The Declaration "On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia"[1] (Latvian: Deklarācija par Latvijas Republikas neatkarības atjaunošanu) was adopted on 4 May 1990 by the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian SSR in which Latvia declared independence from the Soviet Union.

It also asserted that the heavily rigged 1940 elections were illegal and unconstitutional, and that all acts of the People's Saeima [lv; ru] chosen at that election–including the request to join the Soviet Union on 21 July 1940–were ipso facto void.

[4] On 23 August 1939, the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany signed the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, which included a secret protocol dividing Eastern Europe into spheres of influence.

[7] The Latvian government decided to give in to the ultimatum and on 17 June 1940, Soviet forces entered Latvia.

[4] On 14–15 July 1940, elections were held for the People's Saeima [lv; ru] (a Soviet-type Latvian parliament).

It also notes that the People's Saeima had no right to liquidate Latvia's sovereignty on its own authority, since the Constitution required that any major change in the form of the state and its political system must be submitted to a national referendum.

[4] The Supreme Council thus took the line that Latvia did not need to follow the secession process outlined in the Soviet Constitution, since the Declaration was reasserting an independence that still legally existed.

[8][9] Secondly it notes Appeal of All-Latvian congress of people deputies of 21 April 1990, which called for restoration of independence.

[4] After establishing that the Republic of Latvia de jure is a sovereign country and that by the will of its people it should be independent, the Supreme Soviet ruled: 1.

To hold to be illegitimate the treaty between the USSR and Germany of 23 August 1939, and the consequent liquidation of independence of Latvia resulting from Soviet military aggression on 17 June 1940.

To proclaim the declaration "On accession of Latvia to Soviet Union" of 21 July 1940, to be void from the moment of adoption.

The territory of the State of Latvia, within the borders established by international agreements, consists of Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme and Zemgale.6.

Article 6 shall be applied when the governmental institutions of independent Latvia have been restored, which grant free elections.

[11] On 4 May 1990, after the declaration was adopted, the Communist Party of Latvia resolved that it was unconstitutional, contained notable contradictions and historical inaccuracies, and noted that such issues should be decided by referendum.

Therefore, the Supreme Council argued, Latvia was not seceding from the Soviet Union, but reasserting an independence that still existed under international law.

The Supreme Council stated that by 28 May 1990, it had received letters and telegrams from 646,726 residents of the Republic supporting the declaration and only 8,993 people had expressed opposition.

[15] On 21 August 1991, during the Soviet coup d'état attempt, the Supreme Council adopted a Constitutional law, "On the statehood of the Republic of Latvia", repealing Article 5 of the Declaration, thus ending the transitional period and restoring de facto independence.