Vilnius hosts rival protests over migration

Two demonstrations over migration are taking place on Gediminas Avenue in Vilnius on Saturday, with about 500 people expected at an anti-migration rally and around 100 at a counter-protest, LRT reported.

The National Union, a right-wing party led by Vytautas Sinica, is holding its rally at Vincas Kudirka Square from 2 p.m. Left-wing activists are staging an anti-racism demonstration nearby half an hour earlier. Police said the protests would be about 50 metres apart.

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

The anti-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 warn that political rhetoric is spreading panic and misleading information.

The migrant rights group Border Group is also holding an event called “Wake up from hate” at 1 p.m. Organiser Emilija Švobaitė said the aim was to create a calm space for discussion and to remind people that migration is part of the lives and stories of many people and families in Lithuania.

Vilnius Municipality said it did not see a threat in the demonstrations and that the gatherings were being held in accordance with the law. Police planned to deploy more than 200 officers to maintain order.

Most political parties told LRT they did not plan to attend, saying they would avoid extreme positions. Some individual members of the Green Party and Freedom Party leader Vytautas Mitalas said they would attend. The protests follow recent incidents involving a pig’s head brought to a mosque in Kaunas and a Quran allegedly burned in Vilnius. Pre-trial investigations have been launched into the incidents.

Before the rally, Sinica said provocations, including radical signs, would not be tolerated. He said organisers would ask for a sign calling for Muslims to be shot to be taken down and its holder removed.