TAKEOVER OF PRESS BUILDINGS IN RIGA AND VILNIUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 MOSCOW 00219


S/S PLEASE PASS TO EUR/SOV VERSHBOW ASAP

E.O. 12356: DEC;:OADR
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINT UR
SUBJECT: TAKEOVER OF PRESS BUILDINGS IN RIGA AND VILNIUS

REF: LENINGRAD 6998


1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT

SUMMARY
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2. LATVIAN AND LITHUANIAN SPOKESMEN CONFIRMED PRESS
REPORTS THAT SOVIET INTERIOR MINISTRY (MVD) SPECIAL
FORCES HAVE TAKEN OVER THE MAIN PRESS BUILDING IN RIGA
AND ARE OCCUPYING THE HEADQUARTERS OF THE LITHUANIAN
BRANCH OF THE CPSU IN VILNIUS, REPORTEDLY AT THE
LATTER'S REQUEST. ONE JOURNALIST WAS BEATEN WHEN HE
TRIED TO STAGE A SIT-DOWN STRIKE IN THE BUILDING AND
ANOTHER EVICTED BODILY, BUT NO OTHER REPORTS OF
INJURIES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. THE OCCUPATION OF THE
PRESS BUILDING BRINGS TO A HEAD A LONG-RUNNING DISPUTE
BETWEEN THE LATVIAN GOVERNMENT ON THE ONE HAND AND THE
SMALL BUT VOCAL COMMUNIST PARTY ALLIED WITH SOVIET
MILITARY FORCES STATIONED IN THE REPUBLIC AND SOVIET
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR SPECIAL FORCES. IT IS STILL NOT
CLEAR WHO IS CALLING THE TUNE THOUGH: THE COMMANDER OF
THE INTERIOR MINISTRY SPECIAL FORCES TROOPS IN LATVIA
ALLEGEDLY TOLD THE LATVIAN GOVERNMENT YESTERDAY THAT
THE OCCUPATION OF THE PRESS BUILDING OCCURED WITHOUT
HIS KNOWLEDGE OR APPROVAL. THE COMMANDER OF SPECIAL
FORCES IN LITHUANIA SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT THE
TAKEOVER OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY BUILDING THERE. USSR
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR CONTACTS IN MOSCOW PROVIDED NO
INFORMATION OR CLARIFICATION ON THE ACTIONS OF TROOPS
IN RIGA AND VILNIUS.


3. THE SITUATION IN RIGA IS VERY TENSE, AND THE
LATVIAN LEADERSHIP IS IN MOSCOW TO TRY TO RESOLVE THE
SITUATION. LATVIAN PRESIDENT GORBUNOVS IS MEETING WITH
GORBACHEV AT 3:00, AND OTHER LATVIAN OFFICIALS ARE
MEETING WITH USSR MILITARY AND INTERIOR MINISTRY
OFFICIALS. THE LITHUANIAN REPRESENTATIVE IN MOSCOW
APPEARED LESS WORRIED ABOUT THE SITUATION IN VILNIUS,
BUT SAID PRIME MINISTER PRUNSKIENE HAD CUT SHORT A
VISIT TO AUSTRALIA AND WAS BACK IN VILNIUS FOR
DISCUSSIONS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION. EMBASSY
BELIEVES IT WOULD BE USEFUL FOR DEPARTMENT PRESS
SPOKESPERSON TO CALL FOR A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF THE
INCIDENTS. END SUMMARY


