VILNIUS - Lithuania's Deputy Finance Minister Valentin Gavrilov says he has decided to commemorate the end of World War II on May 8, "respecting the opinion of all Lithuanian citizens".
"I will certainly not change any of my views, but I will commemorate this anniversary - the end of the Second World War in Europe - on May 8, without raising any questions and respecting the opinion of all Lithuanian citizens," Gavrilov told BNS on Monday.
"I have always said that the commemoration of the end of WWII in Europe is important for me, and I am trying to honor those who died in the fight against fascist Germany," he said.
Gavrilov says he understand the part of the public that was outraged by his commemoration of May 9th.
"(The outrage - BNS) can certainly be understood because of the association with Russia, a country hostile towards us, as it is trying to exploit May 9th in every way," he said.
He also pointed out that people commemorating the end of WWII and its victims at cemeteries without using any "unacceptable symbols" and just bringing in flowers and placing them on soldiers' graves are not hostile towards Lithuania.
"At least the vast majority of them (are not hostile - BNS), that's for sure," he said.
President Gitanas Nauseda said on Monday that Gavrilov should make it clearer that he's "on the right side of history".
Gavrilov says his opinion has been changed both by the president's position and the public outrage.
"These few days have allowed me to see the attitude of the public, and I am grateful to those who have supported me, and I am also grateful to all those who have expressed their opinion," the deputy minister told BNS. "We should not further divide people into good and bad, and my decision has to do with this, and I understand the responsibility that comes with representing Lithuania and the authorities," he said.
Gabrilov came under fire following media reports about his Facebook posts when he shared pictures from a May 9th commemoration at Antakalnis cemetery in Vilnius, and also said the blockade of the Astravyets nuclear power plant should be stopped and spoke against increasing funding for the army.
Gavrilov late said he had already changed his mind on some issues, but said that May 9 was very important to his family and he would continue to commemorate it.
Both the prime minister and the finance ministers say they have no doubts about Gavrilov's competence and loyalty to Lithuania and say he can continue working in his position.
Gavrilov was appointed a deputy finance minister earlier this week and is in charge of financial policy, EU affairs and international relations.
The end of WWII is commemorated in Europe on May 8. Meanwhile, Russia and some other Soviet-ruled countries mark the day of victory over Nazi Germany during WWII on May 9. In Lithuania, bigger commemorations on this day take place in Vilnius and Klaipeda as they have bigger Russian-speaking communities.
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