Certificates of defenders of the freedom of Lithuania will be presented in the Vilnius officers’ hall

It is planned that more than 220 persons will be awarded symbols of historical memory, the Genocide and Resistance Research Center of the Lithuanian Population (LGGRTC) reported.

According to Vytas Lukšios, the deputy general director of this center, this event is intended to honor and evaluate the contribution of defenders of freedom in defending and strengthening the Lithuanian state and its institutions, which has restored its independence, by presenting Defender of Freedom signs and certificates.

The first certificates were awarded to the defenders of Lithuanian freedom on June 23 of this year in the Seimas. Then over 200 defenders of freedom were honored.

The law on the legal status of the defender of freedom was adopted by the Seimas in 2021.

According to it, the status of defender of freedom can be obtained by citizens of Lithuania who, between March 11, 1990 and August 21, 1991, during the military aggression of the Soviet Union, participated in the restoration of Lithuanian statehood, protected or defended the state border, other objects of state importance, created national defense structures, customs and another.

This status can be applied for by volunteer soldiers at the time, the Security Department of the Supreme Council, the Department of State Security, customs and police officers, shooters.

All of them had to take an oath to the Republic of Lithuania in 1990-1991.

Until then, defenders of Lithuania’s independence were recognized as persons who were killed or injured on January 11-13, 1991 and during the subsequent aggression of the USSR, and who had certificates from the General Prosecutor’s Office confirming the fact of injury sustained while defending Lithuania’s freedom in 1991.