Agris Kociņš from Zemgale has served as a police officer of a special unit, who received the Order of the Three Stars eight years ago. He was awarded the highest state award as one of the eight Bauska militias who defended the Ministry of the Interior during the OMON attack on January 20, 1991.
Knight of the Order of the Three Stars Agris KociņšMara Rosenberg00:00 / 05:01
—
Arriving at Kociņš ‘apartment in Iecava, Agra’s wife Aija also welcomes you in the hallway and invites you not to be afraid of your family’s favorite Lakija – a cat of great size, who after a while comes out to appear as a guest. Kociņš and I sit in the kitchen and start a conversation as to why he was at the Ministry of the Interior that night in January 1991.
Agris Kociņš is from Zemgale – he once studied at the school in Rundāle Castle, after the army in 1989 he started working in Bauska militia. He was 21 years old during the barricades. “Twenty-one, twenty-two left in March,” he explains.
In January 1991, Bauska militia volunteered to guard the Ministry of the Interior. “I can tell you personally – we were all with epaulette, and we had to make a decision. Well, there is that ministry to defend! This is our ministry, right? So it has to be defended. And we did. We went to Riga voluntarily and defended, ”he says in a certain voice.
In the fateful shift, they were eight. Three members were awarded the Order of the Three Stars already in the 1990s, Agris Kociņš and the other four – only in 2008. “The first orders were given to those who were seriously injured – now the deceased Jānis Jasevičs, Aļģis Simanavičs, Renārs Zaļais,” Kociņš remembers.
Order – also the wife’s merit
He learned about the order he had been given at work. “It was somewhere around noon. I had no idea that I had been awarded the Order, just a colleague called and congratulated me, ”he recalls. A colleague had seen Agra’s name in the official publication “Latvijas Vēstnesis”. At first, it seemed like a joke – 17 years had passed since the barricades in 1991. But already in the 1990s, all the defenders of the Ministry of the Interior had received the recognition of the Ministry of the Interior, therefore there was no bitterness about the Order that had come for so long.
“It was such a small surprise that after so many years the state has appreciated all these events … It was gratifying that the state received the highest award,” admits Kociņš.
He went to receive the order with his wife Aija. They were married only six months before the barricades. “As I always say with humor … No, without humor, seriously – her merit is in it all. Her experiences and everything else. That’s how we went to get together, “he emphasizes.
“Other times they have asked – you were there under the bullets, but give someone else something. I say – it is not necessary to be under the bullets. Logically, it is much different, but people in other areas also make a great contribution to the state. It is such a wide award – you could also receive it together with an athlete, writer, doctor, teacher who has worked and devoted himself for a lifetime. That is why there is already a chapter that evaluates everything, ”says Kociņš.
Finally time for yourself
Kociņš speaks business-like about both the experience he experienced that night on January night and the one he received later. He is an experienced special police officer. “You know, I can’t be surprised anymore,” he laughs. Although he experienced bullets over his head at the age of 21, Kociņš continued to work in the police and worked in leading positions in special units, high-risk operations.
“It simply came to our notice then. I consider myself a fighter in life at all. From the fourth grade I do free fight, I graduated from Murjani Sports School, I was a sports master of the USSR. From the State Police I started in several European and world championships – sambo, judo, free fight. I have only made peace in recent years, ”reveals Kociņš.
Interior structure of the World Championships in sambo in 1997 in Kiev, Ukraine. Agris Kociņš – bronze medal
Photo: Agra Kociņa private archive.
–
–
Last year he retired and for the first time since 1993 he no longer goes from Iecava to work in Riga every morning. Now he builds a family house, is passionate about fishing and hunting. I don’t want to work after work yet.
Free time passion – fishing. Agris with 7 kilograms of carp on the Latgale side.
Photo: Agra Kociņa private archive.
–
–
“I have never had so much free time. Now I can dedicate it to myself, improve something in my life, family, ”he smiles.
When I ask what I would like to change in today’s Latvia, Agris Kociņš is responsible for the familiar home affairs system: he is not satisfied with the unpredictable and changing service pension system. It no longer affects themselves, but it is a pity for new colleagues who do not know what to expect.
Also present in the ruins of Old Riga
Stories of the Order of the Three Stars
–
–
Let’s talk about an event that is well remembered by many – the ruins of January 13, 2009 in Old Riga. “I wasn’t just there. I also commanded there with my officers. The riots in themselves are very serious, ”he sighs. Kociņš estimates that in the current situation he managed to control the crowd relatively quickly. But when the weary came home in the morning, it was not pleasant.
“I think – well, everything is nice that a free Latvia. But if the nation you have fought for throws you bricks … I do not condemn everything, but individual specimens … There was an inner sediment. But I do not call it democracy. I believe it was permissiveness and shamelessness. Democracy is not fought with bricks, bottles and looting, “he says sternly.
Returning to the events of January 1991 and receiving the Order of the Three Stars, Agris Kociņš concludes the conversation with the recognition that he should always fight for his country: “I would recommend to young people: now is their time to approach their country with more responsibility. They must continue to protect and defend it. We haven’t thrown out yet, but … (laughs) Somehow. ”
–
