Vilnius to host rival migration protests with 600 expected

Two opposing protests over migration are due to take place in central Vilnius on Saturday, with about 600 people expected and more than 200 police officers assigned to maintain order, LRT reports.

The National Union, a right-wing party led by Vytautas Sinica, plans to gather in Vincas Kudirka Square from 2 p.m. A demonstration called “Against racism” is scheduled to begin 30 minutes earlier across Gediminas Avenue, about 50 metres away. Police expect around 500 people at the anti-migration protest and about 100 at the counter-protest.

The National Union has called for people to travel by free buses from across Lithuania and demonstrate against “mass migration”. Its demands include reducing migrant quotas and deporting foreigners who have committed crimes.

The “Against racism” demonstration is being organised by Solidarity Chain, Antifa, the Anarchist Union and Fridays for Future Lithuania. Organisers say the number of migrants in Lithuania is lower than politicians claim and that political rhetoric is spreading panic and misinformation.

The Border Group, an organisation advocating for migrants’ rights, is also planning an event called “Wake up from hate” at 1 p.m. The activists say it is a response to an attack near the Kaunas mosque and to the National Union’s protest.

Vilnius city authorities said they saw no threat in allowing the events to go ahead, saying they comply with the law on assemblies. Political parties told LRT.lt they did not plan to attend, although individual members of the Green Party and the Freedom Party’s leader, Vytautas Mitalas, were expected to be present. The Liberal Movement said individual members could decide to attend on their own.

Sinica said provocations would not be tolerated, including radical posters. He said the organisers would ask for a poster calling for Muslims to be shot to be removed and its holder expelled. One of the counter-protest organisers, Laurynas Tomelaitis, said he was concerned about radical individuals on the right and alleged that some groups encouraged violence against left-wing activists.

Migration has featured prominently in public debate recently. In September, a group of men brought a pig’s head to a mosque in Kaunas, and a Quran was later allegedly burned in Vilnius. Pre-trial investigations have been launched in both cases.