Lithuanian society marks the Day of Mourning and Hope, and the Day of Occupation and Genocide on Saturday.
The mass deportation of Lithuanian people 73 years ago were remembered with solemn commemoration in the Seimas, Lithuania's parliament and the flag raising ceremony in the square of independence.
Dalia Grybauskaite, president of Lithuania, honored the victims on deportations in the Seimas.
Grybauskaite said that June 14 represents pain and hope for the Lithuanian society every year. She expressed her hope that Lithuania will never lose its freedom.
"We hope, that in nowadays world, it will remain as the most important and undeniable value," said Grybauskaite.
Loreta Grauziniene, the Speaker of the Seimas, emphasized that the history of Lithuania remains alive despite decades of attempts to overwrite it.
"Lithuania will always keep the mourning for those dead and killed, deported and not returned in its heart," said Grauziniene in her speech in the square of independence.
Over 30,000 people were deported from Lithuania to Siberia by the Soviet authorities 73 years ago. This was the first wave of Soviet mass deportations in Lithuania..