Editing Riga (section)

== History ==
{{Main|History of Riga}}
{{For timeline}}

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{{flagicon image|Flag of the State of the Teutonic Order.svg}} [[Terra Mariana]] ([[Condominium (international law)|condominium]] of [[Archbishopric of Riga|Archbishops of Riga]] and [[Livonian Order]]) 1201–1561<br/>{{flagicon image|Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor (after 1400).svg}} [[Free imperial city|Imperial Free City]] 1561–1582<br/>{{nowrap|{{flagicon image|Chorągiew królewska króla Zygmunta III Wazy.svg|border=no}} [[Poland–Lithuania]] 1582–1629}}<br/>{{flagicon image|Flag of Sweden.svg}} [[Swedish Empire]] 1629–1721<br/>{{flagicon image|Flag of Russia.svg}} [[Russian Empire]] 1721–1917<br/>{{flagdeco|German Empire}} [[Ober Ost|German Empire]] 1917–1918<br/>{{flagicon|LVA}} [[Latvia|Republic of Latvia]] 1918–1940<br/>{{flag|Latvian SSR|1940}} 1940–1941<br/>{{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} [[Reichskommissariat Ostland|Nazi Germany]] 1941–1944<br/>{{flagicon|Latvian SSR|1940}} {{flag|Latvian SSR|}} 1944–1990<br/>{{flagicon|LVA}} [[Latvia|Republic of Latvia]] 1990–present
}}

=== Founding ===
The river [[Daugava]] has been a [[trade route]] since antiquity, part of the [[Varangians|Vikings']] [[Route from the Varangians to the Greeks|Dvina–Dnieper navigation route]] to Byzantium.<ref name="BilmanisLIS">Bilmanis, A. Latvia as an Independent State. Latvian Legation. 1947.</ref> A sheltered [[natural harbour|natural harbor]] {{cvt|15|km}} upriver from the mouth of the Daugava—the site of today's Riga—has been recorded, as ''Duna Urbs'', as early as the 2nd century.<ref name="BilmanisLIS"/> It was settled by the [[Livonians|Livs]], a [[Baltic Finnic peoples|Finnic]] tribe.<!-- Requires new citation. -->
Riga began to develop as a centre of [[Viking Age|Viking trade during the early Middle Ages]].<ref name="BilmanisLIS"/> Riga's inhabitants engaged mainly in fishing, [[animal husbandry]], and trading, later developing crafts, including bone, wood, amber, and iron.<ref name="BilmanisLIS"/>

The ''[[Livonian Chronicle of Henry]]'' testifies to Riga having long been a trading centre by the 12th century, referring to it as {{lang|la|portus antiquus}} (ancient port), and describes dwellings and warehouses used to store mostly flax, and hides.<ref name="BilmanisLIS"/> German traders began visiting Riga, establishing a nearby outpost in 1158.

Along with German traders the monk [[Saint Meinhard|Meinhard of Segeberg]]<ref name="EMA">Vauchez et al. Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages. Routledge, 2001</ref> arrived to convert the Livonian pagans to Christianity. [[Catholic]] and [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christianity]] had already arrived in Latvia more than a century earlier, and many Latvians had been baptized.<ref name="BilmanisLIS"/><ref name="EMA"/> Meinhard settled among the Livs, building a castle and church at Uexküll (now known as [[Ikšķile]]), upstream from Riga, and established his bishopric there.<ref name="EMA"/> The Livs, however, continued to practice [[paganism]] and Meinhard died in Uexküll in 1196, having failed in his mission.<ref name="Saga">Germanis, U. The Latvian Saga. 10th ed. 1998. Memento, Stockholm.</ref> In 1198, the [[Berthold of Hanover|Bishop Berthold]] arrived with a contingent of [[crusaders]]<ref name="Saga"/> and commenced a campaign of forced [[Christianisation|Christianization]].<ref name="BilmanisLIS"/><ref name="EMA"/> Berthold died soon afterwards and his forces were defeated.<ref name="Saga"/>

