Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys on Tuesday signed an order giving leeway for the country’s municipalities to decide on the fate of the Soviet memorials at their cemeteries.
The updated description of the criteria for the evaluation, selection, and determination of the level of significance of cultural property opens up the possibility of removing these monuments.
Amendments to the list of criteria were also coordinated with the defence and foreign ministries to ensure proper respect for the deceased, according to the culture ministry.
Until now, the criteria have included an exception that graves, non-functioning cemeteries, and burial sites shall be added to the Register of Cultural Property.
Discussions on the removal of Soviet monuments have resumed in Lithuania in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February.
According to the culture ministry, there are 160 protected cemeteries or burial sites of Soviet troops in Lithuania, half of them with Soviet monuments.
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