Lithuania and Austria

I can confirm from personal experience that the Austrian government is massively craven when it comes to Russia. In this particular case the pathetic behaviour of the Austrian government should fool nobody. It is clear that Moscow pressured them and that they folded immediately because they have no moral principles and they want good business relations with Moscow. As a result the Austrian government broke with all the usual procedures and forced the prosecutor to release the suspect based on a technicality. What matters in such cases is not whether what they did was or wasn't technically legal. What matters is what it says about the intent and the general orientation of the government in question. Now the Austrian government has shown on numerous occasions that it will bend over backwards to please Moscow, even if this involves hurting or insulting "lesser states" in Central or Eastern Europe. As a result, it is fair to wonder whether Austria is really a reliable partner inside the EU, given that it evidently takes orders from a foreign power at the expense of normal collaboration with its EU partners.

The fact:
Soviet KGB forces led by M. Golovatov opened fire at unarmed civilians. 14 dead, many hundreds crippled.

My oppinion is that those who murdered and drove tanks on unarmed civilians, they should definitely pay for their act. It's indifferent if they are russians, germans or lithuanians, from big or from small state. They all must be brought to court. Sooner of later.

It is what it is.

Joey the Reader wrote: "In 2002 the Simon Wiesenthal Center declared its dissatisfaction with the Lithuanian government’s efforts and launched a controversial "Operation Last Chance" offering monetary rewards for evidence that leads to the prosecution of war criminals;"

I find this episode most ridiculous. What they were expecting to hunt in an area where nazi criminals were prosecuted by NKVD/GRU/KGB for 50 years? With all due respect, mr. Zuroff is not a mach to entire KGB aparatus. I bet, it was just a public relations spin, nothing else.

Mr. Emglish, why are you posting twice?

Anywho, at which university was your degree acquired?

There has been criticism that Lithuania is dragging its feet on the Holocaust issue; in 2001 Dr. Efraim Zuroff, Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, criticized the Lithuanian government for its unwillingness to prosecute Lithuanians involved in the Holocaust. In 2002 the Simon Wiesenthal Center declared its dissatisfaction with the Lithuanian government’s efforts and launched a controversial "Operation Last Chance" offering monetary rewards for evidence that leads to the prosecution of war criminals; this campaign has encountered much resistance in Lithuania and the other former Soviet bloc countries.More recently, in 2008, the Simon Weisenthal Center which had initially ranked Lithuania high during on-going trials to bring Lithuanian war criminals to justice, noted, in its annual report, no progress and the lack of any real punishment by Lithuanian justice organs for Holocaust perpetrators.

Dear readers, Dear article writer,

Austria must certainly give as much time as necessary to provide with the exact formal details on January 1991 year events in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia - the Baltic States.

Documentation of other facts for the previous 50 years before 1991 must be exact and it must prove the facts of independence and freedom in the Baltic countries in the 20th century.

Europe greatly admired the Lithuania's fight during 1988-1993 years.

Professor Vytautas Landsbergis - member of the Europe Parliament - was a leader during 1989-1993 years' events and later he had his exact opinions on the events as well. He was awarded with the UNESCO medal.

Gintaras Kavarskas,
English writer,
teacher of the English language,
reviewer, short stories and novels writer in English,
Bachelor degree in the English Philology with the Teacher qualification,
Master student 2007-2011,
a recognized defender of the Lithuania freedom during January 11 to January 13 in 1991

Dear readers, Dear article writer,

Documentation must be exact and it must prove the facts of independence and freedom in Baltic countries in the 20th century. Professor Vytautas Landsbergis - member of the Europe Parliament - was a leader during 1989-1993 years' events and later he had his exact opinions on the events as well.

The fact is that the actions of the armed forces of the USSR was perceived as a serious act of soviet aggression against not only Lithuania, but also Latvia and Estonia. These three countries were occupied for about 50 years till 1991. Lithuania defended its legitimate government, independence, and democracy. 13 January, 1991, and all the events before the January and after it have proved that Lithuania and the Baltic states defended their values and countries. The world was astonished at the fact how freedom and independence was achieved in 1990-1991.

Austria seemed to have forgotten some facts about the 21 years old events. I defended freedom of Lithuania and I really know what events were during 1988-1993 years in Lithuania.

