Lithuania commemorates freedom defenders in tragic events 20 years ago

20:05, 13 January 2011

VILNIUS. January 13. KAZINFORM Lithuania observes Day of Freedom defenders on January 13 in memory of tragic events in Vilnius on January 13, 1991 when political opponents of Lithuanian independence jointly with the Soviet military attempted to seize power in the country; Kazinform refers to Itar-Tass.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskait· addressed a gala meeting of the Lithuania parliament on Thursday, calling to revive the feelings of solidarity and fraternity. We were glad to receive support from people of other nationalities and see their banners of freedom flying next to ours, the Lithuanian president said.

Controversial assessments of the 1991 dramatic developments in Lithuania still trigger political passions there. On Wednesday Lithuanian District Prosecutor's office turned over to court a criminal case against leader of the Socialist People's Front left-wing party Algirdas Paleckis accused of denying the fact of Soviet aggression against Lithuania in 1991, which envisages a criminal prosecution by the Lithuanian law. In one of radio programs Paleckis declared that twenty years ago "people had been shooting at their own kin"; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass.

See www.itar-tass.com/eng for full version

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