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On 29 July, Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Audronius Ažubalis signed a letter to Austria‘s foreign minister Michael Spindelegger, thanking the counterpart for his statements and reminding about the reasons for which Lithuania does not consider them as arguments.European Union’s Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding and all EU foreign ministers will be informed about the contents of this letter. The letters to them are sent together with a documentary film and a book about the events of 13th of January 1991.

The letter by Minister A.Ažubalis to Minister M.Spindelegger reads that Austria had to follow not only its national law but also the EU legislation when solving the issue of the suspect in the January 13th case Mikhail Golovatov. It also states that the release of the suspect in less than 24 hours infringes the European Convention on Extradition.

In his letter, Minister A.Ažubalis expresses trust that the joint Lithuanian and Austrian working group will succeed in examining all the details related to the event at an earliest possible date. The Minister also notes that a selective approach towards the application of the EU rights and norms contradicts the fundamental principle of the EU law, i.e. sincere co-operation.

The documentary that is sent together with the letter depicts the events of the 13th of January night, it is subtitled in English, German and Russian. The book “January 13th. A Stand for Freedom” presents photographs, the most important documents in the Lithuanian and English languages, chronology of the essential events in January 1991. The major part of these events took place on January 13th, in the book they are listed hour-by-hour. 

“It is not yet known to every European, how Lithuania withstood the aggression in 1991 while fighting for the preservation of the country’s independence that had been recognized in 1990. Even less it is known what emotional load the bloody January 13th is bearing. I hope that the book and the film will refresh the memory of my European colleagues”, the Minister says.

Minister A.Ažubalis also emphasizes that Lithuania remembers well the support of Austria for the country’s struggle to restore the independence in 1991.  He urges to distinguish between a long-term partnership and the search of truth in specific juridical situations.

“Today in the first place Lithuania has tasks to find out why Austria ignored the EU law, to take care that Austria’s actions receive appropriate evaluation in the whole of the EU and to ensure that the EU learns well this lesson of the lack of solidarity. Learning from mistakes should strengthen and bring the EU partners closer together. In this context, the protection of Lithuania’s interest is also the struggle for the European Union and its values”, Minister A.Ažubalis said.