Bernatonis: Spelling of surnames is closely related to the human rights

The minister of justice of Lithuania, Juozas Bernatonis, has claimed that the question of spelling of surnames should not be politicized. The minister also does not approve of the fact that this problem is frequently restricted to a particular national minority or political power.

Bernatonis hopes that everything can be sorted out legally. “You are certainly aware of the fact that a considerable group of our women get married to the foreigners who bear not-Lithuanian surnames. Some of our citizens living in Lithuania do not have authentic Lithuanian surnames either. This is an obvious phenomena. Were we not to accept this, it would mean that we do not perceive its existence” – declared the minister in the interview for „Lietuvos žinios“.

In his view the current regulation regarding the surnames is obsolete and it does not correspond to the contemporary reality, hence, a new lawful act should be passed. “Spelling of surnames is closely related to the human rights. In accordance with the jurisdiction of the Constitutional Court of Lithuania and our lawful regulations, this question is to be settled with the means of act of law. Unfortunately, this question is frequently politicized, furthermore it is claimed that these demands derive from the national minorities or particular political powers” – stated Juozas Bernatonis.

Source: http://pl.delfi.lt/aktualia/litwa/bernatonis-pisownia-nazwisk-jest-scisle-powiazana-z-prawami-czlowieka.d?id=61479608

Tłumaczenie by Joanna Mirek w ramach praktyk w Europejskiej Fundacji Praw Człowieka, www.efhr.eu. Translated by Joanna Mirek within the framework of a traineeship programme of the European Foundation of Human Rights, www.efhr.eu.