The Church mobilized to avenge this defeat. [[Pope Innocent III]] issued a bull declaring a crusade against the [[Livonians]].<ref name="Saga"/> [[Albert of Riga|Bishop Albert]] was proclaimed [[Bishop of Livonia]] by his uncle [[Hartwig of Uthlede]], [[Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen|Prince-Archbishop of Bremen and Hamburg]] in 1199. Albert landed in Riga in 1200<ref name="BilmanisLIS"/><ref name="Saga"/> with 23 ships<ref name="CathE">Laffort, R. (censor), ''Catholic Encyclopedia'', Robert Appleton Co., 1907</ref> and 500 Westphalian crusaders.<ref name="ReferenceA">Tolstoy-Miloslavsky, D. ''The Tolstoys: Genealogy and Origin''. A2Z, 1991</ref> In 1201, he transferred the seat of the Livonian bishopric from Uexküll to Riga, extorting agreement to do this from the elders of Riga by force.<ref name="BilmanisLIS"/><!-- FA pass done through here/pjv -->

=== Under Bishop Albert ===
[[File:METTIG(1897) p046 URKUNDE VON 1226 DES BISCHOFS VON MODENA.jpg|thumb|left|185px|Document with the seals of the Livonian Brothers of the Sword and the city of Riga, 1226]]
The year 1201 also marked the first arrival of German merchants in Novgorod, via the Dvina.<ref name="PDIntBus">Dollinger, P. ''The Emergence of International Business 1200–1800'', 1964; translated Macmillan and Co edition, 1970</ref> To defend territory<ref name="RRiga">Reiner et al. ''Riga''. Lorenzo Pigni. 1999.</ref> and trade, Albert established the [[Livonian Brothers of the Sword|Order of Livonian Brothers of the Sword]] in 1202, which was open to nobles and merchants.<ref name=PDIntBus/>

The Christianisation of the Livs continued. In 1207, Albert started to fortify the town.<ref name=PDIntBus/><ref name="ORZarina">Zarina, D. ''Old Riga: Tourist Guide'', Spriditis, 1992</ref> [[Philip of Swabia|King Philip]] invested Albert with Livonia as a fief<ref name="HistChristCh">Moeller et al. History of the Christian Church. MacMillan & Co. 1893.</ref> and principality of the [[Holy Roman Empire]].<ref name=BilmanisLIS/> To promote a permanent military presence, territorial ownership was divided between the Church and the ''Order'', with the Church taking Riga and two-thirds of all lands conquered and granting the ''Order'' a third.<ref name="ACQRxlvi">Palmieri, A. ''Catholic Origin of Latvia'', ed. Cororan, J.A. et al. ''The American Catholic Quarterly Review'', Volume XLVI, January–October 1921. Philadelphia.</ref> Until then, it had been customary for crusaders to serve for a year and then return home.<ref name=ACQRxlvi/>

Albert had ensured Riga's commercial future by obtaining papal bulls which decreed that all German merchants had to carry on their Baltic trade through Riga.<ref name=ACQRxlvi/> In 1211, Riga minted its first coinage,<ref name=BilmanisLIS/> and Albert laid the cornerstone for the [[Riga Cathedral|Riga Dom]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.doms.lv/info/?mnu_id=50|title= Doma vēsture (history)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705161605/http://www.doms.lv/info/?mnu_id=50 |archive-date=5 July 2010|access-date= 29 July 2009}}</ref> Riga was not yet secure as an alliance of tribes failed to take Riga.<ref name=ACQRxlvi/> In 1212, Albert led a campaign to compel [[Polotsk]] to grant German merchants free river passage.<ref name=PDIntBus/> Polotsk conceded Kukenois ([[Koknese]]) and [[Principality of Jersika|Jersika]] to Albert, also ending the Livs' tribute to Polotsk.<ref name="MedChronV">Kooper, E. ''The Medieval Chronicle'' V. Radopi, 2008.</ref>

Riga's merchant citizenry chafed and sought greater autonomy from the Church. In 1221, they acquired the right to independently self-administer Riga<ref name=RRiga/> and adopted a city constitution.<ref name="CTHW">Wright, C.T.H. ''The Edinburgh Review'', ''The Letts'', 1917</ref>

