About The Corner House
The "Corner House" (KGB building)is a beautiful example of architecture from 1911, and a tragic symbol of the Soviet occupation regime in Latvia. The building was home to the "Cheka" - a particularly repressive structure that was one of the pillars of power in the USSR. Its activity in Latvia is closely related to the building at the corner of Brīvības and Stabu streets.
The Corner house was a site of political persecution during the Soviet occupation of Latvia from 1940 to 1941 and again from 1945 to 1991. Tens of thousands of Latvian residents were directly affected by the actions of the Cheka, the Soviet secret police.
Even after the Second World War, the fight against the opponents of Soviet power continued. Cheka's operating methods changed somewhat after Stalin's death. Physical torture was replaced by psychological terror.
Latvians made up the majority of check agents 52%. The second-largest group, at 23.7%, was Russians. Among the agents, 60.3% did not belong to the Communist Party. 26.9% of agents had a college degree.
The check operation techniques in Latvia have not yet been properly investigated. This is because authorities and researchers do not have access to employee directories and service records in Russia. However, the goal of the system is to gain control over society by involving the local populace.
At the Latvian Occupation Museum, you can see an exhibition about the operation of the "check" in Latvia. You can walk through the prison cells, corridors, basement and courtyard with a guide.
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