after attacks by the soviet omon on riga in early january, the government called on people to build barricades for protection of possible targets (mainly in the capital city of riga and nearby ulbroka, as well as kuldīga and liepāja). six people were killed in further attacks, several were wounded in shootings or beaten by omon. most victims were shot during the soviet attack on the latvian ministry of the interior on january 20, while another person died in a building accident reinforcing the barricades. the exact number of casualties among the soviet loyalists is unknown. around 32,000 people have received commemorative medal for participants of the barricades of 1991 for the participation or support for the event.