That same year Albert was compelled to recognise Danish rule over lands they had conquered in Estonia and Livonia.<ref name="CCBF">Murray, A., ''Crusade and Conversion on the Baltic Frontier, 1150–1500''. Ashgate, London. 2001.</ref> Albert had sought the aid of [[Valdemar II of Denmark|King Valdemar of Denmark]] to protect Riga and Livonian lands against Liv insurrection when reinforcements could not reach Riga. The Danes landed in Livonia, built a fortress at Reval ([[Tallinn]]) and set about conquering Estonian and Livonian lands. The Germans attempted, but failed, to assassinate Valdemar.<ref name="EccRevLVI">"The Ecclesiastical Review", Vol. LVI. ''American Ecclesiastical Review''. Dolphin Press. 1917.</ref> Albert was able to reach an accommodation with them a year later, however, and in 1222 Valdemar returned all Livonian lands and possessions to Albert's control.<ref name="PandBC">Fonnesberg-Schmidt, I. ''The Popes and the Baltic Crusades, 1147–1254''. Brill. 2006.</ref>

Albert's difficulties with Riga's citizenry continued; with papal intervention, a settlement was reached in 1225 whereby they no longer had to pay tax to the Bishop of Riga,<ref name="LatEnc">Švābe, A., ed. Latvju Enciklopēdija. Trīs Zvaigznes, Stockholm. 1953–1955 (in Latvian)</ref> and Riga's citizens acquired the right to elect their magistrates and town councillors.<ref name=LatEnc/> In 1226, Albert consecrated the Dom Cathedral,<ref name=BilmanisLIS/> built [[St. James's Cathedral, Riga|St. James's Church]],<ref name=BilmanisLIS/> (now a cathedral) and founded a parochial school at the Church of St. George.<ref name=EMA/>

In 1227, Albert conquered Oesel<ref name="FletcherCoEPC">Fletcher, R.A., ''The Conversion of Europe: From Paganism to Christianity, 371–1386AD''. Harper Collins. 1991.</ref> and the city of Riga concluded a treaty with the [[Principality of Smolensk]] giving Polotsk to Riga.<ref name="HfT1888">Michell, Thomas. ''Handbook for Travelers in Russia, Poland, and Finland''. London, John Murray, 1888.</ref>

Albert died in January 1229.<ref name="FonnesbergPaBC">Fonnesberg-Schmidt, I., ''The Popes and the Baltic Crusades, 1147–1254''. Brill, 2007</ref> He failed in his aspiration to be anointed archbishop<ref name=HistChristCh/> but the German hegemony he established over the Livonia would last for seven centuries.<ref name=ACQRxlvi/>

=== Hanseatic League ===
In 1282, Riga became a member of the [[Hanseatic League]]. The Hansa was instrumental in giving Riga economic and political stability, thus providing the city with a strong foundation which endured the political conflagrations that were to come, down to modern times.

