Parliament of Georgia Adopts a Statement to Remember Tragic Events of January 1991
The Parliament of Georgia this Friday adopted a statement on the 20th anniversary of 13 of January tragic events in Lithuania and called upon the Russian Federation, the legitimate successor of the Soviet Union, to investigate the circumstances of the aggression and help Lithuania bring the perpetrators to justice. The statement was passed unanimously with 77 votes.Please click here to read the full text of the statement (in Lithuanian, in English and in Georgian).
The document notes the use of force by Soviet troops against peaceful population in Lithuania on January 13, 1991 has inflicted civilian casualties and was condemned by international community.
The statement also reminds that the January 1991 events are qualified as an act of aggression against the Republic of Lithuania; meanwhile its organizers and perpetrators are so far not prosecuted.
In this context, the Parliament of Georgia resolves to express solidarity with the people of Lithuania and asks the Government to ensure that none of the suspects associated with the January 1991 crimes could use the Georgian territory and laws to abscond from justice.
The parliament also calls on Russia to provide Lithuanian authorities with necessary assistance to investigate the January 1991 crimes and bring the organizers and the perpetrators to justice.
The statement asks the international community to help convince the Russian Federation, through all means available, to co-operate with the investigation.
14 people were killed and hundreds were injured during the Soviet occupation army and KGB-led attempt to overthrow the Lithuanian government on the night of January 13, 1991.
In total, 48 persons have been associated with the January 13th events, of whom six have already served their sentence, 15 have pre-trial investigation suspended, four suspects have died and 23 face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Russia and Belarus generally refuse to cooperate with Lithuanian Prosecution in the investigation of the January 1991 crimes.
Source: delfi.lt
