Member of the Seimas Monika Ošmianskienė shared on social networks the message of the photographer, poet, publicist Neringa Rekašiūtė about the conflict that arose in the trolleybus number 7 in Vilnius, when the driver did not want to let a woman with a wheelchair into the trolleybus and only when a passenger who knew about the key in the vehicle appeared, that a woman be allowed on public transport.
It was written on social networks that on March 6 in public transport an unpleasant incident took place - discrimination against a person with a disability who was able to enter public transport only thanks to an indifferent passenger.
The driver did not want to let her into the trolleybus
N. Rekašiūtė wrote on social networks that the trolleybus driver, who does not speak Lithuanian, did not want to let a woman with a wheelchair into public transport and only thanks to one civilian passenger "the disabled person managed to return home from the polyclinic".
"I just witnessed a conflict on the seventh trolleybus (another passenger and I already wrote an email on the mobile app and reported everything).
The driver did not want to let a woman with a wheelchair into the trolleybus, and with the efforts of only one woman, during the confrontation, it was achieved that the key appeared and the woman entered the trolleybus with a wheelchair. So, thanks to a citizen who knew about the existence of the key, the disabled person managed to return home from the polyclinic.
This is a terrible discrimination against the disabled, it made me sick to my stomach in broad daylight in 2024 in the capital of Lithuania, a welfare state, ** to see what people with disabilities experience every day. The message for disabled people is clear - stay at home and do not interfere with life. I'm typing hot, I'd like to curse more, but I'll stop.
The driver does not speak Lithuanian. She spoke Russian, so when I asked the woman to make it possible for her to get off the trolleybus at the Justiniškii stop, she said that she was "nipanimaju".
In this country, I would be most afraid of getting sick or if I needed help. It seems that you are somewhat needed only until you can completely take care of yourself", shared N. Rekašiūtė.
The situation is being resolved
When news portal tv3.lt contacted Greta Vasiliauskaita, communication specialist of JUDU's Communications Department, she confirmed that the situation is known and appropriate actions have been taken.
"We regret this incident and sincerely apologize to the passenger and everyone involved in the situation for the experiences this incident has caused.
The behavior of the driver described by the witnesses of the incident is intolerable. The company "Vilnius public transport"he assured that he will make every effort and take the necessary decisions so that such cases do not recur in the future.
To our knowledge, the company has already started an internal investigation in order to find out all the circumstances of this incident. In addition, in the near future, the company will talk to all employees so that they properly understand the responsibility towards customers.
In this situation, the driver did not understand what was being asked of her - she is a war refugee from Ukraine who does not yet speak Lithuanian. We can assure you that the carrier providing the passenger transport service - UAB "Vilniaus viešasis transportas" is committed and takes care that Ukrainians acquire knowledge of the Lithuanian language within a year.
We are grateful to the civilian population for their reaction and assistance to the passenger," the comment reads.