=== Holy Roman Empire, Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Swedish and Russian Empires ===
[[File:Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 10.JPG|thumb|left|The [[House of the Blackheads (Riga)|building of the Brotherhood of Blackheads]] is one of the most iconic buildings of Old Riga ([[Vecrīga]]).]]
[[File:Riga 1612 panorama by Heinrich Thum.jpg|thumb|left|View of Riga from 1612, printed by [[Nikolaus Mollyn]], the first [[Printer (publishing)|book printer]] of the city.]]
[[File:Riga 1650.jpg|thumb|left|Riga in 1650. Drawing by [[Johann Christoph Brotze]].]]
[[File:Map of Riga (around 1710).tif|thumb|Map of Riga (around 1710)]]
As the influence of the Hanseatic League waned, Riga became the object of foreign military, political, religious and economic aspirations. Riga accepted the [[Reformation]] in 1522, ending the power of the archbishops. In 1524, [[iconoclast]]s during [[Iconoclast riots (Livonia)|iconoclast riots]] targeted a statue of the [[Virgin Mary]] in the cathedral to make a statement against religious icons. It was accused of being a witch, and given a [[Trial by ordeal|trial by water]] in the [[Daugava]] river. The statue floated, so it was denounced as a witch and burnt at Kubsberg.<ref name="fn_1">{{cite book|last=MacCulloch|first=Diarmaid|author-link=Diarmaid MacCulloch|title=The Reformation: A History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rE7uAAAAMAAJ|year=2003|publisher=Penguin|page = 150|isbn=978-0-670-03296-9|access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref> With the demise of the [[Livonian Order]] (1561) during the [[Livonian War]], Riga for twenty years had the status of a [[free imperial city]] of the [[Holy Roman Empire]] before it came under the influence of the [[Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth]] by the [[Treaty of Drohiczyn]], which ended the war for Riga in 1581. In 1621, during the [[Polish–Swedish War (1621–1625)]], Riga and the outlying fortress of [[Daugavgrīva]] came under the rule of [[Gustavus Adolphus]], [[King of Sweden]], who intervened in the [[Thirty Years' War]] not only for political and economic gain but also in favour of German [[Lutheran]] [[Protestantism]]. During the [[Russo-Swedish War (1656–1658)]], Riga withstood a siege by Russian forces.

Riga remained one of the largest cities under the Swedish crown until 1710,<ref>The Dynamics of Economic Culture in the North Sea and Baltic Region. Uitgeverij Verloren, 2007. {{ISBN|9789065508829}}. P. 242.</ref> a period during which the city retained a great deal of autonomous self-government. In July 1701, during the opening phase of the [[Great Northern War]], the ''[[Crossing of the Düna]]'' took place nearby, resulting in a victory for king [[Charles XII of Sweden]]. Between November 1709 and June 1710, however, the Russians under [[Tsar]] [[Peter the Great]] [[Capitulation of Estonia and Livonia|besieged and captured Riga]], which was at the time [[The plague during the Great Northern War#Lithuania, Livonia, Estonia|struck by a plague]]. Along with the other Livonian towns and gentry, [[Capitulation of Estonia and Livonia|Riga capitulated to Russia]], but largely retained their privileges. Riga was made the capital of the [[Governorate of Livonia|Governorate of Riga (later, Livonia)]]. [[Swedish Empire|Sweden's northern dominance]] had ended, and Russia's [[Russian Empire|emergence as the strongest Northern power]] was formalised through the [[Treaty of Nystad]] in 1721. At the beginning of the 20th century Riga was the largest{{Dubious|date=December 2020}} timber export port in the Russian Empire and ranked the 3rd{{When|date=December 2020}} according to the external trade volume.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Port Riga over nine Centuries|url=http://rop.lv/en/about-port/history.html?showall=1&limitstart=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408153815/http://rop.lv/en/about-port/history.html?showall=1&limitstart=|archive-date=8 April 2016|publisher=Freeport of Riga Authority}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Riga {{!}} History, Population, & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Riga|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125023447/https://www.britannica.com/place/Riga|url-status=live}}</ref>

During these many centuries of war and changes of power in the Baltic, and despite demographic changes, the [[Baltic Germans]] in Riga had maintained a dominant position. By 1867, Riga's population was 42.9% German.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.history-museum.lv/english/pages/par-mums/muzeja-vesture.php|title=National History Museum of Latvia|work=history-museum.lv|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924030429/http://www.history-museum.lv/english/pages/par-mums/muzeja-vesture.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Riga employed German as its [[official language]] of administration until the installation of Russian in 1891 as the official language in the [[Baltic provinces]], as part of the policy of [[Russification]] of the non-Russian-speaking territories of the Russian Empire, including [[Congress Poland]], Finland and the Baltics, undertaken by [[Tsar Alexander III]]. More and more Latvians started moving to the city during the mid-19th century. The rise of a Latvian [[bourgeoisie]] made Riga a centre of the [[Latvian National Awakening]] with the founding of the Riga Latvian Association in 1868 and the organisation of the first national song festival in 1873. In 1897, Riga was the sixth largest city in the Russian Empire.<ref name=beable1919>{{Citation |publisher = Russian Outlook |author=William Henry Beable |date = 1919 |location = London |title = Russian Gazetteer and Guide |via=Hathi Trust |chapter= Governments or Provinces of the Former Russian Empire |hdl=2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t56d5rp04?urlappend=%3Bseq=26 |chapter-url= http://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t56d5rp04?urlappend=%3Bseq=26 }}</ref> The nationalist movement of the [[Young Latvians|Neo-Latvians]] was followed by the socialist [[New Current]] during the city's rapid industrialisation, culminating in the [[1905 Russian Revolution|1905 Revolution]] led by the [[Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party]].

