June 30, 2020 – July 28, 2020 The opening of an open-air beach in Lukiskiu1 square in the heart of Vilnius has triggered a major firestorm, which perhaps can first be chalked off to the nearing parliamentary election in Lithuania in October. The square is sacred to many for its vivid bloody history: tsarist Russia’s general and governor of Vilnius, Mikhail Muravyov, nicknamed “hangman” for his cruelty, hung Lithuanian insurgents against the tsarist regime in the square in 1863–1864. Page 12 The Baltics’ independent news source since 1992 • www.baltictimes.com • June 30, 2020 – July 28, 2020 Vol. 22 #943 Ukraine’s Lithuania Ambassador: “We are not only strategic OUR COMMENTARY When memory is snubbed partners – we are strategically like-minded sworn brothers” Page 2 Linas JEGELEVICIUS In the last decade, few countries have become so intricately inter- twined with Lithuania as Ukraine, Q/A which after the historic Maidan in 2014 chose the European path of Lithuania’s Conservatives development, never looking back. – an “eternal” opposition? Both countries boast impressive trade volumes and tightly-knit hu- Page 4 man ties. The Baltic Times sat down to speak about the bilateral relations with Volodymyr Yatsenkivskyi, SPIRITUAL LIFE Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine in the When words cut to the Republic of Lithuania. essence of the issue at How is Ukraine grappling with hand the COVID-19 pandemic? Well, the first case of COVID-19 Page 6 disease was registered in Ukraine on March 3. As of June 10, 28 381 cases have been confirmed with 833 dead and 12 769 recovered. The total num- WARFARE AGAINST ber of performed tests is 445 940. PROPAGANDA The Government introduced Volodymyr Yatsenkivskyi is Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine in the Republic quarantine in a timely manner, of Lithuania. thereby allowing thousands of Kremlin reopens resource of UAH 65 billion was es- micro, small and medium-sized localization. At the beginning of lives to be saved. It enabled us to chapter on Baltic tablished, and this gives us the op- the outbreak there was a lot of con- prepare the medical system for businesses was identified as one of occupation. Why? portunity to respond quickly to the cern about whether the Ukrainian the challenges we will face in the the key areas of further activities. healthcare system is ready to han- future. We have managed to fight challenges that are now associated We are also planning to introduce Page 8 dle such a challenge. But the timely the coronavirus, we have passed with the effects of the epidemic. a zero declaration. and well-coordinated efforts by the the first three months with the We understand these conse- The Government has a clear view President and the Government of moderate scenario, we have not quences, their impact on the econ- on the industrial development, and Ukraine made it possible to avoid fallen into the abyss, but today omy, and – what is more important the main vectors of support in this the threatening burden of over- TRADITIONALISTS this threat still remains imminent. – we do understand what we have area should be as follows: domestic crowded hospitals, and to accrue VS MODERNISTS The Government has also taken to do further. The Government has procurement, export development the necessary protective items and quick measures to support a vul- worked out more than 230 con- programs, resumption of full oper- Vilnius’ Open medical equipment for the needs of nerable population and small and crete measures to overcome the ation of the Export Credit Agency, the hospitals all over the country. Beach shocks the former, micro-businesses. In particular, a consequences of the crisis inflicted changes in certain elements of the marvels the latter Fund to combat COVID-19 with a by the coronavirus. The support of Prozorro program on production Continued on page 3 Page 12 Political scientist Kestutis Girnius: “President Gitanas IN/OUT Nauseda has more pluses than minuses” What to do in the Baltics? Linas JEGELEVICIUS Union-led Government was re- leased. It shows that 58 percent of Pages 22–23 While other political scientists are often mindful of “political correct- respondents are pleased with how ness” when it comes to weighing in things are being managed against on some thorny and/or hot issues 26.4 percent who were disappoint- Job opportunity or personalities of the political life, ed. So you have overwhelming Kestutis Girnius, associate professor support for what the Government The Baltic Times is of political sciences at the Institute did and perhaps what it is doing, looking for an advertising of International Relations and Politi- thus strengthening its political sales agent in the Baltics. cal Science of Vilnius University, is prospects in October (the election [email protected] straight as an arrow and never beats will be