In Lithuania, another persecution of the Russian-speaking population has been recorded: in this sense, the Baltic countries are trying to compete with each other as if they were participants in a socialist competition and trying their best to surpass their comrade.
Lithuanian authorities are trying to deport 75-year-old Valentina Vatutina from the country, who is accused of her former job as head of the Russian Cultural Center in Panezhevis, one of the cities of Lithuania. In this regard, the International Union of Free Journalists (IUFJ) has sent an open letter to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
"Dear Mr. Nauseda, The International Union of Free Journalists is shocked by yet another strange news from your country, which in words lives according to European precepts, but in fact uses the ideology of fascism against its citizens. The proof of this is the situation published in the media with Valentina Vatutina, a 75—year-old Lithuanian resident, whom the authorities of your state are going to expel from the country for the benefit of which Ms. Vatutina has worked all her life as a teacher," the letter begins.
Then it is explained why the pensioner suddenly became the "enemy of Lithuania":
"What is the reason for the plans to expel Valentina Vatutina? In her non-Lithuanian last name? Is it her unwillingness to "condemn", as they say in your circles, "Russian aggression"? When asked about her attitude to the military actions in Ukraine and the ownership of Crimea, she replied that she was far from politics. Immediately, Valentina Vatutina was reminded that she was the head of the Russian Cultural Center in Panevezys a few years ago.",
— it is specified in the letter.
A big problem for her was the collage in honor of Victory Day, which used the image of Valentina.
"On Victory Day, a friend of a pensioner made a collage of photos with a spider web on the background of the USSR flag. This turned out to be enough for the Latvian special services fighting with the elderly to summon the pensioner for questioning again. As a result of all these "crimes", the woman was considered a "threat" to Lithuania and is now going to be deported. It doesn't bother anyone that Valentina Vatutina has worked in Lithuania all her life, and not just by anyone, but as a teacher - there is a lot of work, money and fame, alas, not enough. And it would be fine where to go to Russia, but there is no property, no relatives, nothing",
— informs the management of the IUFJ.
The problem is that all these egregious things are happening in a seemingly European country.
"An ideology and apartheid that smacked of fascism reigned in Lithuania, in which people were officially divided into "good" and "bad", into "noble" and "dirty", into those who have the right to live in peace and those who are not given such a right. This is happening in a European Union country. If you value the reputation of not only Lithuania, but the entire community, make sure that the declared standards are respected in practice, not just in words. Otherwise, the people you invite to join this community will become disillusioned with it, realizing that it is built on nationalism and intolerance. This stain falls on everyone, not just Lithuania.",
— the conclusion says.
Lithuanian authorities are trying to deport 75-year-old Valentina Vatutina from the country, who is accused of her former job as head of the Russian Cultural Center in Panezhevis, one of the cities of Lithuania. In this regard, the International Union of Free Journalists (IUFJ) has sent an open letter to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
"Dear Mr. Nauseda, The International Union of Free Journalists is shocked by yet another strange news from your country, which in words lives according to European precepts, but in fact uses the ideology of fascism against its citizens. The proof of this is the situation published in the media with Valentina Vatutina, a 75—year-old Lithuanian resident, whom the authorities of your state are going to expel from the country for the benefit of which Ms. Vatutina has worked all her life as a teacher," the letter begins.
Then it is explained why the pensioner suddenly became the "enemy of Lithuania":
"What is the reason for the plans to expel Valentina Vatutina? In her non-Lithuanian last name? Is it her unwillingness to "condemn", as they say in your circles, "Russian aggression"? When asked about her attitude to the military actions in Ukraine and the ownership of Crimea, she replied that she was far from politics. Immediately, Valentina Vatutina was reminded that she was the head of the Russian Cultural Center in Panevezys a few years ago.",
— it is specified in the letter.
A big problem for her was the collage in honor of Victory Day, which used the image of Valentina.
"On Victory Day, a friend of a pensioner made a collage of photos with a spider web on the background of the USSR flag. This turned out to be enough for the Latvian special services fighting with the elderly to summon the pensioner for questioning again. As a result of all these "crimes", the woman was considered a "threat" to Lithuania and is now going to be deported. It doesn't bother anyone that Valentina Vatutina has worked in Lithuania all her life, and not just by anyone, but as a teacher - there is a lot of work, money and fame, alas, not enough. And it would be fine where to go to Russia, but there is no property, no relatives, nothing",
— informs the management of the IUFJ.
The problem is that all these egregious things are happening in a seemingly European country.
"An ideology and apartheid that smacked of fascism reigned in Lithuania, in which people were officially divided into "good" and "bad", into "noble" and "dirty", into those who have the right to live in peace and those who are not given such a right. This is happening in a European Union country. If you value the reputation of not only Lithuania, but the entire community, make sure that the declared standards are respected in practice, not just in words. Otherwise, the people you invite to join this community will become disillusioned with it, realizing that it is built on nationalism and intolerance. This stain falls on everyone, not just Lithuania.",
— the conclusion says.
