The 35th anniversary of the Freedom Fighters’ Day in Prague commemorated with a ceremony at the Embassy
The Lithuanian Embassy in the Czech Republic celebrated the Freedom Fighter’ Day with a solemn commemoration, which was attended by representatives of the Czech state institutions and civil society, members of the Lithuanian community and the diplomatic corps.
In the eve of the anniversary, an exhibition of historical photographs by Lithuanian photographer Juozas Kazlauskas titled Defending Lithuania's Independence from the Soviet Army, 1991 and other video materials about the events of January 13, 1991, were viewed by guests gathered at the traditional bonfire of freedom in the courtyard of the mission.
“August 1968 in Prague and January 13, 1991, in Vilnius are fateful historical dates for the Czech Republic and Lithuania, uniting our countries despite the distance of a thousand kilometers. Their painful lessons are still alive today and remind us that the crimes that remain uncalled out tend to be repeated. We see this today in Ukraine,” Ambassador Rolandas Kačinskas told the participants of the commemoration.
He emphasized that freedom is a commitment that needs to be constantly renewed. The Ambassador also spoke about the importance of preserving historical memory and presented the project of the European Memorial to the Victims of Totalitarian Regimes in Brussels, initiated by Lithuania.
In his speech, the Defense Attaché of the Republic of Lithuania to the Czech Republic, Colonel Remigijus Mika, addressed his colleagues from various countries participating in the event, urging them not to forget the historical lessons and to continue their active support for the struggling Ukraine.
The commemoration was meaningfully complemented by a program of songs from the struggles for freedom performed by folklore singers from Lithuania Aušrinė Lasytė, Dalia Peseckaitė and Leonora Smulskytė (ensembles Opka and Braška Lizdas). Guests tasted hot soup reminiscent of 1991, and songs that supported the spirit of the people during the period of regaining independence were played around the bonfire.