=== World War I ===
[[File:Baltische Post 25 October 1908.jpg|thumb|right|''Baltische Post'' (written with [[long s]]) was a German language newspaper in Riga during the early 20th century.]]
[[File:German troops Riga 1917.jpg|thumb|German troops entering Riga during World War I]]
The 20th century brought [[World War I]] and the impact of the [[Russian Revolution]] of 1917 to Riga. As a result of the [[battle of Jugla]], the [[Imperial German Army|German army]] marched into Riga on 3 September 1917.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Russian_Battery/Retirement_01.htm |title=Russian Retreat 1917 |publisher=Greatwardifferent.com |access-date=16 September 2011 |archive-date=18 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618041140/http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Russian_Battery/Retirement_01.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> On 3 March 1918, the [[Treaty of Brest-Litovsk]] was signed, giving the [[Baltic countries]] to Germany. Because of the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|armistice with Germany]] of 11 November 1918, Germany had to renounce that treaty, as did Russia, leaving Latvia and the other Baltic States in a position to claim independence. Latvia, with Riga as its capital city, thus declared its independence on 18 November 1918. Between World War I and World War II (1918–1940), Riga and Latvia shifted their focus from Russia to the countries of Western Europe. The United Kingdom and Germany replaced Russia as Latvia's major trade partners. The majority of the Baltic Germans [[Nazi–Soviet population transfers|were resettled in late 1939]], prior to the occupation of Estonia and Latvia by the Soviet Union in June 1940.

=== World War II and Soviet era ===
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2024}}
[[File:Damaged buildings of the Riga Old Town and St. Peter's Church during the World War II, 1939-1945.jpg|thumb|Damaged [[House of the Blackheads (Riga)|House of the Blackheads]] and [[St. Peter's Church, Riga|St. Peter's Church]] during World War II]]
During [[World War II]], Latvia was occupied by the [[Soviet Union]] in June 1940 and then was occupied by [[German occupation of Latvia during World War II|Nazi Germany in 1941–1944]]. On 17 June 1940, the Soviet forces invaded Latvia occupying bridges, post/telephone, telegraph, and broadcasting offices. Three days later, Latvian president [[Kārlis Ulmanis]] was forced to approve a pro-Soviet government which had taken office. On 14–15 July, rigged elections were held in Latvia and the other Baltic states, The ballots held the following instructions: "Only the list of the [[Latvian Working People's Bloc]] must be deposited in the ballot box. The ballot must be deposited without any changes." The alleged voter activity index was 97.6%. Most notably, the complete election results were published in Moscow 12 hours before the election closed. Soviet electoral documents found later substantiated that the results were completely fabricated. The Soviet authorities, having regained control over Riga and Latvia imposed a regime of terror, opening the headquarters of the [[KGB]], massive deportations started. Hundreds of men were arrested, including leaders of the former Latvian government. The most notorious deportation, the [[June deportation]] took place on 13 and 14 June 1941, estimated at 15,600 men, women, and children, and including 20% of Latvia's last legal government. Similar deportations were repeated after the end of World War II. The building of the KGB located at 61 [[Brīvības iela]], known as 'the corner house', is now a museum. Stalin's deportations also included thousands of Latvian Jews. The mass deportation totalled 131,500 across the Baltics.

