CALL FOR COMMEMORATION OF 1949 MARCH DEPORTATIONS FROM BALTIC STATES
Call for Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian communities to commemorate
victims of 1949 March 25 – 28 deportations
Members of the European Parliament with the Unitas Foundation and the International Commission for the
Evaluation of the Crimes of the Nazi and Soviet Occupation Regimes in Lithuania invite Baltic communities across the
world to hold commemoration events on March 25th, the launch day of the 1949 March deportations then in few
days during operation „Priboj“ („Wave fall“) soviet occupants deported from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania 95
thousand people – mostly women and children.
Soviet mass deportations from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are among the most disheartening events in the history
of the Baltic States. During Stalin’s rule, more than 220 000 people were deported to Siberia (not including political
prisoners in GULAG camps, which numbers is even greater). Since 2010, commemoration events have been held in
Estonia and by Estonian communities in more than 10 countries. On March 25th 2012, thousands of candles will again
be lit in memory of the deportees. Among others, the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian Members of the European
Parliament are hosting a commemoration event in Brussels.
Baltic communities across the world are invited to join the initiative and hold remembrance events around March
25th, regardless of format. The organizers would be delighted to receive a notification about such events by e-mail
[email protected] and anna.karolin@unitasfoundation.org. Additionally, please visit www.komisija.lt and
www.unitasfoundation.org/remembrance for information on Soviet deportations from the Baltic States.
Please join us in keeping alive the memory of people who endured inequitable suffering and perished
Members of the European Parliament
Algirdas Saudargas (Lithuania)
Alojz Peterle (Slovenia)
András Gyürk (Hungary)
Andreas Schwab (Germany)
Andrey Kovatchev (Bulgaria)
Anna Maria Corazza Bildt (Sweden)
Ashley Fox (UK)
Bernd Posselt (Germany)
Bill Newton Dunn (UK)
Filip Kaczmarek (Poland)
Gabriele Albertini (Italy)
Hannu Takkula (Finland)
Indrek Tarand (Estonia)
Inese Vaidere (Latvia)
Ioannis Kasoulides (Cyprus)
Ivari Padar (Estonia)
Jacek Saryusz-Wolski (Poland)
József Szájer (Hungary)
Kārlis Šadurskis (Latvia)
Konrad Szymanski (Poland)
Kristiina Ojuland (Estonia)
Krišjānis Kariņš (Latvia)
Laima Liucija Andrikienė (Lithuania)
László Surján (Hungary)
Leonidas Donskis (Lithuania)
Manfred Weber (Germany)
Mario Mauro (Italy)
Ramon Tremosa i Balcells (Spain)
Roberts Zīle (Latvia)
Roger Helmer (UK)
Sandra Kalniete (Latvia)
Siiri Oviir (Estonia)
Zigmantas Balčytis (Lithuania)
Tunne Kelam (Estonia)
Véronique Mathieu (France)
Vilija Blinkevičiūtė (Lithuania)
Vilja Savisaar-Toomast (Estonia)
Vytautas Landsbergis (Lithuania)
