Riga, March 25 (LETA) - Only by being aware of the tragedies of the past can similar injustices not be repeated in the future, state officials said by the Latvian Occupation Museum during the speeches at the commemoration of the victims of the communist genocide.

"Every year we look for words to remind ourselves of our past, of our history. How else to tell society and the world that what happened in 1941 and 1949 is something we never want to experience, again" said Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics in his address.

The president remembered the people who died in the Soviet camps and stressed that today's world is also faced with threats that cause anxiety and fear.

"This is understandable, because our history tells us to be careful," Rinkevics said. The president compared what is happening in Ukraine with Latvia's past experience, underlining the need to support Ukraine to defeat the evil.

At the same time, Rinkevics urged people not to lose hope, reminding that Latvia has allies and that its defense capabilities are being strengthened.

"I call on everyone not to be ashamed of the fact that we are afraid, but to do and act so that we are stronger, stronger and stronger to face any aggression," the president said, adding that Latvia will be as strong as the society is strong.

In his address, the Chairman of the Latvian Association of the Victims of Political Repressions, Talis Veismanis, stressed that the aim of the deportations was to destroy our nation. These events were the beginning of long suffering and injustice that affected thousands of families, he said.

"It is our duty today to remember these innocent souls and to remind the world about these crimes. We must not forget the tragedies of the past, because only by acknowledging them and learning from them can we ensure that similar injustices will not be repeated in the future," Veismanis said.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of the victims of the communist genocide. The Latvian national anthem "God Bless Latvia" was also sung.

As reported, on Tuesday, Prime Minister Evika Silina (New Unity), Saeima Speaker Daiga Mieriņa (Greens/Farmers), several Saeima deputies and ministers, as well as Riga Mayor Vilnis Kirsis (New Unity) and his deputy Edvards Ratnieks (National Alliance) came to lay flowers at the memorial Historical Tactile by the Occupation Museum.

This year marks the 76th anniversary of the most extensive deportation of the Baltic states' population to remote regions of the USSR, which took place on March 25-28, 1949. The deportations, secretly known as Operation Coastal Wave, saw almost 43,000 people deported from Latvia.