OSCE representative in Lithuania to investigate ethnic minority situation

Before meeting with MPs and members of the Human Rights Committee at parliament on Tuesday, Kristkova told journalists that the goal of her visit was to collect the latest information about the situation of ethnic minorities in Lithuania for a special report, which will not be published.

MP Larisa Dmitrijeva of the Russian Union said after a meeting with Kristkova that the OSCE representative inquired about the life of the Russian community in Lithuania. The MP said she also spoke about the Ethnic Minority Law, which has not been adopted.

“The law would make us feel safer. It has been included into the agenda of the autumn session,” said Dmitrijeva.

In her words, the Russian community is very alarmed by the escalation of anti-Russian sentiments that have been displayed in every-day life.

She said some politicians demand that Russian speakers prove their loyalty to Lithuania, although, in her words, the Russians of Lithuania show their loyalty on a daily basis – by becoming citizens of Lithuania, joining the European Union and going through the hard times together.

On Tuesday, Kristkova also met with Irena Šiaulienė, the leader of the Social Democratic parliamentary group, and members of the Human Rights Committee. She is yet to visit the House of Natoonal Communities and the Foreign Ministry.

Kristkova had meetings with Culture Vice-Minister Agneta Lobacevskytė, the head of the State Commission for the Lithuanian Language Daiva Vaišnienė, as well as visited the government and the Ministry of Education and Science.