The Lithuanian Jewish Community condemns the recent cynical vandalism at the Ponar Memorial Complex mass murder site. Institutional and public apathy regarding such attacks is unacceptable.

We demand the responsible institutions this disgusting vandalism as quickly as possible. We are convinced that this practice of never finding anyone responsible for anti-Semitic crimes in Lithuania cannot go on. This is on the same scale as the recently reported bombing of the Babi Yar Holocaust memorial in the Ukraine.

“This attack at the sacred site of the mass murder of Jews at Ponar is simply chilling. The state is also directly responsible for this because for years now there has been discussion, consideration and consultation on how to maintain this memorial complex, and nothing has been done. The infrastructure isn’t set up properly, there isn’t appropriate security, and this fully reflects the state’s attitude towards this Lithuanian and Lithuanian Jewish tragedy [the Holocaust]. There are only words and meetings. The memorial set up through private funds is not maintained and is abandoned. It does not belong to the Lithuanian Jewish Community but it is the exclusive venue for state commemorations of Holocaust victims. This has truly become the shame of the Lithuanian state. Although the letter Z is not a banned symbol in Lithuania till now, we know how and where it is used. Everyone knows about the war in the Ukraine and about the significance of the letter Z. Ponar, where around 70,000 Jews were murdered, must not become the arena for provocations and political battles. This is a site for the eternal rest of the victims and for commemoration. It cannot be used for furthering any provocations nor for sowing ethnic discord. This must be stopped. The entire Lithuanian Jewish Community is disgusted, angered and insulted by this, and we will not ignore these kinds of incidents. Incidentally, Yom haShoa, Holocaust Day, is coming up, and this is an inconceivable gift on this occasion,” Lithuanian Jewish Community chairwoman Faina Kukliansky said.