Lithuania to continue to boycott May 9 Victory Day events in Russia

VILNIUS - Lithuania plans to continue to boycott May 9 events in Russia, which celebrates the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany on that day, the Foreign Ministry has told BNS. 

Lithuanian diplomats will pay tribute to the victims of World War Two on 8 May.

"The ambassador and embassy staff would lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the Kremlin Wall on May 8. This will happen this year, too," Rasa Jakilaitiene, spokeswoman for the foreign minister, told BNS.

"Each embassy places its wreath individually. The (Lithuanian) embassy will not take part in other May 9 events," she said.   

Each year on May 9, Russia and Russian communities hold celebrations to mark the victory over Nazi Germany.

Lithuania, like many other European countries, marks the end of World War Two on May 8.

Lithuania remained occupied by the Soviet Union after the war ended and experienced repressions, mass deportations to Siberia and forced collectivization in subsequent years.