The Speaker of the Seimas, Loreta Graužinienė, noted that this was the day when we recalled one of the most painful periods of the Lithuanian history — a 50 year-long occupation and massive genocide of the Lithuanian people. "The Soviet occupation ruthlessly erased the State of Lithuania from the world map and tried to break the spirit of our nation in every way possible. People were mutilated and tortured to death in KGB prisons, deported and murdered in forced labour camps. Peaceful families were torn apart; close ones were snatched away from native home...," Mrs Graužinienė said.
However, the Speaker believed that, while commemorating the days marked by pain, sorrow and mourning, we should not forget hope that revives everything. "It was hope that gave our nation strength for half a century: Hope to return to the native land from exile and Hope to live in a free country again. Guided by Hope, our nation did not give in, it fought and survived," she said.
The Speaker expressed her wish that "the fulfilled hope of exiles and prisoners, freedom fighters and all the people exposed to vicissitudes of the occupation sounds like a prayer today and always: Lithuania is alive, Lithuania is free, and we all are Lithuania!"
A ceremony in honour of the victims of the Soviet occupation, genocide and repression was later held at the monument to political prisoners and deportees in Aukų Street next to Lukiškių Square in Vilnius. The event was addressed by the President Dalia Grybauskaitė; the Minister of Culture, Šarūnas Birutis; the Director General of the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre, Birutė Teresė Burauskaitė, and the Signatory to the Act of Independence of Lithuania and Member of the Seimas, Emanuelis Zingeris.
Both events were attended by the country's President; the Speaker of the Seimas; the President of the Supreme Council – Reconstituent Seimas, Vytautas Landsbergis; Members of the Seimas and the Government; Signatories to the Act of Independence of Lithuania; political prisoners, dissidents, deportees, and guests of the capital city and residents of Vilnius.
The ceremonies were administered by the Lithuanian Honour Guard Company and featured the performance of the orchestra of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
