Press release, 12 January 2016
On the eve of the Day of the Defenders of Freedom, the Seimas hosted a traditional meeting of the defenders of freedom. Prior to the meeting, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in the Stained Glass Gallery in tribute to the defenders of freedom who took an oath in 1991 in this very area. The event was followed by a solemn formation of the defenders of freedom.
Loreta Graužinienė, Speaker of the Seimas, welcomed the defenders of freedom, pupils, young riflemen, signatories to the Act of Independence and other distinguished guests who gathered in the historical Hall of the Act of 11 March.
The Speaker of the Seimas stressed that “the story about our road to freedom and independence declared on 11 March 1990 will be incomplete without the events of 13 January 1991. What lie behind that story are the deaths of Lithuanian people and the fates of thousands of defenders of freedom. The fates of those of you who were aware of the imminent danger but were not frightened and did not step back; on the contrary, you stood firmer shoulder to shoulder for the cause of defending the freedom and independence of Lithuania.”
Mrs Graužinienė highlighted that every defender of freedom had his own story to tell about the 13th of January. “It is a subjective, important and living story which burns in your memory and moves your heart to this day.”
After expressing her gratitude to the defenders of freedom for their courage, determination and faith in freedom, the Speaker of the Seimas invited everyone to share or refresh their memories of those days of January 1991. “It is important for us to preserve in the history of the Seimas your memories and your thoughts, so that our future generations could trace your recollections on this significant date for Lithuania as they go through the pages of history of our country,” Mrs Graužinienė underlined.
Photos of the Office of the Seimas (author Olga Posaškova)
The participants of the event were also welcomed by Juozas Olekas, Member of the Seimas and Minister of National Defence. “Our forefathers had bestowed upon us the determination and dedication to fight for freedom, even when it seemed as though there was no hope. That was the case in the 19th century uprisings against the tsarist Russia and in the miraculous battles for independence when ordinary volunteers managed to withstand the Bolsheviks, the Bermontians and Żeligowski-led troops as well as in the post-war partisan battles. The determination of the nation to fight for freedom came to life once again and led us all the way to the January of 1991 when we sacrificed our lives to defend our freedom. We succeeded and managed to withstand the tanks and machine-guns, brutal anger, smear and, sometimes, indifference,” Mr Olekas said.
The Minister of National Defence stressed that we had demonstrated, once and for all, to the rest of the world that Lithuania would not stray from the path of freedom. “Unfortunately, to achieve victory for freedom, for the right to live, create, work and be born in an independent democratic country, and for the right to keep a Lithuanian identity, we had to make sacrifices. We had to sacrifice the lives of our thirteen sons and a daughter.” Mr Olekas expressed his gratitude to all those who did not remain indifferent at the time, who held fast to their moral principles and their truth, and who had faith and made sacrifices, for their sacrifice was not in vain.
“As veterans, today you are all standing in a solemn formation,” said Česlovas Vytautas Stankevičius, Signatory to the Act of Independence and Deputy-Speaker of the Supreme Council–Reconstituent Seimas, in his welcome address. “This formation demonstrates the strength of your spirit. Today, the volunteers from the next generation are taking over this duty at the time when Lithuania’s freedom is facing yet another real threat. Let us be vigilant and on guard and protect the freedom of Lithuania together with our younger generation. Lithuania will always be free.”
Memories of the defence of freedom in January 1991 were also shared by Saulius Pečeliūnas, Signatory to the Act of Independence; Reserve Col. Ignas Stankovičius, former Deputy Director of the Department of National Defence; Reserve Brig. Gen. Česlovas Jezerskas, former Chief of the Training Compound of the Department of National Defence; Col. Jonas Gečas, former Chief of the National Defence Volunteer Service of the Department of National Defence; Dr Evgen Dykyj, defender of the Lithuanian Parliament’s building and former Company Commander of the Ukrainian Aidar Battalion; and other defenders of the Parliament.
Nerijus Vėta, Public Relations Unit, Information and Communication Department, Office of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6208, e-mail: [email protected]
