Alternative to European ideals is Putinism, Lithuania's 1st post-independence leader warns

  • 2025-01-13
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – Lithuania's fight for freedom is far from over, as Europe stands at a crossroads, choosing between its old ideals and Putinism or barbarism, Vytautas Landsbergis, Lithuania's first post-independence leader, warned on Sunday. 

Landsbergis was addressing the traditional gathering of those who stood up to defend Lithuania's independence in 1990.

"Alternatives to the European ideal are being proposed more boldly every day. An 'Alternative for Europe' now expects to win elections in Germany," he said, referring to the Alternative for Germany (AfD). 

"I asked them, what is this alternative for Europe? Of course, it's Putinia. So, you are Putinia's Alternative for Europe party, right? You, the new Germans, don't like Europe. But maybe you're not new Germans at all – just old fascists with a fresh coat of paint?" 

The AfD, which has been gaining support in Germany, calls for closing borders to irregular migrants, scrapping green energy policies, and reestablishing closer ties with Russia.

According to Landsbergis, such parties and politicians proposing alternatives to European ideals like democracy and human rights are encouraged by authoritarian regimes. These efforts are supported by propaganda spread throughout Europe.

He also warned of a similar sentiment in Lithuania, where voices are growing louder, questioning the country's support for Ukraine, calling aid a waste of resources, and blaming Ukraine for its plight.

"We must continue to defend Europe's ideal," Landsbergis said. 

"This is the main crossroads Europe faces today, and we stand at it too," he said. "We are part of a great and decisive moment, because the civilization we want to belong to could be destroyed; barbarians could come." 

Landsbergis criticized world leaders who continue to engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin despite an international arrest warrant issued against him.

Addressing the Freedom Defenders' meeting at the parliament, he asked: "What does freedom mean today?"

"First and foremost, it's the freedom to be human – not a pig devouring its own offspring, or a mankurt serving a foreign oppressor, helping them enslave their countrymen," Landsbergis said, answering his own question.

"Freedom is about choosing the things that matter: humanity, solidarity, brotherhood. It's about coming together in that brotherhood, about enjoying life (...) and about refusing to pander to liars," he added.

The Soviet Union used military force in its attempt to remove the legitimate government of Lithuania, which declared independence on March 11, 1990.

Fourteen civilians were killed and hundreds were injured when the Soviet troops stormed the TV Tower and the Radio and Television Committee building in Vilnius in the early hours of January 13, 1991.

Lithuania marks January 13 as the Day of Freedom Defenders to honor the victims of the Soviet aggression.  

The victims included Loreta Asanaviciute, Virginijus Druskis, Darius Gerbutavicius, Rolandas Jankauskas, Rimantas Juknevicius, Alvydas Kanapinskas, Algimantas Petras Kavoliukas, Vytautas Koncevicius, Vidas Maciulevicius, Titas Masiulis, Alvydas Matulka, Apolinaras Juozas Povilaitis, Ignas Simulionis, and Vytautas Vaitkus. Stasys Maciulskas, who was injured at the TV Tower, died of his injuries in April 1991.