Antanas Rašinskas, Lithuanian political prisoner and long-time head of Šilalė’s deportation survivors’ union, dies at 84

Antanas Rašinskas, a former Soviet-era deportation survivor and longtime chairman of the Šilalė branch of the Lithuanian Political Prisoners and Deportees Union, has died at the age of 84, the Lithuanian parliament announced on Tuesday.

Rašinskas, born on May 1, 1941, in Gaidėnai village, was deported with his family to Siberia in 1951 at age 10, returning to Lithuania only in 1956. He later became a prominent figure in preserving the memory of Lithuania’s resistance fighters, erecting memorials to partisans killed in battles across the Šilalė region.

Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas expressed condolences, calling Rašinskas’ death “a reminder of a noble yet painful period in Lithuania’s history that must never be forgotten.” He praised Rašinskas’ lifelong dedication to honoring those who fought for Lithuania’s freedom, noting his work had left “an indelible mark on the nation’s collective memory.”

Rašinskas spearheaded the restoration of partisan bunkers and memorial sites, including the reconstruction of the Pajūris Deportees Square, where over 2,000 victims’ names were commemorated. He also initiated searches for the remains of resistance leaders, such as partisan commander Vladas Montvydas-Žemaitis, and worked to preserve the memory of the Kentra family, who sheltered fighters.

For his efforts, Rašinskas received the Lithuanian Political Prisoners and Deportees Union’s highest honor, the “For Merits to Lithuania” badge, as well as the Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė memorial medal “Serve Lithuania.” He was also active in the Union of Lithuanian Freedom Fighters and the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats party.

A funeral service will be held on March 20 at Šilalė’s St. Francis of Assisi Church, followed by burial in the town’s old cemetery. Public viewings are scheduled for March 18–19 at Šilalė’s funeral home.