According to the law, the laureates of the Freedom Prize receive a Statue of Liberty and 5 thousand. euro bonus. This year’s two laureates were unanimously chosen by the Freedom Prize Commission.
As stated in the Universal Lithuanian Encyclopedia, in 1954 Mr. Plumpa published the illegal publication “Voice of Freedom” with others, distributed retractions, on February 16, 1958 raised the Lithuanian flag on the chimney of the Petrašiūnai power plant, later founded the organization “Freedom for Lithuania” with others, distributed prohibited literature .
In 1972-1973, P. Plumpa together with Sigit Tamkevičius published the “Chronicle of the Lithuanian Catholic Church”. He was arrested for anti-Soviet activities, imprisoned in the camps of Mordovia and Perm regions, and in Chistopol prison in 1958-1965 and 1973-1981.
In 1992, Mr. Plumpa held the position of Director General of the Department of State Security, and in 1993-2001, he was an advisor to the Government on religious issues.
He was awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Vytis Cross Order in 1999 and the Lithuanian Independence Medal in 2000.
Back in 1983, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the occupation of the Baltic States and the subsequent support for Lithuania’s independence aspirations. In addition, next year Lithuania will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its accession to the European Union.
The Freedom Prize aims to evaluate the achievements and contributions of individuals and organizations in protecting human rights, developing democracy, promoting cross-border cooperation in the fight for the free self-determination and sovereignty of the peoples of Eastern and Central Europe.
Last year, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was recognized as the laureate of the Freedom Prize.
Earlier, this prize was awarded to Russian dissident, human rights defender Sergejus Kovaliovas, founder of the Lithuanian Freedom League, former political prisoner Antanas Terleckas, founder of the underground publication “Lietuvos Katalikiu Bažnychios Kronikos”, Archbishop Sigitas Tamkevičius, former Polish dissident, editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Gazeta Wyborcza” Adamas Michnik, outgoing president Valdas Adamkus.
The winners of the prize are also the chairman of the Supreme Council-Restorative Seimas, signatory Vytautas Landsbergis, the dissident nun Nijolė Sadūnaitė, seven former partisans who fought against the Soviet occupation: Jonas Čeponis, Jonas Kadžionis, Juozas Jakavonis, Bronislavas Juospaitis, Vytautas Balsys, Jonas Abukauskas, Juozas Mocius. , as well as Chronicler of Revival Albinas Kentra, Belarusian Democratic Opposition.
The prize was also awarded to Elena Gerarda Šiuliauskaitė, Bernadeta Mališkaitė, Jonas Borutas, collaborators of “Lietuvos Katalikų Bažnychios Kronikos”.
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2024-08-14 20:23:40
