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Lithuania Proposes UN, UNESCO Action Against Russia's Destruction of Historical Monuments
๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡น Lithuania /Culture & Society

Lithuania Proposes UN, UNESCO Action Against Russia's Destruction of Historical Monuments

From Delfi · (8m ago) Lithuanian Critical tone

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Lithuanian lawmakers proposed a resolution urging the Foreign Ministry to appeal to international organizations to condemn Russia's destruction of historical and cultural monuments in Russia.
  • The resolution calls for the restoration of destroyed monuments in Tomsk, Kaliningrad, and other regions, funded by Lithuania and built with Russian consent.
  • Lawmakers argue Russia's actions align with a neo-Stalinist policy to erase memories of totalitarian crimes, justify aggression, and undermine the statehood of Baltic nations and Ukraine.

Lithuanian parliamentarians have taken a significant step by registering a resolution to address the systematic destruction of historical and cultural memory in Russia. This move, spearheaded by the Foreign Affairs Committee, reflects a deep-seated concern within Lithuania regarding Moscow's attempts to rewrite history and erase the memory of Soviet-era crimes.

sฤ…moningo totalitarinio reลพimo aukลณ ir kultลซrinio atminimo bei paveldo naikinimo veiksmus Rusijos Federacijoje

โ€” Lithuanian lawmakersThe resolution calls on the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to appeal to international organizations to evaluate the 'actions of destroying the memory of victims of the totalitarian regime and cultural memory and heritage in the Russian Federation.'

The resolution specifically targets the demolition of monuments and cultural symbols in regions like Tomsk and Kaliningrad, which were erected with Lithuanian state funding and local approval. By appealing to international bodies such as the UN and UNESCO, Lithuania seeks to garner global support in defending historical truth and the freedom of remembrance. This is not merely about preserving stones and plaques; it is about safeguarding national identity and resisting a narrative that seeks to legitimize past and present aggressions.

barbariลกkus Rusijos Federacijos valdลพios veiksmus

โ€” Resolution authorsThe authors of the resolution propose that the Seimas express its protest against such 'barbaric actions of the authorities of the Russian Federation.'

The Lithuanian perspective views these actions as a continuation of a neo-Stalinist policy, aimed at fabricating a pseudo-historical narrative that denies Soviet repressions. This is seen as a dangerous trend with far-reaching implications for European security and historical consciousness. From Vilnius, Russia's efforts to distort historical facts are perceived as a direct attempt to divide the world into spheres of influence, downplay the suffering caused by occupations, and ultimately justify its aggressive foreign policy, particularly towards Ukraine and the Baltic states.

Istorinฤ—s atminties simboliai ir kultลซros paveldas yra svarbi tautลณ tapatybฤ—s dalis ir jลณ naikinimas negali bลซti pateisinamas jokiais imperiniais ar politiniais interesais

โ€” Resolution projectThe resolution emphasizes that 'symbols of historical memory and cultural heritage are an important part of the identity of nations, and their destruction cannot be justified by any imperial or political interests.'

This resolution underscores Lithuania's commitment to confronting historical revisionism. It highlights a unique national perspective that views the destruction of historical memory not just as an act against Lithuania, but as an assault on the very principles of international law and historical integrity. The emphasis on the fact that these monuments were built legally and with consent underscores the arbitrary and politically motivated nature of their destruction, a point that resonates strongly within a nation that has experienced Soviet occupation firsthand.

kaip nuosekliฤ… neostalinizmo politikฤ…, kurios tikslas โ€“ iลกtrinti totalitarinio reลพimo nusikaltimลณ atmintฤฏ ir formuoti pseudoistorinฤฏ naratyvฤ… (esฤ… Sovietลณ Sฤ…jungoje politiniลณ represijลณ nebuvo)

โ€” Resolution projectThe resolution proposes to assess Russia's actions 'as a consistent neo-Stalinist policy, the aim of which is to erase the memory of the crimes of the totalitarian regime and to form a pseudo-historical narrative (allegedly there were no political repressions in the Soviet Union).'
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.