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DOCUMENTS

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The following is Defending History’s translation of the transcript of the speech made by former mayor of Vilnius Artūras Zuokas (in office 2000–2007, 2011–2015), at the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences on 18 May 2026 (souvenir program). The original Lithuanian speech is available on youtube (courtesy of Willian Adan Pahl). The Defending History community continues to hope that the late rabbi the former mayor invokes, the revered Rabbi E. Schlesinger of London (1921–2026) was himself deeply deceived by others in the name-out-of-Orwell “CPJCE” (Committee for the Preservation of Jewish Cemeteries in Europe), a group exposed inter alia by Wikileaks for receiving secret payments for “supervising” the destruction of the Old Vilna Jewish Cemetery, currently via plans for establishment of a convention center in a Soviet ruin where thousands would cheer, clap, drink and flush lavatories surrounded by thousands of Jewish graves, including some of the greatest Lithuanian rabbis of the last half millennium. See one of the historic complaints to the UK Charity Commission. Clearly, the “convention center in the cemetery” would not be happening if it were a five hundred year old cemetery of the majority ethnicity and religion.

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I’m sitting here listening and thinking: how on Earth does one bring such a constellation of musical stars to this hall on a Monday? I mean, Vilius, if you’re starting off like this on Monday, what’s your Friday going to look like? [laughter, applause]

As for me, I don’t have much to say, and I don’t want to make a long speech, because, as it was so aptly put, may the music speak, but, after our last event [on 18 Jan. 2026], I gathered all the archives I’ve kept since my days as mayor, about this place, this building, all the relationships with members of Congress, with senators, and so on.

And, so to speak, I refreshed my knowledge. And today — I don’t know if many people are aware of this, but Mr. Vilius [Kavaliauskas] certainly must be — former Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius (2012–2016) sent me some correspondence, an official letter, a document from Rabbi Schlesinger, who is a serious figure; I’ve had my fair share of discussions and arguments with him, but he is an authority. He is truly a very categorical, firm man who stands by both his principles and what he defends.

However, in 2016, he wrote a letter to our Prime Minister, and I will quote just one line from it:

“On behalf of the Rabbinical Council, I fully support the conversion of the Vilnius Palace of Concerts and Sports into a convention center in accordance with the 2016 Plan B and the explanations signed by your First Deputy Minister, Chairman Mr. Vaitkus.” [applause]

Signed by: Rabbi Elyakim Schlesinger, the president, who is specifically responsible for the cultural heritage of Jewish cemeteries in Europe, and the head of the Rabbinical Council.

This is not just something for argument’s sake; as esteemed Daumantas [Todesas] said, if one Jew said something, that doesn’t mean all Jews think that way— as was the case a few days ago [apparently referring to Rabbi Sholom-Ber Krinsky’s 15 May 2026 press conference] with a statement made by a respected rabbi, suggesting that everyone thinks that way. That is not the case.

But here is a document from a person who stands by his words. That is why it is very strange that today we have to speak anew, discuss, seek new agreements, compromises, and the like. As esteemed Mr. Birutis rightly said in his speech, there are indeed too many people in Lithuania today who are tired of history. They are tired of history, and they do not view history as inspiration or a source of strength; they are tired. So you are dispelling that weariness and showing that there is no need to fret here — we must simply take action and get things done.

I am very happy to be here.

With Vilius’s permission, I have a short announcement.

As you know, I’m planning to run in next year’s municipal elections, and seeing that political parties and ideologies divide people, I am establishing a political committee, just like the ones that exist today in Kaunas, Klaipėda, Panevėžys, Šiauliai, and many other Lithuanian cities. And if anyone would like to attend a meeting of the “Vilnius Can” (Vilnius gali) committee, here is our Božena with the registration forms.

The requirements are very lax—there are three. The first is love for Vilnius, and the other two are formal: a declared place of residence in Vilnius and not being a member of another party. Thank you.

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Editor’s comment: A hundred years hence — and perhaps a lot sooner — it will be clear for the history of Vilnius who in 2026 really loved Vilnius: those who believe in its status as the spiritual and international capital of all the peoples of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and their descendants for whom the tolerance, humanity and splendor of Gediminas and Vytautas are eternal? Or those who would see the city forever shamed by the sickening scene of thousands jumping up and down at rallies and conventions surrounded by thousands of extant graves. And if the combined forces of mammon and antisemitism will not stand in the way, please can today’s powers that be organize scientific non-intrusive ground radar so that the thousands of graves facing Jerusalem, revealed in the ground radar project of 2008 (and then suppressed), may now be reconfirmed.