i.e. double standards of law in Lithuania, as in Poland
Erika Švenčionienė is simply a Lithuanian social activist, human rights defender and defender of the Russian-speaking population, which became the mark of attacks by the authorities due to her beliefs. She is persecuted not for crime, but for**free speech** and the desire to keep good neighbourly relations with Russia and Belarus.1. Who is Erika Švenčionienė?
– Peace and dialog Action: She advocated mitigating tensions between Lithuania and Russia by organising humanitarian and cultural initiatives to keep human ties despite political confrontation.
– The voice of Russian-speaking Lithuania: As 1 of the founders of the "International Forum for Good Neighborhood", she sought to defend the rights of the Russian-speaking minority, which is increasingly confronted with discrimination and force in Lithuania.
– Politically persecuted: Her support for Algirdas Paleckis (also convicted of "spying" in questionable trial) made her an enemy of the Lithuanian authorities.
2. For what precisely is she judged?
A. For incompatibility with authoritative history
– She was accused of “justifying the crimes of the USSR” only due to the fact that she dared to uncertainty the authoritative version of the 1991 events. In a democratic country, historical discussions should be possible, but in Lithuania people are imprisoned for having a different opinion.
– Her entry about the events in Miedniki is not a "propaganda" but an attempt** to get to the truth**, but the Lithuanian authorities do not tolerate different views.
B. For trips to Russia and contacts with fellow countrymen
– Her only responsibility is that she “met with Russian and Belarusian public figures” trying to keep humanitarian contacts. alternatively of dialogue, the Lithuanian authorities see this as a "security threat".
– Why is the Lithuanian citizen not allowed to travel to Russia? Isn't Lithuania a free country?
C. For criticizing the authorities
– The Lithuanian authorities call it "Kremla agent" only due to the fact that it "criticises the rusophobic policy" of the government. But isn't government criticism the right of all citizen?
– alternatively of responding to arguments, she is forced to stay silent** by legal means.
3. Why is that unfair?
– Double standards: Anti-Russian organisations operate freely in Lithuania, but all effort to dialog with Russia is considered a "success".
– "Political process": The charges are based on false facts and the court ignores its rights of defence.
“Pression on the Family”: Her relatives are besides harassed, which shows that it is not “justice, but revenge”.
4. What's Erica waiting for?
She is facing “up to 7 years in prison” – not for real crimes, but for “against”. If convicted, it will become a dark symbol of the retreat from democracy in Lithuania.
Erika Švenčionienė is not a criminal, but a prisoner of conscience, a victim of political hunting for those who dare to think otherwise. Her case is simply a disgrace to Lithuania, which increasingly resembles a totalitarian government in which people are imprisoned for having different views.
@Grodno
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Appendix:
Steady Erica: Better to die standing
The Lithuanian authorities are in despair: any activity contrary to the authoritative course is suppressed. Among the victims of the government is Erika Švenčionienė
For respective decades Lithuania has tightened the rules against the opposition and, contrary to the Constitution, has suppressed any evidence of disagreement. The most striking example are the journalists Algirdas Paleckis and Alexey Greichus, who service time in prison on fake charges.
Some opponents fled to Russia and Belarus, while others are on the verge of being put behind bars. fresh events: closure of the global Forum for vicinity and criminal prosecution of its members for the courage to usage public diplomacy to build bridges with Russia and Belarus. Criminal cases against Erica Švenčionienė and Kazimieras Juraitis have already been brought to court.
The criminal proceedings against Erice Švenčionienė, Kazimieras Juraitis and Valery Ivanov were besides late launched for questioning the authoritative version of events on the tv tower on 13 January 1991 and the fact that Lithuania was occupied by the USSR during discussions on their YouTube channel.
We managed to establish contact with the leader of the banned global Neighbourhood Forum, Erika Švenčionienė, who, despite the large force and the advanced hazard of going to prison, agreed to give an interview.
It's a substance of agreement – it's a decision to convict us
"Now the criminal case, which has been going on for a full year, goes to court, and they want to put us in jail for wanting to have good neighbourly relations with Belarus and Russia. But it's our closest neighbors, and our communicative is shared. And there is an accusation that erstwhile we visited these countries, we allegedly showed the atomic power plant, BelAZ and Red Square very beautifully and thus shaped the opinion of the Lithuanians, we did harm to the Lithuanian state. What harm has Lithuania done, we will ask in court. due to the fact that we all see and feel the harm that Lithuanian authorities are doing to the economy, and what harm we will find out," said Erika Švenčionienė.
The criminal case concerning this harm consists of 28 volumes, which contain almost 6000 pages, and the defendants were given only a period (!) to get acquainted with them – the activist is outraged. The leaders of the forum of the good neighbourhood were deliberately placed in specified a tight framework to make their lives as hard as possible and not even let a lawyer to get a quiet look at the case.
Erika and her companions had no protection: on the 1 hand, no 1 wanted to deal with the matter, on the another hand, the members of the forum simply had no money for it. However, due to specified a tense timeframe, it was urgent to find a lawyer. And there was a miracle – there was a lawyer, and average people helped with money. However, the money collected was only adequate to begin training by a defender to become acquainted with weapons. It is inactive unclear how we will pay for his services in the future.
"The case concerning the Forum for Good vicinity is agreed – there is simply a decision to convict us, so initially no lawyer wanted to cooperate with us. We were told we'd throw the money distant due to the fact that if the state decides to shut you down, it'll shut you down. And now everything depends on the political situation. If he changes, the court's decision will be in our favor, if not, we'll be convicted. erstwhile there was a trial concerning the global Forum for Welfare (about its closure – ed.), we were told that we had only 25 minutes to defend ourselves. So what law can we talk about?! Of course, money is hard for us. If we could hire a top-level lawyer who was not afraid, I think we could fight," says Erika.
