The Lithuanian Embassy in Japan commemorated the Day of Freedom Defenders together with representatives of the Japanese government and local authorities, representatives of social and cultural, non-governmental organizations, journalists, diplomats from the Baltic States and other countries residing in Tokyo. A former city mayor, Joseki Kuji, shared his memories of sending a letter of protest to the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev immediately after the events in January.
In Russia, on the eve of the January 13 anniversary the Lithuanian embassy invited guests to an evening of remembrance, in which support for Lithuania organized by Moscow residents at the time was recounted. The building of the consulate was illuminated by the Lithuanian tricolour, and the Gediminaičiai pillars made from little candles was burning all night in front of the consulate.
The anniversary was also celebrated in the Lithuanian embassy in Yerevan, Armenia, the Lithuanian Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, in Riga, Latvia, and in the Lithuanian Embassy in Warsaw. The Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) opened Lithuanian photographer‘s Vytautas Daraškevič exhibition “To Freedom: 1988-1991”. Estonian Parliament Speaker Eiki Nestor spoke at and opened the exhibition.
The Lithuanian embassy in Prague commemorated the events of January 13 by screening excerpts of a film by Jonas Mekas about Lithuania and the Soviet Union's collapse. The embassy‘s courtyard had Gediminaičiai pillars arranged from candles.
During the commemoration organised in Oslo people attending had an opportunity to enjoy music played by Lithuanian musicians living in the Norwegian capital while the Lithuanian Embassy in the United States organized a social campaign “Let us be together” during which a word Freedom was formed from candles.
The General Consulate in Chicago opened photographer‘s Jonas Kuprys photo exhibition dedicated to the memory of Lithuanian freedom fighters. The exhibition commemorates the Lithuanian diaspora‘s commitment to defend the independence of Lithuania.
Lzinios.lt