Vilnius University awards diplomas to students expelled by Soviets
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Vilnius University / E. Genys/LRT
On Thursday, Vilnius University Rector Rimvydas Petrauskas will present symbolic memory diplomas to three former students expelled during the Soviet occupation of Lithuania.
The diplomas will be presented to nun Laimutė Antanina Vanagaitė (Sister Lina-Marija), Alfonsas Bujokas and Zigmas Juozas Tamakauskas.
Their social origin, disloyalty to the then regime or entering a convent became the main obstacle for them to study at VU , the university said in a press release. The symbolic Memory Diploma of Vilnius University has been created to commemorate those who were denied the opportunity to be members of the VU academic community due to the volatile history of Lithuania, totalitarian regimes or collaboration of local people, it said.