On 2022/10/28, the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Struggles of the Genocide and Resistance Research Center of the Lithuanian Population took place in Vilnius. The first outdoor exhibition "For the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Struggles - 30" was ceremoniously opened here.
It was attended by many distinguished guests: the first leader of the restored Lithuania, the Signatory of the Act of Independence, the leader of Sąjūdis, prof. Vytautas Landsbergis, Paulė Kuzmickienė, chairman of the Freedom Struggle and State Historical Memory Commission of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, military historian prof. Dr. Valdas Rakutis, Member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Arvydas Pocius, Member of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, Žilvinas Tomkus, Deputy Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Lithuania, Darius Kuolys, the first minister of culture and education of the restored Republic of Lithuania, who signed the founding documents of the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Struggles.
The general director of the Genocide and Resistance Research Center of the Lithuanian population, dr. Arūnas Bubnys and the new director of the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Struggles, Remigijus Černius.
Gintaras Vaičiūnas - the first director of the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Struggles, as well as Eugenijus Peikštenis, the long-time director of the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Struggles, took part in the event and shared their memories.
I am happy that the leaders and members of the Union and Community of Lithuanian Political Prisoners and Deportees, relatives of Lithuanian partisans, Lithuanian freedom fighters, LGGRTC employees and all people of good will who care about the history of Lithuania attended the opening of the exhibition.
It should also be noted that the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Struggles was established by the decision of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and exiles and political prisoners who had a great influence: they were consistent, determined, they were the support of restored independence.
Citizens walking in the center of Vilnius and their guests have the opportunity to get acquainted with the LGGRTC Museum of Occupations and Freedom Struggles outdoors - an outdoor exhibition that will be open until December 31. will be exhibited next to the museum building. Stands are lined up in front of the house, which has become a symbol of the cruelty and brutality of the foreign government that occupied the land for Lithuanians.
The LGGRTC Museum of Occupations and Freedom Struggles was established in 1992. Initially, the museum was called Victims of Genocide, and in 2018 the name has been changed to the name of the Museum of Occupations and Freedom Struggles. It is the only such museum in the Baltic States, established in the same building where since 1940 the second half until 1991. In August, the Soviet repressive institutions NKVD and NKGB-MGB-KGB worked. In the basement of the building there is an internal prison-detention center, where since 1940 autumn until 1987 Lithuanian residents who disobeyed the occupation authorities were imprisoned.
