Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania

The Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania (Lithuanian: Lietuvos gyventojų genocido ir rezistencijos tyrimo centras or LGGRTC) is a state research institute in Lithuania dedicated to investigation of the crimes against humanity and other persecutions during the Soviet and Nazi occupations (1940–1990), including mass deportations, the Holocaust in Lithuania, and annihilation of the Lithuanian partisans. The centre was founded on 25 October 1992 by the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian Republic as the "State Genocide Research Centre of Lithuania". [1]

The centre is a member organisation of the Platform of European Memory and Conscience.[2]

Activities

The centre's activities include investigations of armed and peaceful resistance, providing juridical evaluations of the perpetrators, and commemorating the resistance fighters and genocide victims. For example, the centre recommends former members of resistance for larger state pensions and other awards.[3]

The centre publishes the academic journal Genocidas ir rezistencija and operates the Museum of Genocide Victims in the former prison of KGB in Vilnius and memorial at the Tuskulėnai Manor. One of its long-term research projects is a database and multi-volume publication of names and biographies of the victims of the Soviet and Nazi persecutions.[4] In 2001–2001, the centre handled some 22,000 applications for compensation from the Foundation "Remembrance, Responsibility and Future".[5]

In 1998, Lithuania passed a law restricting employment in the public sector for former employees of the KGB, the MGB, and other Soviet security institutions. The centre and the State Security Department had the authority to determine whether a person was an employee of the KGB.[6]

In 1999–2002, the centre was involved in legal proceedings regarding Nachman Dushanski, a suspected war criminal against the Lithuanians and an Israeli citizen.[7] In 2002, commemorating the 30th anniversary of Romas Kalanta self-immolation, Seimas listed May 14 as the Civil Resistance Day (Lithuanian: Pilietinio pasipriešinimo diena) based on recommendations by the centre.[8]

Directors

The centre's director is nominated by the Prime Minister of Lithuania and confirmed by the Seimas (Lithuanian parliament).[9]

On November 26, 1992, Juozas Starkauskas was approved by the Lithuanian government to be the acting head of the centre.[1]

On 17 February 1994 the Seimas appointed Vytautas Skuodis general director of the reorganized centre.[1]

On 18 February 1997 Dalia Kuodytė was appointed general director.[1]

In 2009, the Seimas confirmed Birutė Burauskaitė, a dissident of long standing, as the Center's director.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 AN OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF THE GENOCIDE AND RESISTANCE RESEARCH CENTRE OF LITHUANIA (retrieved March 4, 2013)
  2. ↑ "Czech Prime minister Petr Nečas: The years of totalitarianism were years of struggle for liberty". Platform of European Memory and Conscience. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
  3. ↑ Baltic News Service (2000-07-12). "Valstybinės pensijos paskirtos dar 24 rezistentams" (in Lithuanian). Delfi.lt.
  4. ↑ Baltic News Service (2003-02-13). "Išleista sovietinio genocido aukų vardyno dalis" (in Lithuanian). Delfi.lt.
  5. ↑ Baltic News Service (2002-09-04). "Kompensacijos - dar vienai nacių aukų grupei" (in Lithuanian). Delfi.lt.
  6. ↑ Gladstone, Alan (2005). International Labour Law Reports 24. Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. pp. 75–76. ISBN 90-04-14975-9.
  7. ↑ Baltic News Service (2001-10-29). "Lietuva vėl prašo Izraelio išduoti kaltinamąjį sovietinio genocido vykdymu" (in Lithuanian). Delfi.lt.
  8. ↑ Baltic News Service (2002-05-07). "Lietuvoje bus minima Pilietinio pasipriešinimo diena" (in Lithuanian). Delfi.lt.
  9. ↑ Baltic News Service (2009-01-09). "Į genocido tyrimo centro direktores – B.Burauskaitė" (in Lithuanian). Delfi.lt.
  10. ↑ "Gyventojų genocido ir rezistencijos tyrimų vadove paskirta B.Burauskaitė (1)" (in Lithuanian). Lietuvos rytas. Retrieved 2010-07-18.

External links

Coordinates: 54°40′45″N 25°17′14″E / 54.67917°N 25.28722°E / 54.67917; 25.28722

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