On July 31 Minister of National Defence Robertas Kaunas attended the ceremony to honour the victims of the Medininkai Massacre and a commemorative event for the slain officers of the Republic of Lithuania.
“As we mark the 35th anniversary of the Medininkai tragedy, we hold the memory of officers who laid their lives for the freedom and independence of Lithuania on that day in highest respect. The tragedy of Medininkai is one of the most painful pages in the history of our state. It will remain forever side by side with the other freedom fights etched in the historical memory of the nation as a symbol of courage and self-sacrifice. The sacrifice of these heroes reminds us that freedom should not be taken for granted but rather, defended and safeguarded every day,” said Minister R. Kaunas.
On 31 July 1991, seven border guard officers of the Republic of Lithuania were murdered while on duty at the Medininkai Border Crossing Point with Belarus. Officers of the Aras Rapid Response Team, Lithuanian Police Department under the Ministry of the Interior, Mindaugas Balavakas and Algimantas Juozakas; officers of the Road Police, Lithuanian Police Department, Juozas Janonis and Algirdas Kazlauskas; and inspectors of the Customs Department, Vilnius Territorial Customs, Antanas Musteikis and Stanislovas Orlavičius were killed on site. Officer Ričardas Rabavičius sustained critical shot wounds in the head and succumbed to his injury at the hospital on August 2. Medical efforts only managed to save the life of customs officer Tomas Šernas who was also severely injured.
The commemorative events were also attended by President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda, Speaker of the Parliament Juozas Olekas, Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, other state officials, representatives of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and foreign diplomats.
