Lithuania's Chief Archivist Faces Turkish Embassy Pressure Over Armenian Genocide Publication

The recent events surrounding the publication of materials concerning the Armenian genocide have brought to light a delicate diplomatic situation between Lithuania and Turkey. As reported by Delfi, the Chief Archivist of Lithuania, Inga Zakšauskienė, confirmed an urgent meeting with representatives from the Turkish embassy on April 28th. During this meeting, the Turkish side indicated their concern that the State Archives might be politicizing the issue of the Armenian genocide.

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Buvo išreikštas susirūpinimas, kodėl Valstybės archyvai sau leidžia publikuoti ir viešinti, galbūt, politinius klausimus

Zakšauskienė firmly stated that her department and the archives operate apolitically, emphasizing that the publication in question was a statement of historically proven facts, not a political act. She drew a parallel to Russia's denial of deportations to Siberia, noting that Lithuania does not engage in such debates, and asserted that Turkey has its own perspective on the Armenian genocide, but that does not negate the historical evidence.

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Aš nematau, kad archyvas savo publikacija būtų įsivėlę į kažkokio klausimo politizavimą. Rusija irgi nepripažįsta, kad trėmė lietuvius į Sibirą, bet mes to nediskutuojame. Turkija taip pat turi šitą matymą (armėnų genocido klausimu – ELTA), bet tai yra jų matymas

Interestingly, the Turkish embassy's approach was described as a "soft power" measure, with no official written complaint or call received. This suggests a preference for diplomatic dialogue over formal protest. However, the situation was further complicated by claims from the head of the Archive's Document Dissemination Department, Džiuginta Abromaitienė, who stated she received an unofficial call from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressing concern that the publication could harm Lithuanian-Turkish relations. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has since denied providing any recommendations on this matter.

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Mano ir dabar pozicija, kad tai buvo absoliučiai ne politinis klausimas – tai yra moksliniais tyrimais įrodytų istorinių faktų konstatavimas

From our perspective in Lithuania, this incident highlights the challenges of navigating historical narratives that intersect with contemporary geopolitical sensitivities. While we respect the diplomatic relations with Turkey, the integrity of historical research and the freedom to disseminate factual information must be upheld. The assertion by the Turkish embassy that the Armenian genocide is not an indisputable fact, and that only competent courts can determine such matters, runs counter to the widely accepted historical consensus and the findings of numerous scholarly studies. This is a matter of historical truth, not political expediency, and it is crucial that Lithuania's archival institutions remain independent in their pursuit and dissemination of such facts.

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Absoliučiai jokio oficialaus rašto ar skambučio negavau. Tiesiog buvo vizitas, aš įvardyčiau, kaip minkštosios galios priemonė, skirta paaiškinti savo poziciją mandagiai primenant, kad galime ieškoti bendrų Turkijos ir Lietuvos istorijos taškų, kurių mes, tiesą pasakius, nedaug sudarome