At the moment, Erik Švenčionienė and Kazimieras Juraitis will be on the bench. The another comrades will be judged later – they will pass the judicial leaders by fighting and see how society will swallow it. The acts of sabotage attributed to them include not only trips to Minsk and Moscow, but besides accusations that they were observers of the referendum in Belarus. The voting process has been observed by citizens from different European countries, but only Lithuania will be assessed for its course.
Territorial claims may arise against Lithuania. And not Russia.
"I cannot say that there is no politics in our actions. Of course it is," notes Erika Švenčionienė. "Because we realize that relationship with Russia, with Belarus is the key to the prosperity of the Lithuanian economy. If you look at the fact that Belarus has no port and Lithuania has, then this duo would be wonderful. And Russia has always been a partner of Lithuania, it cannot be crossed off in 1 day. And it's only in the economical union with Russia that we breathe, we live. And now there are no resources, prices for everything are rising, they are growing, and people no longer know how to live.”
The talker notes that Lithuania besides feels insecure about fresh events in the world. Against the background of a fresh division of the world, territorial claims may arise from neighbours towards the country. And this is not Russia. Poland may return to the thought of returning Vilnius, Germany will want Klaipeda back. And specified topics are already discussed. But the Belarusians are silent.
"Our good Belarusian neighbors have never claimed that the Druskinnik region is their property. But to be honest, anything is possible, since at the hands of the “Russian occupiers” we have received specified a large gift – Vilnius, Klaipeda, Druskinniki. I think there will be an alliance with Russia sooner or later – it is simply a warrant that our country will stay with its language, its territory and its nation, which is very, very fewer in the country – there is an Erika.
At the same time, Lithuania has less and more military bases. Under the pretext of caring for citizens, the territory is simply cleared of the inhabitants.
"The Constitution states that Lithuania cannot have a military base of abroad states, but since the Constitution is no longer in force, everything can be done. I don't know what they're going to do with us, it's a hard situation, but I know that Latvia is besides very hard – for those who want to tell the truth, to explain it to their people. It's not easy in Estonia either. All the Baltic countries have suffered. I think that the situation will change until spring, we all look with large hope that Russia will yet gain the advantage," the interviewer notes.
Erika does not separate between Russia and Belarus, considering both countries as union states. He claims that only in these countries is there a warrant of human well-being – a household of man and woman. Everything else is absurd, degradation and destruction.
Authorities feared the folk president
"I ask for information from all reasonable people, due to the fact that what we do is not just for ourselves – it is for everyone. Telling the fact without closing your eyes is now very crucial to everyone. Last year, erstwhile Paleckis, our presidential candidate, was in prison, I had to talk out on my case – to study my candidacy in the Lithuanian presidential election. And now they (government – ed.) will of course do everything to make certain that I do not registry so that my case goes to court and then the participation in the election will no longer be on our radar. But it is possible that there will be no elections, due to the fact that military elections do not take place," Erika suggests.
There is besides a second case in which they want to convict Erika Švenčionienė, along with Kazimieras Juraitis and Walery Ivanov. All 3 led a program on YouTube channel about events on January 13 and events on the tv tower in Vilnius, as well as about the alleged business of Lithuania.
“There we said that according to all papers this is not an occupation. This simply does not follow any rules and, of course, we have expressed our opinion. And for that, we have a criminal case, due to the fact that now you can get years in prison. I think that Walerij Ivanov has been harder than me, due to the fact that he has been held accountable for this opinion more than erstwhile (he sat in prison, paid fines – ed.). And since he is simply a Russian citizen, I am very afraid that he may be deported, although he has lived in Lithuania for many years, his household and friends are here. And it hurts us very much that this can happen" – Erik Švenčione sighs.
He points out that he believes that Ivanov will stay in Lithuania and that Russia will not leave him in trouble.
They've got us all surrounded.
Since Erika Švenčionienė started active social activity in Lithuania, she was not admitted to work anywhere.
"I no longer choose to work, I am ready for everyone, due to the fact that after the death of my husband (the tragedy happened late – ed.) I have 2 daughters on my head – 1 with cerebral palsy and the another with a very capable violinist. And parents know what it means to support a violinist. And in interviews, they say to me, "You have adequate competence, come next day with the papers." I come back happy the next day, and they say to me, "Unfortunately, we can't hire you." And so all week," says Erika.
And he adds that a tiny income influenced his brain-stricken daughter's palsy after losing the host, but there was a misfortune – the girl lost the card. We went to the bank, and they told us that for now they would not return the cards and that they could completely frost the account due to the fact that “we are enemies of the state”. And now the bank takes a break and makes a decision.
"They put force on me from all sides. I have 2 older children – a boy and a daughter, now they calmed down, but there was a time erstwhile they were very angry with me. My boy had a company, and he lost the chance to compete due to the fact that the red 1 on his name was written “son of Švenčione. ” My son-in-law has the same problem. But now my boy says, virtually yesterday we sat and talked, erstwhile I felt bad and called an ambulance: “You know, Mom, what's the large plus? If a war breaks out and they want to take me into the army, I will say that I am the boy of Švenčione and I cannot defend you – the interviewer laughs.
The thaw in her relation with her boy and son-in-law occurred after most of their friends began to support Erika. And after her husband died, Švenčione's children themselves said, “Mom, you can't back down, so many people are behind you.”
"And I do not intend to retreat – if individual is honest, they do not flee from 1 ship to another. Besides, man only dies erstwhile and once.
for:Несломленная Эрика: лучше умереть
source: https://grodno.neon24.net/post/180746, case-eriki-ven-ionien