Gintaras Kavarskas,
English writer,
teacher of the English language,
reviewer, short stories and novels writer in English,
Bachelor degree in the English Philology with the Teacher qualification,
Master student 2007-2011,
a recognized defender of the Lithuania freedom during January 11 to January 13 in 1991

@ Vors

"In terms of 17 century warfare there are no warriors, it is not a Cimmeria of Conan the Barbarian :). Ask for generals."

Well, I deliberately used the term 'warrior', as didn't know how I could describe a member of Lithuanian troops of the Baltic tribes' origin (which would more or less equate to present-day Lithuanians, in terms of their ethnicity). I knew I shouldn't be asking for hetmans/commanders, who were Polish.

"Lithuanian army was busy trashing province of Hungary (contemporary ally of Turks), what now is Slovakia."

That would be right. As per Wikipedia: "Jan Kazimierz Sapieha the Younger delayed the march of the Lithuanian army, instead devastating the Hungarian Highlands (now Slovakia), and arrived in Vienna after it was relieved."

By the way, J.K. Sapieha is reported to have died in Grodno in present Belarus, and his Wiki page has Belarussian, Russian and English language version, apart from the Polish one. Interestingly, no Lithuanian translation...

Jay.Z wrote:
"Could you pls. name any Lithuanian warrior, who fought and/or died in that battle?"

Ironically, 17 century Lithuania is what today we know as Lithuania and Belarus (more or less). Therefore this argument equally could be used by Lukashenko, dictator of Belarus. He likes skiing in Austria and now he can’t :( ...

I believe he is referring to battle of Vienna. In terms of 17 century warfare there are no warriors, it is not a Cimmeria of Conan the Barbarian :). Ask for generals.

However, you are right, Lithuanian army did not participated in the battle, although it was a part of forces of Sobieski (king of Poland, grand duke of Lithuania). Lithuanian army was busy trashing province of Hungary (contemporary ally of Turks), what now is Slovakia.

Jay.Z: "sorrowful moments of your recent history"

I think that the main sorrowful aspect of Lithuania's recent history is that it voluntarily exchanged the status of the most civilised, respected and forward-looking member of one union and became one of the poorest, most backward and least respected members of another. It quite literally went from being the golden republic of the USSR to the toilet cleaner of the EU. Which is whe the Lithuanian people are starting to feel understandably bitter about their politicians' choices.

@Better dead than red

"When Lithuania defended Vienna from the Turks in 1683 in the cause of European solidarity, it was wasting its blood in vain..."

LOL, Lithuania defended Vienna from Turks??

Could you pls. name any Lithuanian warrior, who fought and/or died in that battle?

Anyway, if you're from Lithuania, I think you should keep a certain level of truthfulness while posting a comment in the thread related to sorrowful moments of your recent history.

When Lithuania defended Vienna from the Turks in 1683 in the cause of European solidarity, it was wasting its blood in vain...

The entire incident can be explained by the traditional Western fear of Russia, though all Russian independent analysts, from billionaire businessman Alexander Lebedev to Russia’s most famous journalist, Yulia Latynina, unanimously describe Russia as a failed state with no future and compare Russia to Zimbabwe, which is the result of the decade of rule of the corrupt Putin clan. Another explanation – Austria is one of the most favourite destinations for the Russian elite. Indeed, Russia’s elite keeps its money, wives, children, and villas in the West and all the Kremlin’s anti-Western propaganda is a smoke screen for Russian people, although such propaganda can result in some dangerous developments later.

Google translate:

