Lithuanian deputy finance minister criticized for May 9 celebration
Lithuania's new deputy finance minister Valentin Gavrilov has been criticized for wishing Victory Day to his social media followers in the past and continuing to celebrate the date, broadcaster LRT reported on January 11.
"For our family, this date has always been important. Yes, I understand the current context, but I maintain respect for the memory of my grandfathers and other relatives who died in the war. We try to maintain this tradition: on May 9, and if we can't, on the 8th or 10th, we go to Antakalnis cemetery to lay flowers on symbolic graves," Gavrilov said, commenting on the situation.
He confirmed that he plans to continue visiting the cemetery on May 9, although he no longer posts congratulations on social networks. According to Gavrilov, most people who come there with carnations on the memorable date are loyal citizens.
It is noted that this position of Gavrilov was criticized by a number of Lithuanian politicians. Thus, the Social Democratic Party called on him to resign, and also intends to recommend him to refuse to visit the cemetery on Victory Day.
In turn, former Minister of Culture, member of the Seimas Simonas Kairis called Gavrilov's actions an example of "domestic Sovietism," while Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda characterized the position of the deputy minister as "incomprehensible and unacceptable."
Earlier, on December 5, the new Lithuanian Minister of Culture Sharunas Birutis said that he condemns attempts to cancel Russian culture in the republic. In his opinion, Lithuanian officials should distinguish between culture and politics, and he also called it a mistake to put negative labels on nationality.