During the Nazi occupation, the [[History of the Jews in Latvia|Jewish community]] was forced into the [[Riga Ghetto]] and a [[Nazi concentration camp]] was constructed in [[Kaiserwald concentration camp|Kaiserwald]]. On 25 October 1941, the Nazis relocated all Jews from Riga and the vicinity to the ghetto. Most of Latvia's Jews (about 24,000) were killed on 30 November and 8 December 1941 in the [[Rumbula massacre]].<ref>Ezergailis, ''The Holocaust in Latvia'', p. 348</ref> By the end of the war, the remaining [[Baltic Germans]] were [[Flight and expulsion of Germans (1944–1950)#Soviet Union|expelled to Germany]].

[[File:Red Army soldiers in Riga. October 1944.jpg|thumb|Soldiers of the [[Soviet re-occupation of the Baltic states (1944)|Soviet]] [[Red Army]] in front of the [[Freedom Monument]] in Riga in 1944]]
The Soviet Red Army reconquered Riga on 13 October 1944. In the following years the massive influx of labourers, administrators, military personnel, and their dependents from Russia and other Soviet republics started. [[Microdistrict]]s of the large multi-storied housing blocks were built to house immigrant workers.

By the end of World War II, [[Vecrīga|Riga's historical centre]] was heavily damaged from constant bombing. After the war, huge efforts were made to reconstruct and renovate most of the famous buildings that had been part of the skyline of the city before the war. Such buildings were, amongst others, [[St. Peter's Church, Riga|St. Peter's Church]] which lost its wooden tower after a fire caused by the [[Wehrmacht]] (renovated in 1954). Another example is the [[House of the Blackheads (Riga)|House of the Blackheads]], completely destroyed, its ruins subsequently demolished; a [[facsimile]] was constructed in 1995.

In 1989, the percentage of Latvians in Riga had fallen to 36.5%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/statistikas-temas/population-database-30625.html|title=Population – Database|work=csb.gov.lv|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221072849/http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/statistikas-temas/population-database-30625.html|archive-date=21 February 2012}}</ref>

