Jānis Cīrulis (6 October 1938 – 11 June 2024), better known by the pseudonym Alberts Bels, was a Latvian writer.

Biography

Alberts Bels studied

electrical engineering Electrical engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the study, design, and application of equipment, devices, and systems that use electricity, electronics, and electromagnetism. It emerged as an identifiable occupation in the l ...

during the 1950s and also attended the Moscow Circus Art School. From 1963 he was active as a full-time writer. His first novel was published in 1967. His work has been described as psychologically rich fiction and several of his books have been adapted as films. He was also politically active and one of his novels was

censored Censorship is the suppression of speech, public communication, or other information. This may be done on the basis that such material is considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or "inconvenient". Censorship can be conducted by governmen ...

by the

Soviet authorities The Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) was the executive and administrative organ of the highest body of state authority, the All-Union Supreme Soviet. It was formed on 30 December 1922 and abolished on 26 December 199 ...

during the 1960s. He was a member of the

Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia The Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia (Latvian: Latvijas Republikas Augstākā Padome) was the transitional parliament of Latvia from 1990 to 1993, after the restoration of independence. The Supreme Council was elected on 1990 as the S ...

and was awarded the

Commemorative Medal for Participants of the Barricades of 1991 The Commemorative Medal for Participants of the Barricades of 1991 () is a Latvian state award given to people who participated in or supported the actions of those who took part in the defense of Latvia against forces loyal to the Soviet Union du ...

, an award given to those who participated in the confrontation with Soviet forces in 1991 known as

The Barricades The Barricades () were a series of confrontations between the Republic of Latvia and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in January 1991 which took place mainly in Riga. The events are named for the popular effort of building and protecting ...

. He was an honorary member of the

Latvian Academy of Sciences The Latvian Academy of Sciences (, ) is the official science academy of Latvia and is an association of the country's foremost scientists. The academy was founded as the ''Latvian SSR Academy of Sciences'' (). It is located in Riga. The curren ...

and was awarded the

Order of the Three Stars Order of the Three Stars () is the highest civilian order awarded for meritorious service to Latvia. It was established in 1924 in remembrance of the founding of Latvia. Its motto is ''Per aspera ad astra'', meaning "Through hardships towards the ...

(3rd class). Bels died on 11 June 2024, at the age of 85.Acclaimed Latvian writer Alberts Bels passes away
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bels, Alberts 1938 births 2024 deaths People from Ropaži Municipality Deputies of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia 20th-century Latvian writers 21st-century Latvian writers 20th-century Latvian male writers 21st-century Latvian male writers 20th-century novelists 21st-century novelists Latvian male writers Latvian novelists Male novelists