V. Valiūnas. Due to the damage caused to Lithuania by the Soviet occupiers
The war in Ukraine is also exacerbating our old wounds. The occupying Russians, who captured Lithuania in 1940, are now trying to occupy Ukraine.
Although Lithuania has succeeded in regaining its freedom after many years, the issue of the damage caused by the occupiers is still unresolved. Today, a unique situation has arisen, when there is an opportunity to withdraw at least partial compensation from the Russians for the wrongs they have done to Lithuania.
Not so long ago, sanctions froze more than $ 300 billion worth of assets worth for Russia.
It is rumored that the wealthy of Russia are being arrested and owned. Why not claim compensation for the damage caused to Lithuania from these assets?
Let us briefly remember the problem of the damage done to Lithuania by the Soviet occupiers.
Back in 2000 June 13 The Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania adopted the Law “On Compensation for Damage Caused by the Occupation of the USSR”. It states that the Russian Federation is the successor of the rights and obligations of the USSR under international law, and that the law provides for compensation for the damage caused. Article 1 (Periods of Damage to Lithuania by the Occupation of the USSR) lists the damage done to Lithuania, and Article 2 states that Lithuania must settle the claim in the form of negotiations with Russia, providing Russia with a calculation of this damage.
In the same year, the damage done to Lithuania was calculated – it was estimated at 20 (twenty) billion US dollars. Some, calculated according to United Nations methodologies, have unofficially estimated the damage to 800 billion scientists all.
2012 A commission was also set up in Lithuania to coordinate an action plan to calculate and compensate for the damage. however, that commission did not take up its duties. 2017 The Lithuanian Center for Genocide and Residence Investigation (LGGRTC) has decided to further clarify the official amount of damage – 20 billion US – but because no action has been taken.
Russia, for its part, does not go to the negotiations and demagogically states that the Russian occupiers did not harm Lithuania, but on the contrary brought it freedom and prosperity.
An additional legal basis for damages is the European Court of Human Rights’ 2019 ruling. March 12 a decision recognizing the struggle of the Soviet occupiers against the Lithuanian party as genocide. This is a historic decision of the European Court of Human Rights, when an international court assessed the Soviet repression against partisans – a significant part of the Lithuanian nation – as genocide.
Unfortunately, at the moment, the issue of compensation for Lithuania is stuck and it is quite clear that Putin’s fascist Russia will definitely not go to the negotiations on compensation for Lithuania. Why not try to claim your salary directly from a US institution?
Understandably, by legally proving that Russia owes Lithuania at least 20 (twenty) billion US dollars – which needs to be written off from frozen Russian assets – in Lithuania’s favor.
When asked about the compensation option over the phone, the director of LGGRTC Arūnas Bubnys expressed his opinion that this is an “interesting idea” and that it is possible to try to do so. And raising the issue of compensation for Lithuania always makes sense, because the occupiers must know that their crimes will never be forgotten.
I wonder how the Jewish nation would have acted especially badly in the course of history in the place of Lithuania? The Jews experienced a terrible genocide, but recovered, strengthened a strong state. They have never forgotten their abusers, and to this day Jews persecute the perpetrators of the Jewish genocide and constantly claim reparation for the damage done.
It doesn’t matter that some of the remaining executioners are a hundred years old – Jews are still trying to prosecute them. And sometimes they get lucky. The Jewish attitude in this regard is that “we can reconcile, but we will never forgive, we will never forget.”
Reconciliation means that Jews can interact with a state that has contributed to the Jewish genocide (obviously if that state condemns their past), and can charge those states compensation for the loss of property and the harm done to Jews by the genocide. E.g. Descendants of survivors of the genocide receive so-called “German money” (160 euros per year) and other benefits.
But Jews cannot be forgiven. From their point of view, the sacrificed victims who are already in another world and God can forgive. Jews abide by these provisions everywhere and whenever there is at least the slightest opportunity to remind the world of the harm done to Jews. It is clear that they will not miss the opportunity to try to withdraw money from the US authorities. So why not try it on Lithuanians?
It is quite obvious that Putin’s fascist Russia will not enter into negotiations on compensation for the damage done to Lithuania. Our policies are the guarantor of justice in the world, and the most important thing for the seriously serious, skilled workers in the world.
And justice demands that criminals in such a state (as the USSR and today’s Russia are named) inevitably compensate their victims for the damage they have caused.