Lithuania commemorates 85th anniversary of Soviet-era deportations

Across Lithuania, authorities and cultural groups organized events on June 13‑15 to mark the 85th anniversary of the mass deportations of Lithuanian citizens to Siberia. In Kaunas, a free concert by local ensembles, a civic "Atminties neištremsi" action where participants recorded the names of victims, and a series of educational activities at the IX Fortress and the Vytautas the Great War Museum highlighted the history of the deportations and the resilience of survivors.

In Vilnius, ceremonies included a flag‑raising on Independence Square, a flower‑laying at the memorials for political prisoners and deportees, and a public minute of silence. Additional programmes featured exhibitions of photographs and artifacts, a parade from the square to Aukų Street, and religious services. Both cities offered concerts, theatrical storytelling, and opportunities for the public to engage with the memory of the repression.