Occupation of the Latvian Republic Day is observed in Latvia every June 17, commemorating the Soviet invasion of Latvia in 1940. This date marks the beginning of the Soviet occupation, which resulted in the liquidation or replacement of state administrators, the deportation or killing of over 34,000 Latvians, and Latvia's incorporation into the Soviet Union. The day became an official memorial day on May 18, 2000, following its adoption by the Latvian parliament, the Saiema, and proclamation by the President. The observance serves as a remembrance of the tragic events that unfolded due to the Soviet-Latvian Mutual Assistance Treaty and the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact, which established Soviet influence over Latvia.