Lithuania marks 35th anniversary of Medininkai Massacre

Lithuania is marking the 35th anniversary of the tragic Medininkai Massacre, a brutal event that claimed the lives of seven customs and police officers guarding the border with Belarus. The nation will gather to remember and honor those who fell in the line of duty on July 31, 1991.

The commemoration will commence with a mass at the Chapel of St. Casimir in the Vilnius Cathedral Basilica. Following this, solemn ceremonies will take place at the Medininkai memorial and Antakalnis Cemetery. High-ranking officials, including President Gitanas Nausėda, Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas, and Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, are expected to attend, alongside state officials, military representatives, and members of the diplomatic corps from various foreign nations.

Adding to the solemn remembrance, the 35th traditional relay race, 'Medininkai – Vilnius,' was held over the weekend. This event serves as a poignant tribute to the officers killed at the Medininkai post. The massacre, carried out by Soviet OMON forces, left only one survivor, customs officer Tomas Šernas, who sustained severe injuries.

The Medininkai Massacre remains a deeply significant and painful event in Lithuania's modern history, symbolizing the violent struggle for independence against Soviet aggression. The annual commemorations underscore the nation's commitment to remembering its heroes and preserving the memory of their sacrifice.