LRT English Newsletter – March 15, 2024
The Russian opposition cannot feel safe anywhere. This was once again reminded by the attack on Leonid Volkov outside his house in Vilnius. Volkov is a close associate of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. He previously served as the chief of staff for Navalny’s presidential election campaign in 2018 and as chair of his Anti-Corruption Foundation. He fled to Lithuania in 2020, escaping a possible arrest in Russia.
On Tuesday evening, he pulled into his backyard in Vilnius only to have his car window broken and tear gas sprayed into his eyes. He was then attacked… with a hammer. The perpetrators of the attack have not been found yet but the Lithuanian authorities believe that it was organised and implemented by Russia to intimidate the country’s opposition ahead of this week’s presidential elections.
This was also the first case of political terrorism carried out on Lithuanian soil, the National Crisis Management Centre said, adding that the level of vigilance was increased as a result. But we’re not afraid, the president said, sending a message to Vladimir Putin.
MESSAGE FOR $2M
The Russian president was not the only one who received a message from Gitanas Nausėda this week. The other lucky fella was a scandalous Belarussian vlogger known as Mellstroy. In the past, he got into trouble for beating up a girl, pornography, and streaming degrading things. Recently, he promised his followers 2 million dollars if they managed to record a president of any country greeting him. The Lithuanian president did just that when asked by a boy who approached him during the Independence Day celebration.
His office said Nausėda did not know who he was sending the greetings to, but it will not discourage him from interacting and taking selfies with the public. Let’s hope that at least the boy gets the promised money.
DEATH IN BELARUS
In other Belarus news, a Lithuanian man died while in detention in the country. The Vilnius resident, born in 1953, was detained in Belarus in January for allegedly smuggling ammunition. The Lithuanian consular officials repeatedly requested permission to meet the detained man but were eventually told that the meeting would not be possible because the Lithuanian citizen had passed away. The Lithuanian officials believe the man was not provided the necessary medical assistance in the Belarusian detention facility.
CHILDREN OF MARCH 11
On March 11, we celebrated the Day of Restoration of Independence. On this day in 1990, Lithuania declared its independence from the Soviet Union. Today’s high schoolers only know it from the stories of their parents or grandparents. But contrary to the opinion of some, born in independent Lithuania, they don’t lack the understanding of what’s what in our region nor the moral backbone. Well, at least some don’t.
Over the weekend, four Lithuanian high school teams participated in the European Robotics Championship in Italy for a chance to qualify for the World Championships. Two of the teams were grouped with the Russians and despite their protests, had to compete in an alliance with them against other teams. Instead of doing this, they sat out the battles while holding up the Lithuanian and Ukrainian flags. Although they lost the crucial points to qualify for the World Championships, the high schoolers made Lithuania proud.
EDITOR’S PICKS
– Two-thirds of Lithuanians do not want to live next to people with mental disabilities, about half would rather not live next to homosexuals and Muslims, and one-third next to migrants from Russia, a new survey has found.
– Meanwhile, Brazilian Ricardo Schmitz, who has been living in Vilnius for about three years, says he enjoys a safe and peaceful life in Lithuania. According to him, salaries in Lithuania are lower compared to Western European countries, but there are plenty of career prospects here.
– Founded by the Lithuanian community in Pittsburgh at the beginning of the 20th century, St Casimir’s Church has long been the gathering place of the largest Lithuanian parish in Western Pennsylvania. The building now houses luxury apartments.
– “Lithuania is an organic country that has blossomed like a flower,” says Hugo Verkest. The Belgian man has no real connection to Lithuania but has admired the country, its history, and nature for many years.
– And if you happen to be in Paris, make sure to visit the newly inaugurated Jardin de la Lituanie.
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