NATO ENSEC COE participated in a running event to commemorate the 13th of January 1991 victims

On the 14^th of January the NATO ENSEC COE participated in a traditional running event called "on the way of Life and Death". This event is dedicated to commemorate the victims of the 13^th of January 1991 tragedy. During the night of the 12^th-13^th of January in Vilnius the occupational Soviet army, armed with tanks and assault weapons, tried to seize the freedom of a free nation and was stopped by unarmed citizens. Victims of that night were beaten, shot dead or crushed by tanks.

The running event started from the victim burial site in Antakalnis cemetery and ended at their place of death, near Vilnius television tower. This year the running event had nearly eight thousand participants from different parts of Lithuania, neighbouring countries and NATO allies. The participants were also joined by Lithuania's young riflemen and volunteer conscripts, professional armed forces, volunteer forces and military academy cadets.

At the beginning of the running event participants laid flowers at the 13^th of January victim burial site. The event opening speech was given by Lithuania's Minister of Defence Mr. Raimondas Karoblis. As the Minister pointed out, the main idea of this running event is not to compete, but to participate and remember those who were ready to defend freedom and pay the highest price.