Former USSR Navy Base Karosta – past and present as seen by the Liepaja SEZ CEO Uldis Hmieļevskis

On 17 May at 15:00, at the Liepaja Occupation Museum at 7, the Liepaja SEZ CEO Uldis Hmieļevskis will share his narrative on the former Soviet Navy Base Karosta (“war port” in Latvian) – its past, rebirth and transformation. The event has been organized within the framework of the exhibition “The Soviet Occupation Heritage in Karosta”.

Even though Karosta is part of the City of Liepaja, it was originally built as an autonomous area particularly for the needs of militaries with its own infrastructure, electric power station, water supply system, church, and schools - by the order of the Tsar of Russia Alexander III, construction of an extensive fortress and military town began in 1890. In the mid-90s of the last century the Soviets withdrew their troops from Liepaja, leaving behind extremely degraded territories and damaged infrastructure.  Karosta became largely uninhabited, and most structures fell to ruin and the former military base earned a reputation as a dangerous neighborhood, plagued by petty crime and smuggling. So, the task was to integrate Karosta into the civilian environment, preserving and respecting its cultural and historical heritage when developing industry and creating jobs.

World War I and World War II caused a lot of damage to Karosta; however, the Soviet occupation traces can be felt even today, despite that the area has undergone significant improvements in the course of years. For 30 years, Karosta is no longer a closed military territory, but an attractive part of Liepaja with its unfading charm. Today, Karosta is a popular place for tourists and artists, who are attracted to its historical sites, such as, for instance, the scenic seascapes with partially blasted fortresses on the Baltic shore. The modern Karosta has a peculiar blend of military brutality and ornate end-of-19th century architecture that is at the same time suitable for a civil and modern life as well as for business.