Vilnija

Vilnija is a Lithuanian cultural and political organization, created to promote and cherish Lithuanian culture in Vilnius region.

History and policies

The organization was formed in 1988, by Lithuanian cultural and Sąjūdis activists and its primary aim was the cherishing of Lithuanian language and culture in Vilnius region. The organization is mostly composed of ethnic Lithuanians although it was later joined by a token Polish organization, the Association of St. Zita (Stowarzyszenie Św. Zyty).[1] The organization was created by Romualdas Ozolas and has been led for many years by Kazimieras Garšva.[2][3][4] Its program, elaborated in a monograph by Garšva,[5] is based on the research that the big part of the Polish minority in Lithuania are in fact Polonized Lithuanians and that their true identity had been erased by years of foreign occupation.[6] To counter such situation, the organization proposed that they should be brought back to their Lithuanian roots by removing any trace of alien (that is, Polish or Russian) textbooks, teachers, symbols and traditions.[6] The organization's goal is also to counter perceived growing Polish influence in Lithuania, which Vilnija sees as a threat to that nation.[6]

Specific controversies

Vilnija takes an interest in the political situation of the Lithuanians of the Vilnius region. Vilnija asserts that former pro-Soviet Polish autonomists, previously supported by Yedinstvo and who illegally attempted to determine the political autonomy of Poles on May 22, 1991, are still in authority in the Election Action of Lithuania's Poles Party (active in the districts with Polish majority— Vilnius district and Šalčininkai district) and have not yet received what is sees as a proper legal judgment for their anti-constitutional actions.[7] Vilnija says the Election Action of Lithuania's Poles party discourages the assimilation of the national minorities of Lithuania and constantly tries to present the Polish minority as prosecuted.[8] Valdemar Tomaševski, the leader of EAPL, descrives Vilnia as nationalistic.[9][10]

Vilnija often voices concern about the situation of Lithuanian schools in the areas of Polish minority.[11][12] According to Vilnija, the local government propagates Polish schools at the expense of Lithuanian schools.[11][12]

Members and supporters

Prominent members and supporters of the organization include its long-time leader, Kazimieras Garšva,[13] Seimas deputy and organization's founder Romualdas Ozolas,[14] and writer Izidorius Šimelionis.[15] In 2016 Kazimieras Garšva was presented with the Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania.[16] Leading Lithuanian linguist-historian, academician Zigmas Zinkevičius was also supporter of Vilnija.[17]

Notes and references

In-line:
  1. ↑ Paweł Cieplak. "Polsko-litewskie stosunki (Polish-Lithuanian affairs)". Lithuanian Portal (in Polish). Archived from the original on 2009-05-05. Retrieved 2007-01-13.
  2. ↑ (in Polish) Gazeta Wyborcza, 2001-02-14, Litewska prokuratura przesłuchuje weteranów AK (Lithuanian prosecutor questioning AK veterans), last accessed on 7 June 2006]
  3. ↑ Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (October 2006). ""Ustawa o języku państwowym" (Statue on national language) - commentary on Vincas Urbutis article "Debaty nad ustawą o języku (Debates on the Language Act) "". Lietuvos Aidas, 04 – 07.10; Media zagraniczne o Polsce (Foreign Media on Poland) (in Polish). XV (200/37062). Archived from the original on 2018-08-04. Retrieved 2006-01-20.
  4. ↑ Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (October 2006). ""Antypolski tekst K. Garsvy" (Anti-Polish text by K. Garsva)". Commentary on K.Garsva article "Kiedy na Wileńszczyźnie będzie wprowadzone zarządzanie bezpośrednie? (When Vilnius region will have direct self-government?)"". Lietuvos Aidas, 11 -12.10; Media zagraniczne o Polsce (Foreign Media on Poland) (in Polish). XV (200/37062). Archived from the original on 2018-08-04. Retrieved 2006-01-20.
  5. ↑ Kazimieras Garšva (1990). Pietryciu Lietuvos autonomijos klausimai (Questions on the Autonomy of South-Eastern Lithuania) (in Lithuanian). Chicago: Eksperimentines Technikos.
  6. 1 2 3 Dovile Budryte (2005). Taming Nationalism?: Political Community Building in the Post-Soviet Baltic States. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing. pp. 147–148. ISBN 0-7546-3757-3.
  7. ↑ Autonomininkai diktuoja sąlygas (the autonomists dictate the terms) www.xxiamzius.lt
  8. ↑ Geresnio gyvenimo troškulys (The thirst for a better life) www.xxiamzius.lt
  9. ↑ "Komu przeszkadza AWPL?", Nasz Dziennik, February 3, 2014
  10. ↑ "Nacjonalizm i kameleonizm byłej sowieckiej nomenklatury akademickiej", Kurier Wileński, February 3, 2014
  11. 1 2 Už augantį lenkiškų mokyklų mokinių skaičių politikai gauna premijas (The politicians receive premiums for the growing number of the pupils of the Polish schools) www.delfi.lt
  12. 1 2 Ministrės pečius užgulė Vilniaus krašto mokyklų problemos (The problems of the schools of Vilnius region shouldered by the minister) www.delfi.lt
  13. ↑ Budryte, Dovile, "Taming Nationalism" Ashgate Publishing, 2005, pg. 148
  14. ↑ Leonardas Vilkas, LITEWSKA, ŁOTEWSKA I ESTOŃSKA DROGA DO NIEPODLEGŁOŚCI I DEMOKRACJI: PRÓBA PORÓWNANIA (Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian Way to Independence: An Attempt to Compare], on homepage of Jerzy Targalski, professor of University of Warsaw
  15. ↑ (in Polish) Algis Kasperavičius, Współcześni historycy litewscy o sprawie Wilna i stosunkach polsko-litewskich w latach 1918-1940 oraz zmiany w potocznej świadomości Litwinów' Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine.', in Historycy polscy, litewscy i białoruscy wobec problemów XX wieku Historiografia polska, litewska i białoruska po 1989 roku, Krzysztof Buchowski i Wojciech Śleszyński (ed.), Instytut Historii Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku, 2003
  16. ↑ "Prezidentė apdovanojo Lietuvą garsinančius žmones". www.lrp.lt. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  17. ↑ "„Vilnijos" draugija telkia ir telkiasi naujiems iššūkiams". www.voruta.lt. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
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