] // Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Latvia. 2015.