The Lithuanian parliament has approved amendments stipulating criminal penalties for those publicly justifying, denying or playing down international crimes, as well as crimes "committed by the U.S.S.R." and the Nazis against Lithuania, the parliament's press service has said.
A total of 68 lawmakers supported the amendments to the country's Criminal Code. Five MPs voted against the bill, and 32 abstained from voting.
In line with the amendments, those justifying or denying the "aggression by the U.S.S.R." and Nazi Germany against Lithuania, as well as cases of genocide of the Lithuanian people, "grave and especially grave crimes committed in 1990-1991 against Lithuania and its people," will face criminal prosecution.
Those violating the law will face a fine or a prison term if they justify, deny or play down the crimes "in an insulting way" or if such actions "result in the violation of public order."
Russia has long been at odds with the Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, as well as Poland, over perceived attempts to rewrite the history of World War II and diminish the Soviet role in the defeat of Nazi Germany.
While Russia maintains that the Red Army liberated the Baltic states from German invaders, many residents of the republics put the two "occupations" on a par.
Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare its independence on in March 1990. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev called the declaration "illegitimate and invalid" and sent Soviet tanks to the capital, Vilnius. Although the tanks withdrew after a few hours, Soviet troops were still stationed in Lithuania. More than 10 people were killed and many more were injured during protests that started when Soviet troops were trying to seize the television station in Vilnius in January 1991.
VILNIUS, June 16 (RIA Novosti)
