Lithuania Links Baltic Occupation Impunity to Russia's Aggression, Urges Ukraine Reparations

Lithuania Calls for Accountability in Wake of Historical Impunity

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys recently stated that the Soviet Union's unpunished occupation of the Baltic states has contributed to Russia's current aggressive actions. Speaking at a diplomatic conference in The Hague, Budrys underscored the critical importance of establishing a reparations mechanism for Ukraine, drawing a direct link between historical impunity and ongoing aggression. He signed a convention on behalf of Lithuania to establish a compensation commission for Ukraine, emphasizing that accountability is a necessary condition for a stable peace.

The Legacy of Soviet Occupation in the Baltics

The Baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—experienced occupation and annexation by the Soviet Union starting in 1940. This occurred under the terms of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, signed in August 1939. The occupation, which lasted until the Soviet Union's dissolution in 1991, was largely unrecognized by most Western countries and involved significant repression, mass deportations, and a process of sovietization. For the Baltic nations, this period was marked by a loss of independence and severe human rights abuses.

Impunity as a Precursor to Aggression

Minister Budrys argued that the lack of reparations for the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states fostered a sense of impunity within Russia, which he believes has encouraged subsequent acts of aggression. He cited Russia's actions against Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 as examples of this pattern. Budrys asserted that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his regime have acted 'as if those crimes never happened,' exploiting this historical lack of accountability.

Urging Reparations for Ukraine

In his address, Budrys stressed that creating a robust reparations mechanism for Ukraine would send a clear signal to Russia that aggression will not be legitimized by the international community and that justice will inevitably follow. He highlighted that the establishment of a commission to determine reparations for Ukrainians holds particular significance for Lithuania, given its own historical experience. Lithuania has a long-standing position on seeking compensation for the damages incurred during the Soviet occupation, with past efforts including the approval of a panel in 2012 to coordinate such proposals and a joint declaration by Baltic justice ministers in 2015 to calculate losses and demand compensation from Russia.

A Call for Broader International Support

Budrys also called for an expansion of the circle of signatories to the convention, aiming to 'get all eligible states on board' to ensure broad international support for holding Russia accountable. This initiative reflects a broader international effort to ensure that Russia faces consequences for its actions in Ukraine, with the historical context of the Baltic states serving as a poignant reminder of the long-term impact of unaddressed historical injustices.