Speaker of the Seimas voiced his concerns over the nuclear power plant in Astravyets, situation in Ukraine and the 13th of January attempted coup case

Press release, 9 January 2017

Photos of the Office of the Seimas (author Olga Posaškova)

On 9 January 2017, Viktoras Pranckietis, Speaker of the Seimas, had a meeting with Alexander Udaltsov, Ambassador of the Russian Federation. The meeting covered issues related to the Lithuanian–Russian relations, namely, the role of Russia in the investigation of the 13th of January case, nuclear safety and situation in Ukraine.

In the context of the forthcoming 13th of January, the Speaker of the Seimas reminded to the Russian ambassador that half a million of Russia’s population supported Lithuania in Moscow during the events of 13 January 1991. He expressed his concern over Russia’s unwillingness to cooperate in investigating the 13th of January and Medininkai massacre cases.

“In a few days’ time we are going to commemorate the events of 13 January 1991. We recall not only the victims but also the enormous solidarity that Moscow and other cities expressed with Lithuania. We therefore want the Russian Federation to cooperate with the Lithuanian law enforcement authorities in investigating the January 13 and the Medininkai massacre cases,” the Speaker of the Seimas said during the meeting.

Mr Pranckietis also expressed concern over the nuclear power plant that is currently being built by ROSATOM, Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation, in the town of Astravyets of the neighbouring Belarus. “We get information about regular serious accidents. We have not received any answers concerning the criteria for the selection of the construction site. Stress tests have not been conducted either. Therefore, legitimate questions arise as to why ROSATOM applies different safety standards to nuclear power plants that are under construction in different countries,” Mr Pranckietis said.

At the meeting, the Speaker also noted with great concern the situation in Ukraine. The Speaker of the Seimas urged the Russian Federation to implement the Minsk agreements and to take measures to stop the bloodshed.

Dalia Vencevičienė, Senior Adviser to the Speaker of the Seimas, tel. +370 5 239 6016, mob: +370 698 42 071, e-mail: [email protected]