Lithuania: Information on the situation of Jews and the availability of state protection

Lithuania's Jewish community numbers approximately 9,000, about 5,000 of whom reportedly live in Vilnius (Anti-Semitism World Report 1993 1993, 96; The Times 2 Jan. 1993). Country Reports 1993 indicate that there has been considerable government support for the establishment of Jewish schools, a cultural centre and museum in Vilnius (1994, 958). A recent letter published in The Washington Post refers to the existence of 12 Jewish organizations in Lithuania (The Washington Post 5 Apr. 1994). One of those organizations is the Jewish Cultural Society, which up until 1991 was headed by the Lithuanian-born novelist, now in Israel, Gregory Kanovitch (Russian Press Digest 4 Mar. 1993; Jerusalem Post 25 Feb. 1994). The Jerusalem Post recently quoted Kanovitch as being relatively pessimistic about the future of Jews in the Baltic states and the former Soviet Union in general (ibid.).

With respect to anti-Semitism, in August 1993, the Union of Councils of Soviet Jews (UCSJ) reported that, despite its small Jewish population, "Lithuania is a country where anti-Semitism is flourishing." This anti-Semitism is, according to the UCSJ, based on three postulates: 1) Jews have been the historical enemies of Lithuanian independence, 2) Jews "were and still are the economic enemy of the Lithuanian nation," and 3) beginning in 1940, Jews played a central role in the repression of Lithuanians during the Soviet era, particularly through their membership in the NKVD (Monitor 30 July-6 Aug. 1993, 11-12).

There has been considerable controversy in Lithuania surrounding the rehabilitation of individuals convicted by the Soviet authorities for Nazi collaboration during World War II. By the end of 1992, "at least 25,000 alleged Nazi collaborators" had been exonerated by the government; however, during the year, a further six had had their rehabilitation annulled (Anti-Semitism World Report 1993 1993, 96-7). Also in 1992, the commemoration of the Holocaust in Lithuania was marked by the issuing of "special stamps and the hoisting of national flags with black ribbons" (ibid., 97). Recently, a former historical researcher for the section of the US Justice Department charged with prosecuting Nazi war crimes stated that the proper investigation of war crimes committed by Lithuanians during World War II is "of serious concern to the Lithuanian government and people" (The Washington Post 5 Apr. 1994).

On several occasions, the Jewish leaders in Lithuania have publicly criticized what they saw as anti-Semitic statements in the country's mass media (BBC Summary 2 Apr. 1993; Russian Press Digest 4 Mar. 1993; Monitor 1 Apr. 1994, 5). Most recently, one Jewish organization stated that articles published by Respublica conveyed the same concepts as those espoused by Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the anti-Semitic leader of Russia's Liberal Democratic Party (ibid.). The Anti-Semitism World Report 1993 calls Respublica part of Lithuania's "yellow press" (1993, 96). In March 1992 the Lithuanian president condemned anti-Semitic comments published by the paper. In August 1993 it published a statement by the country's representative to the United Nations which the Lithuanian Jewish community called "the first known anti-Semitic escapade by an official representative of independent Lithuania" (Monitor 19 Nov.-3 Dec. 1993, 12-3; Anti-Semitism World Report 1993 1993, 96; BBC Summary 20 Mar. 1992).

In early 1992, the Lithuanian government prohibited the import of a number of Russian publications that were considered to be anti-Semitic, such as Molodaya gvardiya and Nash sovremennik (Anti-Semitism World Report 1993 1993, 96).

Reports consulted refer to at least one apparently anti-Semitic organization in Lithuania, a group known as Young Lithuanians (Monitor 13-20 Aug. 1993).

Reports consulted do not provide information specifically on the issue of state protection of Jews in Lithuania.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Anti-Semitism World Report 1993. 1993. London: Institute of Jewish Affairs.

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 2 April 1993. "Alarm Raised about 'Anti-Semitic' Articles in Newspapers." (NEXIS)

. 20 March 1992. "Supreme Council Distances Itself from Anti-Semitic Comments of Newspaper." (NEXIS)

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1993. 1994. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

Jerusalem Post. 25 February 1994. Elana Slutzkin. "Look Back in Dismay." (NEXIS)

                Monitor [Washington, DC]. 1 April 1994. Vol. 5, No. 7. "Vilnius Jewish Group Decries Anti-Semitism."

. 19 November-3 December 1993. Vol. 4, No. 33. "Jews Protest Statements by Lithuanian UN Representative."

. 13-20 August 1993. Vol. 4, No. 26. "Catholic Church Remains Divided over 'Jewish Question'."

. 30 July-6 August 1993. Vol. 4, No. 24. Yuri Bluwstein. "Lithuania: Anti-Semitism Without Jews."

Russian Press Digest. 4 March 1993. Yury Stroganov. "Jews Feel Uncomfortable in Baltic States." (NEXIS)

The Times [London]. 2 January 1993. Kate Alderson. "Baltic State with Change to Spare." (NEXIS)

The Washington Post. 5 April 1994. "Lithuania and the Holocaust." (NEXIS)

Attachments

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 2 April 1993. "Alarm Raised about 'Anti-Semitic' Articles in Newspapers." (NEXIS)

Monitor [Washington, DC]. 19 November-3 December 1993. Vol. 4, No. 33. "Jews Protest Statements by Lithuanian UN Representative," pp. 12-13.

. 13-20 August 1993. Vol. 4, No. 26. "Catholic Church Remains Divided over 'Jewish Question'," p. 12.

. 30 July-6 August 1993. Vol. 4, No. 24. Yuri Bluwstein. "Lithuania: Anti-Semitism Without Jews," pp. 11-12.

Russian Press Digest. 4 March 1993. Yury Stroganov. "Jews Feel Uncomfortable in Baltic States." (NEXIS)