Tribute was paid to the victims of World War II on the 76th anniversary of the end of WWII in Europe on May 8: flowers were laid at the memorial in front of the Ministry of National Defence, Paneriai Memorial, and in Antakalnis and Vilniaus Vingis military cemeteries.
“The end of the Second World War did not bring peace to Lithuania, only more terror and victims, just like to the other Baltic and Central European countries. The consequences of the war were eliminated de facto only in 1990-1993 when Lithuania re-established its independence and the last Russian army units were withdrawn from its territory,” says Minister of National Defence Arvydas Anušauskas. He laid the flower tribute at the memorial for Jono Žemaitis-Vytautas in front of the Ministry of National Defence together with Chief of the Defence Staff Brig Gen Mindaugas Steponavičius.
The tribute and flower laying ceremonies were conducted by the Honor Guard Company on behalf of the leadership of the Republic of Lithuania and the Foreign Diplomatic Corps.
The end of World War II in Europe is marked on May 8 in commemoration of the joint efforts of all the countries that fought in WWII to bring the war to an end and signing of the unconditional German Instrument of Surrender on 8 May 1945.
Photo credits: A. Pliadis
