Lithuania Is Precious: Protest held in Vilnius against Kapčiamiestis training ground and deforestation

“On Saturday, a rally was held in the center of Vilnius, at Cathedral and Independence Squares, against the construction of a training ground in Kapčiamiestis and deforestation. Protesters spoke out in favor of preserving forests for future generations.

 

A few dozen people gathered in Cathedral Square before noon. The event was organized by Gintautas Kniukšta, chairman of the “Sąjūdis už Lietuvos miškus” (Movement for Lithuanian Forests).

 

He said that he would demand that politicians answer the questions of Kapčiamiestis residents, which even the highest officials had not answered.

 

Those gathered held whips with inscriptions “Keep your hands off Lithuanian forests”, “No to a training ground in Kapčiamiestis”, “Decisions are made with closed eyes”, etc.

 

“When Poland rejected the idea of ​​a joint training ground, it became clear that the training ground is the ambition of several Lithuanian politicians – Gitanas Nausėda, the commander of the army, and Laurynas Kasčiūnas.

 

How many more training grounds do you have to build to make us safe?”, the protester said.

 

Later, those gathered at Independence Square near the Seimas sang Maironis’s composition “Dear Lithuania”. The rally participants promised to gather outside the parliament on April 14.

 

ELTA reminds that the Seimas, which met on Tuesday, approved the draft law on the Kapčiamiestis military training ground and training area after its presentation.

 

This draft law proposes dividing the Kapčiamiestis training ground into two functional zones, one of which will be designated for maneuvering, and the other for live-fire shooting ranges. These territories would total 14.6 thousand hectares.

 

Approximately two-thirds of the territory will serve as a military training area and will be used for maneuvering, tactical movement exercises and administrative buildings. There are a total of 77 homesteads in this part, and their owners or businesses located there will be able to choose whether to stay or sell their property to the state within 60 months under a simplified procedure.

 

At that time, the territory that will serve as a military training area with a live firing zone will be concentrated in the western part of the training area near the Polish border, where there are a total of 13 homesteads. Private real estate and businesses falling into this area will be purchased in accordance with the approved law. Individual property and business valuation services will be performed by independent property appraisers.

 

Residents will also be compensated for non-pecuniary damage, which will amount to 45 minimum monthly salaries (MMA) – 51.8 thousand euros per homestead.

 

Owners of homesteads located in the training area of ​​the training ground will be able to decide within five years whether to stay there or sell their property, and these homesteads will also be compensated according to a more favorable method – their replacement or comparative value.

 

Additionally, owners of such homesteads will receive moral compensation in the amount of 22 MMA – 25.3 thousand euros for non-material losses.

 

Last December, the State Defense Council (VGT) made a decision to establish a brigade-sized Kapčiamiestis training ground in Lazdijai municipality. In addition, it was decided that the area of ​​the training ground located in Tauragė will be doubled, expanding its territory to Jurbarkas municipality.

 

However, this decision of the authorities caused outrage in the local community, and a protest action was held.

 

The intention is to establish a brigade-sized training ground in order to respond to the modernization of the army, the growing number of conscripts, the developing national division and the growing allied forces.”

 

Our Homeland, its nature and culture, its citizens – everything that is dear to us is being ruthlessly destroyed in Lithuania. What benefit do a handful of Lithuanian politicians seek by inciting a global nuclear war in Lithuania? Purely personal. With such scandals, they want to draw the attention of the West and break into the well-paid careers of NATO and EU bureaucrats. They do not always succeed. Gabrielius Landsbergis went so far, caused so much trouble for everyone, that he did not get anything good, and now he sits and comments.

 

Currently, several key insights about the motivation of politicians and their career aspirations dominate in Lithuania and the international space:

 

Career in international structures: Political observers note that active, and sometimes aggressive foreign policy (e.g., support for Ukraine or a tough stance towards China) can be used as a way to increase personal visibility in EU or NATO structures. This is seen as creating a “personal CV” for high-level positions in Brussels or Washington.

 

G. Landsbergis situation: After the 2024 European Parliament elections and during the formation of the new European Commission, Gabrielius Landsbergis' candidacy for the European Commissioner was not confirmed. Analysts attribute this to both internal political disagreements in Lithuania (the president's position) and possible "tiredness" tactics in Brussels due to his extremely harsh statements.

 

Rhetoric and security: Although some critics call it "warmongering", the politicians themselves argue that their actions are aimed at drawing the West's attention to the real threat so that Lithuania does not remain in the "gray zone".

Domestic political flavor: Radical rhetoric is often used to mobilize their voters before the elections, demonstrating leadership in the face of crisis.  Having broken through higher in Lithuania, it is easier to get to a richer trough in the West.