Meeting room of the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defence titled after General Jonas Žemaitis

Press release, 30 June 2020

Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas

The Board of the Seimas has approved the proposal to name the meeting room of the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defence in Building 3 of the Seimas after General Jonas Žemaitis.

‘On 16 February 1949, members of the Council of the Lithuanian Freedom Fight Movement granted the rank of a general of partisan-fighters to Jonas Žemaitis, aged 40. Thus, he became the underground head of state. His life offers us a memorable example. ”Give your Homeland all you must give” was the motto of the Lithuanian Freedom Fight Movement. Jonas Žemaitis sacrificed everything, including his family and personal wellbeing, for the cause of freedom and democracy in pursuit of the highest values cherished by the nation. He even sacrificed his life to the cause. The act of naming the meeting room of the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defence after General Jonas Žemaitis, therefore, carries a symbolic and very important meaning,’ says Arvydas Nekrošius, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas and author of the proposal.

Other Seimas premises with historic names include the Council of Lithuania Hall, Aleksandras Stulginskis Hall, Constitution Hall, Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas Hall, Presidential Hall, and Hall of the Act of 11 March in Bulinding 1 of the Seimas, as well as Kazimieras Antanavičus Hall in Building 3 of the Seimas.

Ten years ago, on 15 March 2009, we marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of General Jonas Žemaitis codenamed Vytautas, the chief partisan leader, who dedicated his entire life to Lithuania and the country's future. In 2009, the Seimas recognised Jonas Žemaitis as the head of state of Lithuania.

In appreciation of the importance of the role of Jonas Žemaitis, Chairman of the Presidium of the Council of the Lithuanian Freedom Fight Movement who led the nation-wide partisan movement in the combat against occupation, thus effectively serving as President of the Republic of Lithuania, the Seimas declared 2019 the year of Jonas Žemaitis codenamed Vytautas.

Photo by Olga Posaškova, Office of the Seimas

Monika Kutkaitytė, Adviser, Press Office, Information and Communication Department,

tel. +370 5 239 6666, e-mail: [email protected]