On September 19 in Washington, D.C., one of the world’s most renowned freedom fighters and advocates of democracy, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and pro-democracy opposition of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi met with Ambassador of Lithuania to the United States Žygimantas Pavilionis and thanked Lithuania for continuous support of the Burmese opposition and democratic reforms in the country.

Aung San Suu Kyi noted the importance of political support during Lithuania’s Presidency of the Community of Democracies in 2009-2011.

According to Pavilionis, Lithuania will continue to support democratic changes in this country in Southeast Asia, primarily as a member of a special working group of the Community of Democracies.

The Ambassador invited Aung San Suu Kyi to visit Lithuania.

The meeting took place at an event which was organised by the International Republican Institute and National Democratic Institute. The event was dedicated to Aung San Suu Kyi, who received the Congressional Gold Medal on September 19.

The Burmese activist, Chairperson of the National League for Democracy was awarded the Congress’ highest civilian honour in 2008 for the commitment to nonviolent resistance against the country’s military junta.

In 1990, Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Sakharov Prize. In 1991, she received the Nobel Peace Prize. The Burmese democracy campaigner has spent more than 15 years in detention and was released from house arrest in 2010.