We congratulate the Lithuanian people with the Day of Restoration of Statehood of Lithuania

17 February 2018

100 years ago at the expence of incredible efforts of Lithuanians and their huge desire for freedom, the proclamation of Lithuania’sIndependence was announced.

On February 16, 1918, Lietuvos Taryba (later – the State Council of Lithuania) adopted the Act of Independence and proclaimed the restorationof an Independent State of Lithuania with its capital city in Vilnius.

But 22 years later, Lithuania was again subjected to aggression by Moscow and up till 1991, was forcibly kept as a part of the USSR.

On March 11, 1990, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania declared the re-establishment of Lithuania’s Independence. Lithuaniabecame the first Soviet Republic to declare its withdrawal from the USSR.

On September 17, 1991, an Independent Lithuania was admitted to the United Nations.

The history of relations between Crimea and Lithuania, the Crimean Tatars and Lithuanians, goes deep to events over 620 years ago. The original and surprisingly beautiful part of the modern united Lithuanian nation became the Tatar Community of Lithuania, the descendants of the Crimean Tatar warriors, who joined the Grand Duchy of Lithuania to serve. The best representatives of our both nations always came to help each other in the most difficult and critical times, both at the turn of the Russian Empire and during the struggle against the totalitarian Soviet Regime.

The Republic of Lithuania and the Lithuanian people remain one of the most devoted and consistent friends of Ukraine, the Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar peoples. Lithuania’s priceless efforts at the international level in the consolidation of forces, resist the aggression of Russia.

On behalf of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, I congratulate the Lithuanian people with the significant date – the 100th anniversary of the proclamation of the Lithuania’s Statehood Restoration!

Refat Chubarov,
Chairman of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, 
February 16, 2018, Kyiv.