Leaders of Baltic parliaments attend the events of the 80th anniversary of the Great Escape in Gotland

Latvia is represented on the visit by Speaker of the Saeima (Parliament) Daiga Mieriņa, and Lithuania by Deputy Speaker of the Seimas (Parliament) Žygimantas Pavilionis. The leaders of the Baltic parliaments are hosted on Gotland by Speaker of the Riksdag (Parliament) of Sweden Andreas Norlén.

On Friday, the leaders of the parliaments of the four countries will meet with Governor of Gotland County Anders Flanking and visit the Gotland Regiment that consists of around 400 soldiers. In the evening, Hussar, Mieriņa and Pavilionis will participate in the wreath laying ceremony in Slite and the memorial service at Visby Cathedral.

On Saturday, they will visit the Baltic Centre for Writers and Translators that promotes literature and cultural exchange with the Baltic Sea countries. At the end of the visit, the leaders of the Baltic parliaments will meet with the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian communities in Gotland.

At the turning point of the Second World War, 75,000–80,000 people fled from Estonia to the West to escape the invading Red Army. Altogether, nearly 300,000 people escaped from the Baltic States. Many of the refugees headed for Sweden, either via Finland or directly, and for many refugee ships Gotland was the first port of call. The escape reached its peak in the second half of September 1944.

Photos (Erik Peinar / Chancellery of the Riigikogu)

Riigikogu Press Service
Karin Kangro
+372 631 6356, +372 520 0323
karin.kangro@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Leaders of Baltic parliaments attend the events of the 80th anniversary of the Great Escape in Gotland

Source: Parliament of Estonia