Lithuanian Genocide Center nominee pledges focus on locating partisan remains

The proposed director general of Lithuania’s Genocide and Resistance Research Centre (LGGRTC), Donata Kabelkė, has vowed to prioritise the search and identification of remains belonging to anti-Soviet partisans, according to a report by BNS.

Addressing lawmakers on Tuesday, Kabelkė outlined her plans to strengthen the centre’s efforts in locating burial sites of resistance fighters, ensuring systematic work guided by clear methodology. “I would give special attention to the search and identification of partisan remains,” she stated. “My goal is to ensure this work is carried out consistently, based on a defined approach, while respecting the dignity of those who fought for freedom.”

Kabelkė also emphasised the need to expand the centre’s academic collaborations, integrating Lithuania’s historical experiences into broader European research. She highlighted the potential to make the centre’s archived data more accessible to the public and researchers, while stressing the importance of fostering societal resilience through historical education.

“A community that understands the consequences of historical choices becomes stronger, better able to recognise threats to democracy and appreciate the value of freedom,” she said. Kabelkė described the centre’s role as crucial in facilitating public discourse on historical dilemmas, including decisions made during occupations, civic responsibility, and the lessons of Lithuania’s 20th-century struggles.

The LGGRTC, a state institution tasked with investigating totalitarian regimes, occupations, and crimes committed against Lithuania’s population, has its director appointed and dismissed by parliament. Previously, the speaker of the Seimas selected candidates unilaterally. Speaker Juozas Olekas noted that the centre’s governing board had endorsed Kabelkė’s nomination, citing her clear vision for the institution, relevant expertise, and leadership experience in related fields.