Tribute Run to Commemorate the Day of Freedom Defenders in Lithuania happened on January 8th in Ottawa
To remember the victims of Bloody Sunday, the Embassy of Lithuania to Canada invited Lithuanians and friends of Lithuania in Canada for the tribute run "Road of Life and Death" in Ottawa on January 8, 2022. Participants completed a symbolic 9 kilometers run - the distance from Antakalnis Cemetery, where the victims of the events of January 13th are laid to rest, to Vilnius TV Tower, which they were defending.
On January 13, 2022, Lithuania will be marking the 31st anniversary of the Day of Freedom Defenders to honour the memory of the victims of Soviet military aggression in Vilnius in 1991.
On January 13, 1991, the Soviet Union used military force to overthrow Lithuania's legitimate government, which declared the country's independence on March 11, 1990. The Soviet army attacked Vilnius TV tower, Lithuanian Radio and Television and other strategic infrastructure. After taking over TV tower and Radio and television, tanks moved to the Parliament. Thousands of unarmed Parliament defenders were there. And Soviets stepped back. During January events more than 600 brave Lithuanians were injured, 14 were killed. These ordinary citizens - the Defenders of Freedom - became the symbol of Lithuania’s fight.
“Goodwill people around the globe join the tribute run annually. By running together, we all manifest our commitment to freedom and human dignity. We are honoured and proud to organize this event in Canada, which was the first G7 country to restore its diplomatic relations with Lithuania. Sincerely thank you for joining tribute run today” – said Ambassador of Lithuania to Canada Darius Skusevičius during the opening of the event.
Participants of the event were also greeted by the Leader of the Conservative Party the Honourable Erin O’Toole. Runners from Canadian institutions and organizations, Lithuanian and Latvian communities in Ottawa, US, Swedish, Polish Embassies and EU delegation in Canada joined the event.
In Canada, January 8th is National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Air Disasters. Today, 2 years since the downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. Participants of the tribute run also observed a minute of silence to remember 176 innocent victims of this tragedy.
The tribute run “Road of Life and Death” has been organized in Lithuania every January since 1992 and the Embassy of Lithuania to Canada joined the initiative in 2020.
