W. Tomaszewski: R. Cytacka will surely not be deported to Siberia

On Monday, another meeting of political council coalition governing on Lithuania has been held. After the meeting, Waldemar Tomaszewski, leader of Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania, member of European Parliament, was besieged with questions by journalists about Renata Cytacka, from whom the explanations for a record that showed up at media on 16 January 2014 are demanded.

‘I think that deputy minister is a citizen of Lithuania and we live in a free and democratic country. She has a private life, is an social activist and as a citizen, has the right to take active part in social life, in non-governmental organizations. And no one can ban her from doing it. We live in a free country, we are free citizens’ – said W. Tomaszewski on Monday after council coalition meeting.

On the other hand, A. Butkevičius said that he is waiting for Minister of Energy explanations about this case.

We remind you that Deputy Minister of Energy, Renata Cytacka, in her record expressed support towards Waldemar Tomaszewski speech in European Parliament, who from the European Parliament’s tribune stood up for national minorities rights. In this record R. Cytacka regrets at the statement of President Dalia Grybauskaitė, who, according to the author, misled  international community.

W. Tomaszewki when asked about R. Cytacka criticism of president said that she only expressed her opinion.

‘I believe that if it had come to abuse, individual measures could be initiated to held one’s liable. There are no such petitions. And for expressing one’s opinion, in European Union no one can be persecuted or punished. I believe it’s some kind of misunderstanding.’ – said politician.

‘You know that we are the country – all of us, citizens, three millions of us make our country. Only in the XVIII century king Ludwig XIV have said “I am the state.” Such things should not be exaggerated. You, journalists, me, my wife, children can express our opinion freely. In European Union we frequently express our point of view about events happening not only in one’s native country. Now we criticise Ukrainian court sentences in Julia Tymoszenko case, we strongly  criticise president Wiktor Janukowycz – and every single one of us has a right to do so, even toward citizen of another country. All the more, everyone inside a state has a right to express one’s point of view’ – LLRA leader explained to journalists.

Asked whether R. Cytacka statements will not harm Minister of Energy Jarosław Niewierowicz, politician responded crisply: ‘One thing i know is that Mrs R. Cytacka will surely not be departed on Siberia, because we don’t have Syberia.’

Source: http://l24.lt/pl/polityka/item/26141-w-tomaszewski-r-cytacka-na-pewno-nie-bedzie-zeslana-na-sybir

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