Statue of Lithuania’s national symbol Vytis to be erected in Kaunas by July 6

Kaunas Vytis
DELFI / Rimas Pocius

“Under this agreement, all parties agree to implement the Vytis sculpture (project) in Kaunas and to do everything possible to implement it by July 6,” Tomas Grigalevičius, spokesman for the Kaunas mayor, said at a news conference.

Lithuania on July 6 celebrates its Day of Statehood to commemorate King Mindaugas’ coronation in 1253.

Sculptor Arūnas Sakalauskas, the author of the Vytis statue said that they expected the sculpture featuring a knight on horseback to be made in Ukraine by June.

The letter of intent was signed by Kaunas Mayor Visvaldas Matijošaitis, Česlovas Jezerskas, the head of the Vytis Support Foundation, and Sakalauskas.

Vilius Kavaliauskas, the foundation’s director, said that the sculpture might cost 470,000 to 550,000 euros, depending on its location and size.

He said that a campaign to raise money for the Vytis statue would be launched shortly, adding that the foundation expected to finance the project from its own funds.

Discussions on erecting the Vytis statue in Kaunas began after the project lost the Lukiškių Square competition to a memorial to freedom fighters resembling guerrilla bunkers.

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