70th anniversary of end of World War II marked throughout Baltics

The 70th anniversary of the end of World War II was commemorated throughout the Baltic countries today. 

In Estonia, the largest events will take place in the capital, Tallinn, where wreaths will be placed on behalf of the government at the Defence Forces Cemetery and at the memorial to the victims of Nazism at Rahumäe Jewish cemetery.

Traditionally, wreaths are placed in the name of the government at the Maarjamäe Memorial Square at the monument for participants of the 1944 Estonian defence battles, graves of German soldiers and the Red Army memorial.

There will be also a public meeting to commemorate the dead of World War II, and to recognise the contribution of everyone who fought for Estonia's freedom.

Commemorative events are also planned in Narva and Kiviõli, and in Vaivara parish.

Several memorial events will also take place in Latvia today to mark the anniversary. 

President Andris Berzins and Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma (Unity) will commemorate the victims of World War II at the Brethren Cemetery in Riga today. They will also visit St. John's Church and the memorial at the former site of Salaspils concentration camp, which was located just outside Riga.

President Berzins traditionally invites all World War II veterans in Latvia to gather for a joint memorial event at the Brethen Cemetery to commemorate victims of Nazism and Communism. The flower-laying ceremony will take place at 11 a.m; participating will be Saeima Speaker Inara Murniece, members of the Saeima Presidium and MPs.

Murniece will also participate in a commemorative event at Lestene Brethren Cemetery at 3 p.m. today.

Latvia has marked the end of World War II on May 8, in common with the rest of the EU, since 1995. 

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius and Parliament Speaker Loreta Grauziniene will pay tribute to victims of World War II at the Paneriai Memorial in the capital, Vilnius.

Prime Minister Butkevicius is scheduled to attend the ceremony in Antakalnis Cemetery as well. Later, the prime minister will attend a concert, In Memoriam, commemorating the end of the war.

Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Linas Linkevicius, will mark the occasion in the coastal city of Klaipeda, where along with the city's mayor, Vytautas Grubliauskas, he will lay flowers in Klaipeda Sculpture Park by the monument to soldiers fallen in the Second World War.

President Grybauskaite and other leaders of European Union Member States paid respects to victims of World War II in Westerplatte, Poland, on Thursday.

According to the Lithuanian prime minister, the end of World War II should be marked throughout Europe and the world, and strengthen people's commitmentment to safeguarding and enhancing peace.

"We must be principled protectors of peace and democratic values. This is our duty for the future of the mankind," said Butkevicius.

As previously reported, this year Lithuania will be the only EU country not to send any official representatives to the Military Parade of 9 May in Moscow, and Estonia and Latvia will send only their diplomats to Russia. While this date is celebrated as "Victory Day" in Russia, the Baltic countries see 1945 as simply the start of another occupation, as following the defeat of Germany, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union, not formally regaining their independence until 1991.