Baltic Way anniversary marked by historical commemorations and diplomatic events

Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia marked the 37th anniversary of the Baltic Way, a peaceful human chain formed on August 23, 1989. Approximately two million people joined the 600-kilometer chain from Vilnius through Riga to Tallinn to protest the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and its secret protocols that led to the occupation of the Baltic states. The event, which is included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register, serves as a reminder of the power of unity and the importance of preserving historical truth and national identity.

In Šiauliai, the commemoration included a mass at the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul and a procession featuring the flags of the Baltic states. The event was attended by Šiauliai Mayor Artūras Visockas and the Japanese Ambassador to Lithuania, Shinsuke Shimizu. To celebrate 35 years of Lithuanian-Japanese diplomatic relations, a Japanese cultural evening is scheduled for September 7, featuring the traditional Awa Odori dance performed by the Kikusui-ren group from Tokyo.