News

The world marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War this year. Lithuania, like the entire international community, honours the memory of the victims of the war that has claimed the most lives in human history.

However, it is not enough to merely pay homage to the victims. We must seek to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again. We pay our respects to those who fought against Hitler and Nazism, and gave their lives in the Second World War. Today we reiterate our strong commitment to fight racial discrimination, xenophobia and neo-Nazism. We must do everything we can to show that Nazism will not be tolerated in any form.

With great pain we remember all members of the Jewish community of Lithuania and entire Europe, who were victims during the Holocaust – the horrific mass killings that can never be justified. Political clients, perpetrators – directly, and their helpers - albeit indirectly, and those who remained silent and passive observers are all to blame for this crime.

The Ukrainian people, who are fighting external aggression today, have suffered one of the largest losses during the fight against Nazism. Lithuania expresses its solidarity with the people of Ukraine in their fight for freedom and urges to not forget the painful lessons of the Second World War in Europe.

Lithuania will honour all the victims of the war, regardless of whether they were soldiers, civilians or victims of post-war repressions in Lithuania.

On 8 May, an ecumenical worship service will be held at Sts. Johns’ Church to honour the victims of the war. Other commemorative events will take place in the Memorial Site of Paneriai, the Antakalnis Cemetery and the Vingio Parkas Soldiers Cemetery. A youth campaign Light a Candle in Memory of World War II Victims will take place in Vilnius Cathedral Square.