The Seimas adopted a resolution on strengthening Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism

On Tuesday, the Seimas adopted a resolution commemorating key dates related to Holocaust remembrance and reaffirming its commitment to fighting antisemitism, xenophobia, and other forms of hatred.

“On January 27, the entire democratic world will mark a very significant date tied to crimes against humanity committed during World War II,” said Seimas Speaker Saulius Skvernelis while presenting the resolution.

“Today, as we speak about crimes against humanity and the atrocities committed by totalitarian regimes, it is important to remember, to once again declare our country’s stance, and to express solidarity and support for all nations and states that commemorate and value this day,” emphasized the parliamentary speaker.

The resolution was supported by 83 members of the Seimas, with no votes against and five abstentions.

The resolution highlighted that the Holocaust was a tremendous tragedy for Europe and the world and warned that “unlearned lessons from World War II lay the groundwork for contemporary criminal incitement to antisemitism and the weakening of the foundations of democracy.”

The Seimas called on Lithuanian and global societies to remain vigilant against antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, and other spreading forms of hatred that threaten peace, human values, and democracy.

“The Seimas underscores the importance of combating antisemitism, xenophobia, and all forms of incitement to hatred both nationally and internationally, condemns manifestations of antisemitism in Europe and the world, as well as political statements containing racist or antisemitic elements,” the document states.

The fight against antisemitism and xenophobia has been pledged by the Social Democrats, Democrats, and the “Dawn of Nemunas” party as part of their governing coalition agreement. This commitment came in response to criticism over including the “Dawn of Nemunas” party in the ruling coalition, as its leader, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, has been accused of antisemitism and Holocaust denial.

The leader of “Dawn of Nemunas” was also declared by the Constitutional Court to have violated his oath and breached the Constitution due to his antisemitic statements.

Žemaitaitis has denied the allegations and supported the resolution during the Seimas vote.

The document also expressed support for government efforts to develop a national plan to combat antisemitism, xenophobia, and all forms of hate speech.

“Let us draw another conclusion from all of this: contemporary tendencies in the state, unfortunately, as well as election outcomes, stem from a lack of understanding of what happened during World War II,” urged Emanuelis Zingeris, speaking on behalf of the Conservative faction in support of the resolution.

The resolution also proposed amending the law on national remembrance days to designate September 23 as Holocaust Remembrance and Resistance Day of Lithuanian Jews against the Nazis, and to introduce January 27 as International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

Currently, September 23 is marked in the law as the National Memorial Day for the Genocide of Lithuanian Jews.

The parliament adopted the resolution in honor of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the largest Nazi concentration and extermination camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, which operated from 1940 to 1945 in Nazi-occupied Poland.

Auschwitz was established by the Germans in 1940, initially as a camp for Polish prisoners. Two years later, Auschwitz II-Birkenau was opened, becoming the main site of the mass extermination of Jews.

In the complex, which included sub-camps, at least 1.1 million people were murdered—primarily Jews, but also Poles, Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, and people of other nationalities.

Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated on January 27, 1945, by Soviet soldiers. In 1947, the site was declared a national memorial.