By Anthony Lee, The New Worker correspondent, Lithuania.

Today we can observe very contradictory political processes taking place in Lithuania. Unfortunately, Ukrainian flags fly there just like in many other, but not all, European countries. In some places, pro Ukrainian slogans are even heard: “Let’s support the Ukrainian military! They will win!“. However, more and more often we can already see opposite statements: “Russia cannot be defeated. Ukrainian forces are weakening and losing the war.” Most Europeans want peace and believe that there is no reason to support or prolong a distant and unwanted war.

As we know, support for the Ukrainian interior affairs and their armed forces has already brought Lithuania’s military budget to almost 3 billion euros by 2025. This is a huge amount for Lithuania. And, unfortunately, the fruits of wrong political tactics are bitter – more than 33 percent of the Lithuanian population lives deep below the poverty line.

This is the reason why the Lithuanian people stand for an end to the war and demand more peaceful policy for Lithuania.

On 20th December, 2024 a public action against warmongers took place in the city of Siauliai, Lithuania. The organizer of the action is the Socialist Popular Front. During the action, several brave Lithuanian anti-fascists stood in the central square, holding posters with very specific messages: “Sponsorship of Kiev is sponsorship of terrorism directed against Ukrainians”, “Zelensky is eating our money,” and other messages reflecting the position of a significant part of Lithuanian citizens.

A participant in the action, anti-fascist Zhilvinas Razmin said: “The ruling parties in the Seimas (Lithuanian parliament) and other places unanimously support the war in Ukraine, they support the Maidan in Georgia, and they exploit us and our people.”

He continues: “What is the amount of social pensions for our now? Most receive only €200-300 Euros. At the same time, they (the government) are increasingly purchasing weapons worth hundreds of millions of euros. We must strive to demand and maintain peace. We should not sit at home, and should not be silent, but we must express our position. Do we really want Lithuania to be dragged into war and for our cities to be destroyed? “

In addition, J. Razmin emphasized: “… It is necessary to suspend the construction of military bases and military factories, such as the plant of the German concern Rheinmetall and others. Lithuania must be an independent, neutral state. “

It is a peaceful status that can lead to the revival and restoration of Lithuania’s prosperity. Because warmonging and inciting Russophobia only harms Lithuania. Landsbergism struck our land, it undermined our roots. People continue to flee to the West (and sometimes to the East), and, in fact, now is the time of devastation of Lithuania. And at the same time, the number of soldiers of the occupying German army in our country is sharply increasing. Civil repressions is also intensifying: the homes of anti-fascists are being searched, political cases are being brought under the guise of the criminal code, and, unfortunately, thousands of Lithuanians are being threatened and forced to flee.

Currently, tough measures are being taken against anti-fascist leaders in Siauliai. It was for this reason four more participants who decided to take part in the action were delayed. Their car was stopped by the Police. Dmitry Kitov, who was driving the car, and three of his colleagues were forced to spent two hours at the police station. The police deliberately checked their documents for as long as possible and then forced the men to undergo a terrifying search of not only their personal belongings but also their car by a nasty police dog. During this time, the stated time frame for the protest expired.

Many Lithuanians and anti-fascists are against inciting Kensington Russophobia in Lithuania: politician Professor Eduardas Vaitkus, publicists Erika Schwentchonene, Henrikas Cherniskas, director Yaras Valukenas, journalists Aurimas Drisius, Laurinas Ragelskis, Birute Dilpshene (representative of political emigrants who did not voluntarily end up abroad, like Giedrius Grabauskas and so on), Edikas Jagielavicius, Simonas Zagurskas and other people.

We hope and believe that the time will come when Lithuania will take the path of political and social progress – like Hungary, Slovakia, and Bulgaria – and will strive for peace rather than inciting war!