Jānis Vagris

Jānis Vagris (17 October 1930 – 6 January 2023[1]) was a Latvian politician. He served as the sixth Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic from 1985 to 1988, and as Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Latvia from 1988 to 1990.

Jānis Vagris
Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic
In office
22 June 1985 – 6 October 1988
Preceded byPēteris Strautmanis
Succeeded byAnatolijs Gorbunovs
First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Latvia
In office
4 October 1988 – 7 April 1990
Preceded byBoris Pugo
Succeeded byAlfrēds Rubiks
Personal details
Born(1930-10-17)17 October 1930
Naudīte Parish, Latvia
Died6 January 2023(2023-01-06) (aged 92)
Political partyCommunist Party of the Soviet Union
Alma materUniversity of Latvia
OccupationPolitician, engineer

Early life

Jānis Vagris was born on 17 October 1930 in Naudītes Parish,[2] which is located in Latvia. He pursued his higher education at the University of Latvia, where he graduated from the Faculty of Mechanics. Additionally, Vagris attended the Higher Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, completing his studies there in 1955. These educational experiences likely provided him with a solid foundation in mechanics and political ideology, which would later contribute to his career in politics.

Career

Vagris then worked as an engineer at a factory in Jelgava. During this time, Vagris also served as the deputy chairman of the executive committee of the city.[2][3] Vagris joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1958.[4] From 1966 to 1973, Vagris was the first and second secretary of the Liepājā city committee,[2] after which he joined the Communist Party of Latvia.[4]

In 1978, Vagris was appointed as the first secretary of the Riga city committee.[4] On 20 August 1985, he became the sixth chairmen of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic. On 4 October 1988, Vagris was promoted to the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Latvia.[5] He made a speech at the Mežaparks Great Bandstand, three days before the Popular Front of Latvia's first congress.[2][6] In 1989, Vagris was elected to the Congress of People's Deputies of the Soviet Union. On 7 April 1990, Vagris was succeeded by Alfrēds Rubiks as secretary.[5] In later evaluations, Vagris' role during the revival was revealed to be ambiguous.[7]

Death

Vagris died on 6 January 2023, at the age of 92.[8]

Awards

References
  1. "Mūžībā devies bijušais LKP CK pirmais sekretārs Jānis Vagris" [Jānis Vagris, the former first secretary of the Central Committee of the LKP, has passed away]. nra.lv (in Latvian). 16 January 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  2. "20 pamanāmākie XX gadsimta Liepājas sabiedriski politiskie darbinieki" [The 20 most prominent social and political workers of Liepāja in the 20th century]. media.lv (in Latvian). Archived from the original on 11 February 2008. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
  3. "250462 - Barikadopēdija" [250462 - Barricadopedia]. www.barikadopedija.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  4. "ВАГРИС Ян Янович" [VAGRYS Yan Yanovych]. labyrinth.ru (in Russian).
  5. "Soviet republics". rulers.org.
  6. Sprūde, Viesturs (7 October 2018). "1988. gada 7. oktobrī. Jānis Vagris: Neko sliktu latviešu tautai neesmu darījis" [October 7, 1988. Jānis Vagris: I have not done anything bad to the Latvian people]. LA.LV (in Latvian). Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  7. Sprūde, Viesturs (18 October 2010). "Bijušajam LKP CK 1. sekretāram Jānim Vagrim aprit 80 gadi" [The former 1st secretary of the LKP Central Committee Jānis Vagri turns 80 years old]. delfi.lv (in Latvian). Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  8. Seržants, Kārlis (15 January 2023). "Mūžībā devies bijušais LKP CK pirmais sekretārs Jānis Vagris" [Jānis Vagris, the former first secretary of the Central Committee of the LKP, has passed away]. Jauns. Retrieved 29 April 2023.
  9. "Triju zvaigžņu ordeni piešķir juristiem, mediķiem, diplomātiem, pedagogiem un politiķiem" [The three-star order is awarded to lawyers, doctors, diplomats, educators and politicians]. delfi.lv (in Latvian). 14 April 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
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