“Path of Life and Death” tribute run, Ceremonies of lighting of commemorative bonfires in Vilnius, hoisting the National Flag and laying flowers tributes ceremony in the Independence Square: photo gallery
Hoisting of the National Flag ceremony: video
Events in Lithuanian communities here in Lithuania and abroad were held on January 10–13 to express respect and gratitude to the victims of January 13 – to the people of Lithuania who were killed or died of injuries sustained during the night of January 13 in 1991 while protecting the Vilnius Television Tower and the Radio and Television Committee Building from the assaulting Soviet military units. The commemorative events were attended by Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis, Chief of Defence of Lithuania Lt Gen Valdemaras Rupšys, commanders of Armed Forces services, other representatives of the Ministry of National Deference and the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
When the independence of Lithuania was re-established and the path of freedom needed to be defended, the events of January 13 claimed lives of Loreta Asanavičiūtė, Virginijus Druskis, Darius Gerbutavičius, Rolandas Jankauskas, Rimantas Juknevičius, Alvydas Kanapinskas, Algimantas Petras Kavoliukas, Vytautas Koncevičius, Vidas Maciulevičius, Titas Masiulis, Stasys Mačiulskas, Alvydas Matulka, Apolinaras Juozas Povilaitis, Ignas Šimulionis, Vytautas Vaitkus.
One of the events held in commemoration of this milestone that attracts numerous participants was the international “Path of Life and Death” tribute run.
At the foot of the Vilnius Television Tower participants of the 19th iteration of the tribute run were greeted by Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis, representatives of the Ministry of National Defence, Lithuanian Armed Forces and NATO allies.
Approximately 8,165 people of different ages and walks of life, residents and guests of Vilnius, ran the 9 km distance on the streets of Vilnius from Antakalnis (Karių kapų str.) to Karoliniškės iki Karoliniškių (Sausio 13-osios str.) to honour the Lithuanian freedom defenders.
On the eve of January 13 Minister of National Defence Raimundas Karoblis, national defence, Armed Forces leadership, Honour Gurd Company and National Defence Volunteer Force troops attended the ceremony of lighting commemorative bonfires at the foot of the Vilnius Television Tower.
Photo credits: Alfredas Pliadis
