Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is surprised by the statement of the Russian MFA that accuses Lithuania of having more than once distorted historical facts, especially as this statement was made on the eve of the day which is dedicated to honouring the dead.  Lithuania, as a sovereign state, has a right to write the country’s history, research and evaluate crimes committed by totalitarian regimes in the 20th century.

The statement was made by Russian diplomats after the first memorial stone was erected next to the partisan bunker in Šilutė region. 

Nobody in Lithuania doubts that participants of the post-war resistance movement struggled for freedom and that their struggle was based on the belief that democratic states would help regain the country’s independence. Therefore, their remembrance will be further perpetuated and the memory of the victims of war and of resistance fighters will be duly honoured.

On 30 October, Russia honoured the victims of the Communist totalitarian regime and the suffering of the Russian people under this regime. Therefore, Russia’s public accusations and repeated attempts to tarnish the resistance fighters by calling them collaborators proves once again that the representatives of Russia are still applying double standards and are reluctant to recognize historical facts.