Police detain man wearing banned St George ribbon at Vilnius cemetery

Lithuanian police detained a man on Saturday morning at the entrance to Vilnius’ Antakalnis Cemetery for wearing a St George ribbon, a symbol banned in Lithuania, LRT reports.

The man, who identified himself as Pavel, was stopped by officers and instructed to remain near a police vehicle while a report was drawn up. “Let there be a fine, but I’ll have my own opinion. Let them arrest me. This is how I express my views,” he told journalists.

Two men, one wearing the ribbon, claimed their grandfathers had fought in World War II and criticised Lithuania’s laws as “stupid.” Both spoke Lithuanian, held carnations, and said they were Lithuanian citizens who oppose Russia’s war in Ukraine. One noted his mother is Ukrainian and that he had lived in western Ukraine for five years.

Near the cemetery, the men distributed toilet paper printed with an image of Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating it was “for Lithuania’s cleanliness.” Visitors refused the flyers and reacted negatively.

Heavy police presence was reported at the site, where Soviet-era marches played from a pavilion. Last year, condoms were distributed at the same location by activists from the group *Šviesos vilkai* (“Light Wolves”), who claimed it was to prevent “more people like Putin” from being born.

May 9 is marked in Russia and some post-Soviet states as Victory Day over Nazi Germany, while Lithuania and the EU officially recognise it as Europe Day, celebrating peace and unity. Lithuania’s State Security Department had warned of potential pro-Kremlin provocations, including displays of banned Soviet symbols and justifications for Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.