15.sējums - Valsts prezidenta kanceleja

Ritvars Jansons. Latvijas PSR drošības iestāžu vēstures pētīšanas rezultāti un perspektīvas
Concerning possibilities of making use of historical sources, intensity and the results of
research on the history of the KGB of the LSSR, it could be divided into three periods.
1. Research from 1990 till 1994, when historical works, based on the studies of KGB documents,
were not published yet.
2. Research from 1994 till 1998, which is characterised by studies of the documents of state
security institutions.
3. Research since 1998, when investigation was intensified by activities of the Commission
of the Historians of Latvia, which promoted publishing of well-grounded studies and articles,
as well as collected articles.
The first period. During the first period, in the beginning of the 1990s, research on the
history of state security institutions was in the very beginning. Many of historians in their
research refer to the activities of security institutions, but without deeper and detailed insight
into them. Consequently this kind of research usually lacks analysis of aims, methods and
activities of state security institutions.
The second period. New challenge in historical research was faced, when the documents
of the KGB of the USSR became available for researchers. Thus scientific work reached a
new stage of development.
In 1991–1992, the State Archives of Latvia took possession of the filtration documents of
the citizens of the LSSR, created by the KGB of the LSSR (64 000 units), files about persons
who left for abroad (120 000 index-cards), files on Combatant batallion of the KGB of the
LSSR, files of combatants and other. These documents were a new and valuable source for
research on the period of Communist occupation. Nevertheless, their contents, likewise the
vast majority of other historical documents, motivated researchers to develop more critical
approach and analysis.
In 1999, many research works, based on the documents of the KGB of the LSSR, were
published by Latvian historians such as Tālivaldis Vilciņš, Heinrihs Strods, Aivars Beika,
Andrejs Dītrihs Lēbers, Indulis Zālīte.
The third period. Since 1998, when the Commission of the Historians of Latvia had begun
its activities, research on the history of the LSSR state security institutions tended to become
more intensive. Historians had a chance to publish their research in the Collected Works of
the Commission, to participate in international conferences.
In 2000, the above Commission supported scientific works of Irēne Šneidere, Ēriks
Jēkabsons, Ainars Bambals, Ainars Lerhis, Aldis Bergmanis, Ritvars Jansons, Indulis Zālīte,
Daina Bleiere, Heinrihs Strods.
In 2001, scientific works of Irēne Šneidere, Inese Dreimane, Zigmārs Turčinskis, Daina
Bleiere were published with the help of the above Commission. Many of Latvian historians
have devoted their analyses to activities of state security institutions. Many of reports dealt
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