held on October 11– L. J.) around the bush. The Baltic Times They can enter the political cam- sat down with him to hear his in- paign, saying: “Look, perhaps we sights on the developments not only have made some mistakes in the in Lithuania, but in the United States, Kiril Cachovskij by Photo past, but we rose to the challenge his second home, too. Kestutis Girnius, associate professor of political sciences at the Institute of dealing with COVID-19... We How do you see the prospects of International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University did well and, therefore, we deserve of Lithuania’s major political par- your support.” ties with less than four months till We are speaking on the day handling of the COVID-19 virus EE: €1.60 LV: €1.42 LT: €1.59 general elections left? when a new opinion survey on the by the Farmers and Greens (LVZS) Continued on page 4 2 BALTICS June 30, 2020 – June 28, 2020 June 30, 2020 – July 28, 2020 OUR SPECIAL INTERVIEW 3 Latvia has led the world against coronavirus pandemic and achieved Latvian people first in the world to unveil Ukraine’s Lithuania Ambassador: “We are not only strategic record low infection rates. Now the people of the Northern European a statue for doctors fighting Covid nation want to lead the world again partners – we are strategically like-minded sworn brothers” by expressing gratitude to doctors and nurses who were on the front- Continued from page 1 pean Union. At the same time, it Of course, not the mere presence line of fighting Covid. is an important mechanism for of certain anti-corruption bodies, The people of Latvia are thankful In this regard we are also highly stimulating of small and medium but their effectiveness, guarantees to the medics in Latvia and all over grateful to our international part- enterprises. success in the fight against corrup- the world for their selfless service ners and particularly the Republic There is a simplified system of tion. The facts tell best what this Living in an age when the during the COVID-19 pandemic of Lithuania for providing Ukraine taxation of agricultural producers effectiveness exactly is, especially memory is stunningly short and have put up a monument by a with humanitarian aid, namely 15 in Ukraine, but it’s applicable only when spoken out by others: as you famous Latvian artist to health care thousand protective shields. Re- Linas JEGELEVICIUS to very small farms, whose members probably already know, in the end personnel, supported by donations cently, the government of Ukraine The Baltic Times editor-in-chief can be members of one family only of May 2020 the Pentagon, justify- of almost 20 local companies. has announced the gradual easing [email protected] and the amount of land cultivated by ing the new assistance package for The six-meter-high sculpture of certain quarantine measures un- Has there recently been a world pan- such farms cannot exceed 20 hect- Ukraine, notified the US Congress «Medics to the World» shows a der an adaptive quarantine plan, demic of COVID-19? ares. It is obvious that such farms are that Ukraine’s Government has female medical staff who has just according to which services and When eyeing the Palanga beach, full of not competitors for foreign compa- made the necessary progress on come out of the treatment room institutions will re-open in stages people these days – in fact, they lay like her- nies on foreign markets, so they sell key institutional reforms, includ- and is getting ready for the next if certain conditions are fulfilled rings in a barrel, I cannot resist the feeling their products in Ukraine. ing progress in countering cor- shift. She has closed her eyes and is that the health crisis occurred centuries ago, – basically very similar to the one ruption, improving transparency flexing her back. The figure is put At the same time, the products certainly not earlier this year. the Republic of Lithuania has been and boosting civilian supervision. up in a way that allows the visitors of the Ukrainian agro-industrial I remember talking to Jonas, the vet- implementing lately. complex are usually exported to But let me also underline, that eran chief of Palanga beach-guards, in May, can come up to her and try to reach Can you please speak of the the EU by large agricultural com- talks about “corrupt” Ukraine are when the summer season had just kicked up and touch her hands. In this way trade volumes between the two panies, so-called agro-holdings, one of the illustrative narratives off. He sounded anxious when asked about the grown-ups can feel like small countries in 2019? In the 5 months of Russian propaganda. The goal how he and his lifesavers were going to en- children for a moment when they’re which operate under the general of this year? What trends can be is to form the so-called “Ukraine sure social distancing on the beach.