Today, 60 per cent. Austria buys gas from Russia. All the EU average so far is 25 percent. Reduce dependence on Russian gas pipeline to the south of Nabucco, which would provide Azerbaijani, Turkmen and Iraqi gas. Its construction is politically supported by the EU, the largest central European oil and gas company OMV, the Austrian is the Nabucco consortium.
Russia as an alternative plan to the South Stream pipeline, which would lead to Russian gas across the Black Sea to Austria and then, Gazprom managed to OMV's 50 percent. Central European distributor Baumgarten, from where gas would be supplied and northern Italy. In the event of a dispute between Gazprom and OMV, 2008 Russia during Putin's visit to Slovenia, Austria has shown that South Stream can bypass it and reach the north through Serbia to Italy and Slovenia. The following year, scared one agreed to participate in 2010 Austria signed an agreement with Russia on this project and the entertainment was no promise does not cost additional 2 mlrd.m3 gas project in case of success. It is unlikely that the two pipelines will be built, but the Austrians sat on two chairs, in both cases, successful exit. One at the airport revealed himself to M. Golovatov Austrian politicians have been like Zhukov, who settled on the miraculous image of the future, which shines only the importance of profits and influence.
Risk calculated correctly: the Austrians as a hot potato catapulted M. Golovatov back to the early, sort of night, hearing about the decision of the Lithuanian General Prosecutor's Office received a report of the pre-dawn hours - 16 July 05:39. And maybe even without a hearing it went. Work carried out perhaps the KGB veteran and decorated chest another state award.
Russia won: two EU countries set at variance, in addition to the prospect of deepening the divide between the old and new members, detached attention from hard-luck voidable by limiting the energy of the Russian influence in Lithuania, confirmed that the Russian power is above the European law.
For every non repenting sinner maximum comfort and pleasure is to see another slip up. Submerged by the Russian government corruption as honey sweet news that Austria trample law in the name of lucre. Philosophical sense is undermining the EU's foundation, which consists of all members of Solidarity. It is a binding agent of the Union, because the goods and material goods is acting in the opposite direction toward selfishness. If you look at only the Germans themselves and their welfare today, of now received support from the EU, even wouldn’t dream about.
Incidentally, Germany, 14 July also quite significant. On that day, Gazprom signed a memorandum of understanding with the second-largest German electricity producer RWE, a joint venture development and strategic partnership between the supply of electricity in Europe. The Agreement provides for countries belonging to the gas-and coal-fired power plants together. RWE "hanging" weak: they share 28 percent of its value this year. It lacks 18 billion. million for the necessary investments in renewable energy. Since RWE is a major consortium of the Nabucco participant is the new threat to this project. If Austria is inadvertently would gave up M. Golovatov to Lithuania, Russia could be indignant because the signal across the EU, there is nothing more wouldn’t be heard, and blamed his bad behaviour on Lithuania, within the EU as the bad guys in the family.
Russians in this event in Vienna airport, accused of shows already sitting in the EU than in their own backyard, even if KGBist with international experience does not affect the European arrest warrant. How these people behave, feel when their owners can tell us who we were in 1991 in Vilnius winter. Government, covering criminals are exactly the same as its wards.

Joey aka Rabinovich

Hope you will be able to pay tribute to the new Stalin's monument on your next visit to your Putin Jugend summer camp. Make sure to take some red flowers with you !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwZrH8S0FI4&feature=related

Farringdon wrote: "It's called Realpolitik and is practised by all important states, without exception."

---
Unimportant states do practice realpolitics as well:) And I don't find Lithuanian elites naive.
It is always better to be a member of a rich club where decisions are being made, even if you are poor and unimportant weirdo, than to wait at other side of the door for the decisions made for you. In other hand, Balts successfully demonstrated that they know some levers to push. There is good parallel in this article: what if there would be Britain instead of Lithuania. But imagine analogical conflict between Kishinev and Vienna... IMHO, we definitely would not be seeing any such articles in The Economist...

Dido, Aljazeera link is from 2010, not that long ago.

I suggest, in order to complete the "achievements" of austrian justice, that the former KGB agent be given the Quadriga prize.

Joey aka Rabinovich

You are way out of date with your Stalin monument in Ukraine which had its head broken off long ago. Get your former Russian Komsomol friends to bring you up to date.

Still waiting for your confirmation which one are you in that Putin Jugend squad shown saluting "Sieg Heil" in the You-TUBE clip ?

Dido, perhaps you should look at your own mess in your own backyard. Communists of Ukraine have erected a statue of Stalin not a while ago and you did nothing about that? Outrageous!

http://en.rian.ru/world/20100325/158311278.html

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2010/05/2010516202227188904.html

Are you going to do anything about this?

More cartoons from Dido?

Farringdon writes: "Baltic states were allowed into the EU at the time of prosperity for geopolitical reasons and to serve as sources of inexpensive labour to fuel the boom in old Europe." ----- This is kind of makes sense. I do think that when joining the Union, Baltic states thought they would get special treatment, to compensate for years of Soviet "occupation". However, the reality is a bit different and perhaps the 'honeymoon' period is coming to the end, at which point Batls, as did Poles, realize that perhaps everything in the Union is not nice and rosy. It feels like Old/Western Europe views itself higher than Eastern Europe.