TAKEOVER OF LATVIAN PRESS BUILDING NOT UNEXPECTED
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4. LATVIAN PREMREP PRESS SPOKESMAN ARIS JARSONS
PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION ON THE TAKEOVER BY
WHAT APPEAR TO BE SOVIET INTERIOR MINISTRY SPECIAL
FORCES (SPETSNAZ) TROOPS OF THE MAIN PRESS BUILDING IN
RIGA. THE BUILDING AND PRINTING ENTERPRISE IT HOUSES
FORMERLY BELONGED TO THE COMMUNIST PARTY, BUT FOLLOWING
A LATVIAN SUPREME SOVIET DECREE IN DECEMBER, IT WAS
AUTHORIZED TO BE TURNED INTO AN INDEPENDENT
WORKER-OWNED JOINT STOCK VENTURE, WITH 20` OF THE STOCK
TO REMAIN IN THE COMMUNIST PARTY'S HANDS. SHORTLY
THEREAFTER, A SMALL NUMBER OF SOVIET INTERIOR MINISTRY
FORCES BEGAN TO TAKE UP POSITIONS IN THE BUILDING, BUT
DID NOT INTEREFERE WITH THE WORKINGS. ON NEW YEAR'S
EVE, LATVIAN COMMUNIST PARTY CHIEF ALFRED RUBIKS
APPEARED ON LATVIAN TELEVISION TO PROTEST THE JOINT
STOCK VENTURE, WHICH HE CHARACTERIZED AS
"EXPROPRIATION", AND WARNED THAT "SOMEONE WOULD HAVE TO
PAY" FOR THIS. THE FOLLOWING NIGHT (JANUARY 1-2),A
LARGE NUMBER OF SPECIAL FORCES ARMED WITH AUTOMATIC
WEAPONS TOOK CONTROL OF THE PRESS BUILDING, SURROUNDED
THE DIRECTOR DUDNURS, AND PREVENTED HIM FROM ISSUING
ANY ORDERS TO THE WORKERS.


4. WORKERS REMAINED IN THE BUILDING THROUGH THE
MORNING OF JANUARY 2, WHILE A LARGE CROWED ESTIMATED IN
THE THOUSANDS, ACCORDING TO JARSONS, GATHERED OUTSIDE.
ALTHOUGH THE MVD TROOPS DID NOT INITIALLY TRY TO EVICT
THE WORKERS, THEY BEGAN TO GET TOUGHER DURING THE
COURSE OF THE DAY. THEY BODILY EVICTED ONE JOURNALIST
AND BEAT UP ANOTHER WHO TRIED TO ORGANIZE A SIT-DOWN
STRIKE. MOREOVER THEY ALLEGEDLY TURNED THEIR MACHINE
GUNS ON VICE PRESIDENT OF THE LATVIAN SUPREME COUNCIL
DAINIS IVANS WHO SHOWED UP AT THE PRESS BUILDING
SHORTLY BEFORE NOON, AND TRIED TO ENTER THE BUILDING
DISPLAYING HIS DEPUTY'S CREDENTIALS. NO OTHER REPORTS
OF INJURIES HAVE BEEN RECEIVED. SOVIET SPECIAL FORCES
NOW OCCUPY EVERY FLOOR OF THE PRESS BUILDING, AND ARE
PREVENTING LATVIANS FROM ENTERING. THERE ARE STILL
CROWDS MILLING IN FRONT OF THE PRESS BUILDING AND THE
POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE REMAINS STRONG.


WHO GAVE THE ORDER?
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THE LATVIAN GOVERNMENT HAS RECEIVED NO OFFICIAL
EXPLANATION FOR THE TAKEOVER OF THE BUILDING, ACCORDING
TO JARSONS. THE LATVIAN SUPREME COUNCIL CHAIRMAN
SUMMONED THE COMMANDER OF SOVIET MVD SPECIAL FORCES, TO
RIGA ON JANUARY 2 FOR AN EXPLANATION. THE LATTER
REPORTEDLY SAID THAT THE TAKEOVER WAS CARRIED OUT
WITHOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT, AND HE REFERRED ALL
QUESTIONS "TO MOSCOW". THE LITHUANIAN PERMREP IN
MOSCOW REPORTED A SIMILAR RESPONSE TO HIS GOVERNMENT'S
EFFORTS TO GET AN EXPLANATION OF THE SPECIAL FORCES
OCCUPATION OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY BUILDING IN VILNIUS.
THE COMMANDER OF THE SPECIAL FORCES REPORTEDLY TOLD THE
LITHUANIAN LEADERSHIP THAT THE ACTION WAS TAKEN WITHOUT
HIS CONSENT OR KNOWLEDGE. IN ADDITION, EMBASSY'S
EFFORTS TO CONTACT THE USSR MINISTRY OF INTERIOR FOR
CLARIFICATION OF INTERIOR MINISTER PUGO'S REPORTED
REMARKS THAT HE WAS UNAWARE OF THE INCIDENT IN RIGA AND
HAD NOT AUTHORIZED THE USE OF SPECIAL TROOPS WERE
UNAVAILING.


