Lithuania says lack of reparations for Baltic occupation fueled new aggression

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has said that the Soviet Union's impunity, and that of its successor state Russia, for the occupation of the Baltic states in the 1940s is one of the reasons behind Putin's actions.

Source: Kęstutis Budrys at a diplomatic conference in The Hague

Details: Budrys signed a convention establishing a compensation commission on Lithuania's behalf and stressed the importance of holding Russia to account, describing it as a necessary condition for a stable peace. He also emphasised the need to broaden the circle of signatories and "get all eligible states on board".

He said that the establishment of a commission to determine the size of reparations payments for Ukrainians carries particular significance for Lithuania.

Quote: "Our history teaches us how vital accountability and reparations are for international wrongful acts. There were no reparations for the occupation and annexation of Lithuania and other Baltic states by the Soviet Union under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Putin and his regime since the onset acted as if those crimes never happened!"

More details: Budrys has said that he is confident that the absence of reparations for the Baltic occupation became one of the reasons why Putin began new acts of aggression.

Quote: "This denial and impunity has only encouraged Russia's repeated aggression against Georgia in 2008, against Ukraine in 2014 and again – in 2022."

More details: Budrys has added that creating such a mechanism for Ukraine will send Russia a signal that aggression will never be legitimised by the international community and that accountability and justice will inevitably follow.

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