Photo by Brendan Hoffman for the New York Times

“Every nation has to have its heroes. I understand Lithuanians on this. But how can we have heroes like Noreika?” said Pinchos Fridberg, the only Jew left in the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius who was born in the city before the Nazis invaded in 1941.

The statement [headline] “Nausėda: Šimašius’s Decision to Take Down Noreika Plaque Divided Society” doesn’t correspond to historical reality.

by professor Pinchos Fridberg

On September 6 the internet news site delfi.lt carried a Baltic News Service report with the headline “Nausėda: Šimašius’s Decision to Take Down Noreika Plaque Divided Society.”

I think the president’s statement contradicts the historical truth. Here’s why: the public never held a unified view of the Noreika plaque and the issue has always divided society, placing it in two very unequal camps.

The president’s words “We will find ways for a solution to this, what to do so that historical memory is honored” sound very ambivalent to me. They clearly demonstrate that today there are people who respect historical memory and others who do not. This kind of presentation of the issue is erroneous because this formulation rejects comprehensive academic research on historical memory and removes it into the realm of unpredictable and highly inappropriate emotions.

I ask, are the people who signed the order for the establishment of a Jewish concentration camp in Kaunas worthy of an honored place in the historical memory of the Lithuanian people?

Mr. President, is this statement worthy of historical memory by members of the Ambrazevičius Government, “Jews have exploited the Lithuanian people economically and debased them spiritually for many centuries…” ?

Instead of barring the authors, organizers and executors of these tragic events from historical memory, today the opposite is being done, their names are raised as street names, commemorative signs and statues are erected, etc.

The mere attempt to morally judge this behavior causes an aggressive reaction by Vytautas Landsbergis and opposition among his followers, as we’ve seen in the considering the commemoration of Noreika and Škirpa.

In your [the president’s] inaugural speech you called Landsbergis president:

“Your Excellencies, President Dalia Grybauskaitė, Valdas Adamkus, Vytautas Landsbergis!”

I am certain accidental mistakes don’t take place in inaugural addresses. The Lithuanian constitution, however, says the president is elected by the people of Lithuania.

Could you please remind me when Landsbergis was elected president of Lithuania?

P.S. When large media outlets such as BBC or Radio Liberty call Landsbergis president, I point out to them the inaccuracy and they correct the mistake immediately.

P.P.S. Mr Nausėda, during the presidential election campaign you described yourself as an independent candidate and that’s why my wife and I voted for you. After your inaugural speech I have the suspicion your independence has limits which, perhaps, are set by the conservatives led by Vytautas Landsbergis.

translated by Geoff Vasil