By Kostas Onisenko
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielis Lansbergis met on Tuesday with Metropolitan Epifaniy of Kyiv and All Ukraine, as well as with relatives of those detained illegally in the occupied territories of Ukraine, Donbas, and Crimea.
The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of Lithuania to Ukraine Valdemaras Sarapinas, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania, Volodymyr Yatsenkivskyi, the director of the Department of Eastern Neighborhood of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Saulius Ntaniounas, Deputy Ambassador of Lithuania to Ukraine Tadas Valionis, representatives of humanitarian organizations et al.
“Unfortunately, the undeclared Russo-Ukrainian war continues for the seventh year and many Ukrainians have been found illegally imprisoned.
Our Church does not remain indifferent and we are grateful to our international partners as due to our joint efforts it was possible to release several people.
Today we have the opportunity to support the families of those who remain imprisoned. May God help you and your relatives to return home soon. I also want to assure you of our ongoing prayers for you and your families.
May God give you the strength to endure these severe trials. I am convinced that we will win,” said Metropolitan Epifaniy, addressing the relatives of the illegally imprisoned.
For his part, the Lithuanian Minister stressed that his country is a friend of Ukraine and will continue to provide its support. Among the issues discussed at the meeting was the torture of people illegally detained in the occupied territories, as well as other human rights violations that take place in those areas. Participants had the opportunity to learn about the real conditions from eyewitnesses, who were imprisoned in these areas.