GORBUNOV TO MEET GORBACHEV TODAY
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THE LATVIAN LEADERSHIP FLEW TO TO MOSCOW TO TRY TO
RESOLVE THE SITUATION. PRESIDENT OF THE LATVIAN
SUPREME COUNCIL GORBUNOVS HAD A 3:00 PM MOSCOW TIME
MEETING WITH GORBACHEV. PRIME MINISTER GODMANIS IS
MEETING WITH GENERAL MOISEYEV, AND OTHER SENIOR LATVIAN
OFFICIALS ARE MEETING WITH INTERIOR MINISTER PUGO TO
DEFUSE THE CURRENT SITUATION. THE TAKEOVER OF THE
PRESS BUILDING IN RIGA CULMINATES MONTHS OF GROWING
TENSION IN THE CAPITAL AND FEARS BY THE LATVIAN AND
OTHER BALTIC GOVERNMENTS THAT THE USSR WOULD RESORT TO
MILITARY FORCE OR DIRECT PRESIDENTIAL RULE -- INCLUDING
REPLACEMENT OF THE ELECTED GOVERNMENTS BY OFFICIALS
SUBSERVIENT TO MOSCOW -- TO FORCE THE BALTICS TO ABJURE
THEIR INDEPENDENCE CLAIMS. IN LATVIA, THE DISPUTE HAS
PITTED THE LATVIAN GOVERNMENT ON THE ONE SIDE, AGAINST
THE SMALL BUT VOCAL LATVIAN COMMUNIST PARTY ALLIED WITH
LOCAL SOVIET MILITARY COMMANDERS AND SOVIET INTERIOR
MINISTRY SPECIAL FORCES. THE DISPUTE WAS FUELED BY THE
DECISION OF THE BALTIC DISTRICT MILITARY COMMANDER TO
HOLD THE NOVEMBER 7 MILITARY PARADE IN RIGA, DESPITE
THE EXPRESSED WISHES OF THE LATVIAN SUPREME COUNCIL.
THE LATVIAN SUPREME SOVIET RESPONDED WITH A NOVEMBER 14
DECREE ANNOUNCING THAT THE REPUBLIC WOULD NO LONGER
PROVIDE MATERIAL SUPPORT AND SERVICES TO SOVIET FORCES
STATIONED ON ITS TERRITORY, AND RESTRICTING THE
ACTIVITIES OF THE LATVIAN COMMUNIST PARTY.

THE DECREE PROVOKED A STRONG REACTION FROM MOSCOW:
GORBACHEV SINGLED IT OUT FOR CRITICISM IN HIS NOVEMBER
15 SUPREME SOVIET SPEECH, AND SOME LATVIAN DEPUTIES
CLAIM IT WAS A MAJOR FACTOR BEHIND GORBACHEV'S DECISION
TO GIVE THE MILITARY GREATER LEEWAY TO DEAL WITH
ATTACKS ON THEIR FORCES IN THE REPUBLICS (YAZOV'S
NOVEMBER SPEECH). ALTHOUGH THE DECREE HAS NOT BEEN
PUT INTO EFFECT, AND HAS NO LEGAL STATUS BECAUSE
SUPREME COUNCIL PRESIDENT GORBUNOVS REFUSED TO SIGN IT,
IT HAS NEVERTHELESS BECOME A MAJOR SOURCE OF IRRITATION
BETWEEN MOSCOW AND RIGA, ACCORDING TO BOTH SOVIET AND
LATVIAN SOURCES. MOREOVER, A SERIES OF FIREBOMBINGS IN
THE REPUBLIC, ALTERNATING BETWEEN SOVIET MILITARY OR
COMMUNIST PARTY FACILITIES AND LATVIAN NATIONAL
MONUMENTS (REF A) HAS ALSO HEIGHTENED TENSIONS OVER THE
SOVIET MILITARY PRESENCE IN THE REPUBLIC. ALTHOUGH NO
ONE HAS BEEN HURT SO FAR, THE REPUBLIC LEADERSHIP,
ACCORDING TO PETERS, IS CONCERNED THAT THE INCIDENTS
ARE PLAYING INTO THE HANDS OF EXTREMISTS ON BOTH SIDES
AND COULD PROVOKE GORBACHEV TO IMPOSE PRESIDENTIAL RULE
IN THE REPUBLIC.


