Russian Embassy calls removal of Soviet sculptures in Vilnius "barbaric mockery"

VILNIUS – The removal of Soviet sculptures at Antakalnis Cemetery in Vilnius, started on Tuesday, is "barbaric mockery", the Russian Embassy in Vilnius said, calling on international institutions to assess the move of the local authorities.

It's "the culmination of the Lithuanian government's fierce desire to destroy the memory of the heroes who, at the cost of their lives, liberated Lithuania and Europe from Nazism", the embassy said.

"This barbaric mockery of the dead evokes only a feeling of deep contempt and justified indignation in every normal person," the embassy said.

Earlier in the day, the dismantling the monument to Soviet WWII soldiers was started at Antakalnis Cemetery, despite interim measures imposed by the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC).

Last month, Lithuania's Justice Ministry said the UNHRC was misled by the person who asked for the interim measures for the Soviet-era monument.

"We call on international and public organizations to assess this demonstrative disregard for the decisions of the UN body," the Russian Embassy said.