Ivanov’s lawyer seeks acquittal in Soviet aggression denial case

Valerij Ivanov’s lawyer has asked a Vilnius court to acquit him of publicly approving, denying or grossly belittling international crimes, including crimes committed by the Soviet Union, LRT reported.

Defence lawyer Ryshardas Burda told the Vilnius Regional Court on Wednesday that the prosecution had not established all the elements of the alleged offence. Prosecutor Redas Savickas has proposed a fine of 15,000 euros for the 79-year-old defendant. If Ivanov is convicted, Burda says his client should be exempt from punishment because of his illness.

The criminal case against three former members of the International Forum of Good Neighbourhood association is nearing its conclusion. They face charges related to acting against Lithuania and publicly approving international crimes.

Prosecutors allege that Erika Švenčionienė and Kazimieras Juraitis worked together last year to help aggressor states and their organisations act against Lithuania, threatening the country’s national security. Švenčionienė is also accused of publicly approving, denying or grossly belittling international crimes and crimes committed by the Soviet Union.

According to the investigation, Švenčionienė and Ivanov took part in a programme about the January 13 events in early 2023. Prosecutors say they denied and grossly belittled the fact of the Soviet Union’s 1991 aggression against Lithuania, recognised in Lithuanian court rulings and legislation, and denied grave crimes committed by the Soviet Union against Lithuania’s residents. The prosecution says their remarks insulted the memory of those killed or injured defending Lithuania’s restored independence, as well as their relatives.

Burda said the charges against Ivanov were legally flawed. He argued that Ivanov neither mocked nor denied the events, and said an expert had not identified which members of Lithuania’s Supreme Council were allegedly belittled. The lawyer also said the prosecutor had not specified the words or phrases in which Ivanov denied the aggression.

Burda described the proceedings as financially and physically burdensome for his client, saying Ivanov spends much of his 500-euro pension on medical care and medicine and owns no property. He also questioned whether the proposed fine could be recovered if Ivanov could pay only a few dozen euros a month.

Lithuania’s Migration Department decided in 2023 to expel Ivanov, a Russian citizen. He is due to be deported once the judgment in the criminal case becomes final. The case is still before a first-instance court, and its ruling can be appealed.

In July 1997, Ivanov was sentenced to one year in prison for defaming people killed in the January 13, 1991 events.