A peace movement is also emerging in Lithuania: Kapčiamiestis residents do not intend to move due to naive plans for the training ground and do not want compensation: “There is no such money”

 

“The State Defense Council has decided to establish a brigade-sized military training ground in the Lazdijai district, Kapčiamiestis, in order to strengthen Lithuania’s defense capabilities near the strategically important Suwalki corridor.

 

Some local residents are opposed to the establishment of the training ground – more than 8.5 thousand people have signed an online petition. “Our position is against the training ground,” said Raminta Karauskienė, the chairwoman of the Kapčiamiestis community, in the “Žinių radija” program “Dienos kulasiams”. “Why was Kapčiamiestis chosen? Why was the damage to nature not assessed? Why was it not assessed how the lives of those who remain within the training ground’s territory will change? How will this affect their businesses? Not to mention the people who will definitely have to move out,” asked R. Karauskienė. According to her, some residents of border villages would be cut off due to the new training ground, and it is unclear how medics and firefighters would reach them. “No one thought about them. In my opinion, they will be forced to move out,” said the chairwoman of the Kapčiamiestis community.”