LATVIA PROPOSED NEGOTIATIONS ON STATUS OF FORCES
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ON NOVEMBER 18, LATVIAN PERMREP IN MOSCOW JANIS PETERS
(PROTECT) WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE LATVIAN SUPREME SOVIET
TO PROPOSE TO THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATIONS ON A
STATUS OF FORCES AGREEMENT ON SOVIET TROOPS STATIONED
IN LATVIA. HE TOLD EMBOFF THAT HE MET WITH
PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL MEMBER YAKOVLEV, WHO PROMISED TO
CONVEY THE PROPOSAL TO GORBACHEV. YAKOVLEV NEVER
PROVIDED A FORMAL SOVIET RESPONSE TO THE LATVIAN
OFFER. HOWEVER, IN A CORRIDOR CONVERSATION WITH EMBOFF
DURING THE FOURTH CONGRESS OF PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES IN LATE
DECEMBER, PRESIDENTIAL COUNCIL MEMBER GRIGORIY REVENKO
(PROTECT) TOLD EMBOFF THAT THE LATVIAN PROPOSAL WAS NOT
WITHOUT MERIT, BUT THAT SUCH TALKS COULD ONLY TAKE
PLACE AFTER THE REFERENDUM ON THE TREATY OF THE UNION.
REVENKO ASSERTED THAT BALTIC ASSERTIONS THAT THE USSR
WOULD IMPOSE PRESIDENTIAL RULE IN THE REPUBLICS WAS
PURELY POLITICAL PRESSURE TACTICS.


LITHUANIANS SOMEWHAT LESS CONCERNED
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LITHUANIAN PERMREP IN MOSCOW BICKAUSKAS (PROTECT)
CONFIRMED THAT WHAT APPEAR TO BE SOVIET INTERIOR
MINISTRY SPECIAL FORCES HAVE ALSO OCCUPIED THE
HEADQUARTERS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY IN VILNIUS,
REPORTEDLY AT THE LATTER'S REQUEST, AND FORCED OUT THE
LITHUANIAN MILITIA. BICKAUSKAS, WHO RETURNED FROM
VILNIUS YESTERDAY, SAID THAT THE COMMANDER OF SPECIAL
FORCES REPORTEDLY TOLD THE REPUBLIC'S LEADERSHIP THAT
THAT THE OCCUPATION WAS CARRIED OUT WITHOUT HIS
KNOWLEDGE OR CONSENT.

BICKAUSKAS, WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT
THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT WAS PLANNING TO IMPOSE ANOTHER
ECONOMIC BLOCKADE OR DIRECT PRESIDENTIAL RULE,
CAUTIONED THAT THE SITUATION IN VILNIUS "SHOULD NOT BE
OVERLY DRAMATIZED". THE LITHUANIAN SUPREME COUNCIL IS
MEETING TO DECIDE WHAT STEPS TO TAKE, BUT DID NOT FEEL
THAT THE SITUATION WAS AT A CRISIS STAGE, AND HAD NO
PLANS TO SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO MOSCOW TO TALK TO THE
SOVIET LEADERSHIP. NEVERTHELESS, PRIME MINISTER
PRUNSKIENE CUT SHORT A VISIT TO AUSTRALIA TO RETURN TO
VILNIUS. BICKAUSKAS WAS CALLED ON HIS DIRECT LINE TO
THE KREMLIN TO ATTEND THE 3:00 MEETING WITH GORBACHEV,
BUT DID NOT KNOW WHETHER HE WOULD BE AUTHORIZED BY
VILNIUS TO ATTEND.

COMMENT
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THE LATVIAN GOVERNMENT, ACCORDING TO ITS SPOKESMAN,
APPEARS TO BE MOST ANXIOUS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF
EVENTS GETTING OUT OF HAND, AND IS CLEARLY DETERMINED
TO TACKLE THE PROBLEM AT WHAT IT BELIEVES TO BE THE
SOURCE -- MOSCOW. WHETHER THE EVENTS IN RIGA HAVE BEEN
ORCHESTRATED FROM MOSCOW OR NOT, THERE IS A REAL RISK
OF GROWING VIOLENCE WHICH WILL NOT BE AMENABLE TO
PEACEFUL RESOLUTION. WE, THEREFORE, SUGGEST THAT THE
DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON MAKE A STATEMENT URGING THAT
THE SITUATION BE RESOLVED BY MEANS OF TALKS WITHOUT
RESORT TO VIOLENCE.


LENINGRAD MINIMIZE CONSIDERED.

MATLOCK


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