Lithuanian MP resigns from historical memory commission after Holocaust comments
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Valdas Rakutis / E. Blaževič/LRT
Lithuanian MP Valdas Rakutis from the ruling Homeland Union is stepping down as head of the parliamentary committee on historical memory following his controversial comments on Holocaust.
In an op-ed published on Wednesday, the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Rakutis claimed that there was no shortage of Holocaust perpetrators among the Jews themselves . His comments drew rebukes from the country’s leaders, ambassadors, public figures, as well as fellow party members.
On Friday, Rakutis said he decided to quit the parliamentary Commission for the Cause of Freedom and the National Historical Memory because he had been asked to by the leadership of the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) and its parliamentary group.
Из-за комментария о Холокосте литовский депутат уходит с должности главы парламентской комиссии delfi.lt - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from delfi.lt Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Israeli ambassador slams MP s Holocaust remarks as insensitive and disturbing
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Yossef Levy, Israel s ambassador to Lithuania, has described conservative MP Valdas Rakutis remarks on the Holocaust as insensitive and disturbing .
The diplomat s comment came in response to an article published by Rakutis on International Holocaust Remembrance Day in which the chairman of the parliament s Commission for the Cause of Freedom and the National Historical Memory mentioned Jews alleged collaboration with the Nazi and Soviet regimes. We say in Hebrew: if one man throws a stone into a well, 100 strong guys can t dig it up. I don t know Mr. Rakutis. Maybe he had good intensions. But this article, written especially to the Memorial Day, was unfortunately so insensitive and disturbing, and damaged the image of Lithuania, Levy told BNS on Wednesday.
ЄС має надати більше енергії відносинам із Україною й іншими членами «Східного партнерства» – голова МЗС Литви radiosvoboda.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from radiosvoboda.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Landsbergis: Lithuania to declare state of emergency if people fail to obey lockdown
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The Lithuanian parliament could declare a state of emergency if people failed to follow the lockdown restrictions imposed by the government to get the spread of COVID-19 under control, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said.
Gabrielius Landsbergis, Ingrida Å imonytÄ If it is decided, or more precisely, if there is a need, if the numbers do not fall and the public fail to come to the understanding that the situation has to be taken seriously, then the Seimas could be asked to impose additional restrictions, Landsbergis, the chairman of the conservative Homeland UnionâLithuanian Christian Democrats, the biggest party in the parliament, said in an interview with BNS.