Former Latvian Supreme Council Deputy Juris Karlsons Dies at 80

Juris Karlsons, a former deputy of the Supreme Council of Latvia and a notable figure in the nation's independence movement, has died at the age of 80. His passing was announced on July 21st by Velta Čebotarenoka, head of the "Declaration Club of May 4th."

Born in Riga on June 1, 1946, Karlsons became actively involved in the Latvian National Independence Movement (LNNK) and the Popular Front of Latvia during the "Singing Revolution" era. In March 1990, he was elected as a deputy to the Supreme Council, where he cast a crucial vote in favor of restoring Latvia's independence.

During his tenure in the Supreme Council, Karlsons served as the deputy chairman of the Trade and Services Commission and was a member of the Joint Budget Commission. Following the council's dissolution, he transitioned to the business sector, serving as vice-president of AS "Latvijas Unibanka" from 1993 to 1994.

Karlsons continued his public service as a deputy of the Riga City Council and held positions within enterprises connected to the Riga municipality. For many years, he also led the association "Declaration Club of May 4th." His contributions spanned political, economic, and social spheres throughout Latvia's post-independence period.