News

On 22 August, on the eve of the European Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Totalitarian Regimes, the square of the Museum of Genocide Victims accommodated a candle lighting ceremony; on this occasion, Linas Linkevičius, Minister of Foreign Affairs, stressed the importance to memorialise the remembrance of the victims in order to prevent repressions in the future.

According to Mr Linkevičius, “It matters to render meaning to the suffering of the victims and to prevent repressions of cruel regimes in the future in Europe and elsewhere. This is particularly relevant to the younger generation. These candles serve as a witness to our strong belief in freedom, democracy and human rights“.

Speakers at the ceremony included Vytautas Landsbergis, Member of the European Parliament, Juozas Bernatonis, Lithuanian Minister of Justice, Tibor Navracsics, Vice-prime Minister of Hungary, and Hanno Pevkur, Estonian Minister of Justice.

Today, on 23 August, as Vilnius commemorates the European Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Totalitarian Regimes, Tuskulėnai Peace Park, memorial complex, continues with commemoration events, including opening of exhibition, “Totalitarianism in Europe” and a youth conference, seeking to raise the youth awareness of the historic memory of Europe.

Events jointly organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice and the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania has attracted representatives from Lithuania, Hungary, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Czech Republic, Croatia, Rumania, Cyprus, Spain, Austria, and the Netherlands.

Once the conference in closed, representatives of European youth will follow the “Steps of deportation and resistance”, by visiting memorable places around Vilnius and Druskininkai.