=== 21st century ===
[[File:Ministru prezidents Valdis Dombrovskis noliek ziedus pie Brīvības pieminekļa (7141677177).jpg|thumb|Flower laying ceremony at the [[Freedom Monument]] in 2012]]
In 2004, the arrival of [[low-cost airline]]s resulted in cheaper flights from other European cities such as London and Berlin, and consequently a substantial increase in numbers of tourists.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/4633647.stm|work=BBC News|title=Latvia prepares for a tourist invasion|first=Jonathan|last=Charles|access-date=2 August 2007|date=30 June 2005|archive-date=8 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408135100/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/4633647.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 21 November 2013, the [[Zolitūde shopping centre roof collapse|roof of a supermarket collapsed]] in [[Zolitūde]], one of the neighbourhoods of the city, possibly as a result of the weight of materials used in the construction of a garden on the roof. Fifty-four people were killed. Latvian President [[Andris Bērziņš (Latvian President)|Andris Bērziņš]] described the disaster as "a large-scale murder of many defenceless people".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25069947|title=Remaining Riga mall roof caves in|work=BBC News|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101113813/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25069947|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:View from Latvian Academy of Sciences building.09.jpg|thumb|Modern highrises of Riga]]
Riga was the [[European Capital of Culture]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riga.com/|title=Riga, Latvia|work=riga.com|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=8 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208085353/http://riga.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> During Latvia's [[Presidency of the Council of the European Union]] in 2015, the 4th [[Eastern Partnership]] Summit took place in Riga.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2015/05/21-22/|title=Eastern Partnership summit, Riga, 21-22/05/2015|work=European Council|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215154659/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2015/05/21-22/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the [[Saeima]] voted to suspend the functioning of a section of an agreement between Latvia and Russia regarding the preservation of memorial structures on 12 May,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/saeima-decides-to-legally-allow-soviet-monument-demolition.a456417/ |title=Saeima decides to legally allow Soviet monument demolition |date=12 May 2022 |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]] |accessdate=12 May 2022 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512093818/https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/saeima-decides-to-legally-allow-soviet-monument-demolition.a456417/ |url-status=live }}</ref> in the next day the [[Riga City Council]] also voted to demolish the [[Monument to the Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga from the German Fascist Invaders]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://bnn-news.com/riga-city-council-votes-in-favour-of-demolition-of-occupation-monument-234717 |title=Riga City Council votes in favour of demolition of "Occupation monument" |date=13 May 2022 |publisher=[[Baltic News Network]] |agency=[[LETA]] |accessdate=26 August 2022 |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004141539/https://bnn-news.com/riga-city-council-votes-in-favour-of-demolition-of-occupation-monument-234717 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 20 May, a rally called "Getting Rid of Soviet Heritage" took place in Riga to call for removing Soviet monuments in Latvia, it was attended by approximately 5,000 people.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/thousands-turn-out-to-support-removal-of-soviet-relics.a457795/ |title=Thousands turn out to support removal of Soviet relics |date=20 May 2022 |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]] |agency=[[LETA]] |access-date=9 April 2023 |archive-date=6 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006221037/https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/thousands-turn-out-to-support-removal-of-soviet-relics.a457795/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The demolition began 22 August 2022 and on 25 August 2022, the obelisk was toppled.<ref name="Demolition">{{cite news |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/demolition-of-soviet-victory-monument-in-riga.a470869 |title=Demolition of Soviet Victory monument in Rīga |date=25 August 2022 |publisher=[[Public Broadcasting of Latvia]] |accessdate=25 August 2022 |archive-date=25 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825163700/https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/demolition-of-soviet-victory-monument-in-riga.a470869/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Demolition (2)">{{cite news |url=https://bnn-news.com/video-79-m-tall-obelisk-of-soviet-victory-monument-toppled-in-pardaugava-237651 |title=79 m tall obelisk of Soviet Victory Monument toppled in Pārdaugava |date=26 August 2022 |publisher=[[Baltic News Network]] |accessdate=26 August 2022 |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826074105/https://bnn-news.com/video-79-m-tall-obelisk-of-soviet-victory-monument-toppled-in-pardaugava-237651 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Demolition (3)">{{cite news |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/largest_soviet_monument_in_baltics_dismantled_in_riga/ |title=Largest Soviet monument in Baltics dismantled in Riga |date=26 August 2022 |newspaper=[[The Baltic Times]] |accessdate=26 August 2022 |archive-date=27 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827233708/https://www.baltictimes.com/largest_soviet_monument_in_baltics_dismantled_in_riga/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, after the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], the street on which the Embassy of the Russian Federation is located was renamed "Independent Ukraine Street".<ref>{{Cite news |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=2022-03-10 |title=Lithuania names road leading to Russian embassy 'Ukrainian Heroes' Street' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/10/lithuania-names-road-leading-to-russian-embassy-ukrainian-heroes-street |access-date=2023-04-15 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=10 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710185212/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/10/lithuania-names-road-leading-to-russian-embassy-ukrainian-heroes-street |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Embassy of Russia · Antonijas iela 2, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Embassy+of+Russia/@56.9571165,24.1072606,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x46eecfc54442965f:0x50bbd3520f77aab!8m2!3d56.9566441!4d24.1084703!16s/g/11f0wp_dpj?hl=en |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=Embassy of Russia · Antonijas iela 2, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia |language=en |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415050756/https://www.google.com/maps/place/Embassy+of+Russia/@56.9571165,24.1072606,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x46eecfc54442965f:0x50bbd3520f77aab!8m2!3d56.9566441!4d24.1084703!16s/g/11f0wp_dpj?hl=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

Despite legal changes, problems have arisen in the city in relation to large construction and reconstruction projects with developers increasingly looking for opportunities to use underground spaces. While this opens up the possibility for new archaeological research to be undertaken, it is decreasing in situ archaeological preservation.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Zirne|first1=S|last2=Lūsēna|first2=E|title=Archaeological Heritage in the Historic Centre of Riga: Status, Management, Development|journal=Internet Archaeology|date=2025|issue=70|doi=10.11141/ia.70.4|doi-access=free|url=https://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue70/4/index.html}}</ref>