Visaginas bids farewell to lawmaker and Olympian Yevgeniy Shuklin

The Lithuanian city of Visaginas gathered on Sunday to pay final respects to Yevgeniy Shuklin, a member of parliament and Olympic canoeist, who died unexpectedly this week at the age of 41, LRT reports.

Colleagues, political allies, and friends attended the funeral service, including Liberal Movement leader Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, party members Arminas Lydeka, Simonas Gentvilas, Simonas Kairys, Virgilijus Alekna, and Vitalijus Gailius. Visaginas Mayor Erlandas Galaguzas, along with lawmakers from other factions—such as Lina Šukytė-Korsakė of the Freedom Party and conservative Daiva Ulbinaitė—also joined the farewell.

A memorial Mass was held at noon at St. Paul the Apostle Church, followed by burial at Visaginas Old Cemetery. Shuklin’s death was announced on Thursday evening, prompting condolences from President Gitanas Nausėda, Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas, Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, and other officials.

Shuklin, born in 1985 in Glazov, Russia, entered parliament in 2024 with the Liberal Movement. He previously served on Visaginas Municipal Council and briefly as acting mayor. A celebrated athlete, he competed in canoeing at the 2012 London Olympics and won medals at world and European championships before transitioning to business and politics.