Lithuania marks 85th anniversary of Soviet-era deportations with nationwide silence

On June 14, Lithuania observed the Day of Mourning and Hope, the 85th anniversary of the Soviet deportations that began in 1941. A minute of silence was held nationwide, the state flag was raised in Vilnius, and the names of about 130,000 deported victims were read aloud.

Ceremonies took place in cities across the country, including Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai, Panevėžys and Alytus, featuring concerts, church services and official speeches. Four organisations representing political prisoners and deportees received awards for their work in collecting testimonies, locating burial sites and educating younger generations.

According to the Lithuanian Genocide and Resistance Research Centre, roughly 130,000 people were deported and another 156,000 were imprisoned during the first Soviet occupation. The commemorations highlighted the personal stories behind those statistics, emphasizing the need to remember the past while reaffirming the country's freedom.