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15 November 2024
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Situaition plan created by and property of Castle Research Center Lithuanian Castles. All rights reserved 

Article 58 of the RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic) Penal Code was put in force on 25 February 1927 to arrest those suspected of counter-revolutionary activities. It was revised several times. In particular, its Article 58-1 was updated by the listed sub-articles and put in force on 8 June 1934.

58-1: Definition of counter-revolutionary activity:
"A counter-revolutionary action is any action aimed at overthrowing, undermining or weakening of the power of workers' and peasants' Soviets... and governments of the USSR and Soviet and autonomous republics, or at the undermining or weakening of the external security of the USSR and main economical, political and national achievements of the proletarian revolution"

PART 2 OF 6

The “PROCESS”

EXECUTIONS BETWEEN 1944 AND 1947  

 

 


The “PROCESS”

EXECUTIONS BETWEEN 1944 AND 1947

In Soviet-occupied Lithuania, Division A of the NKGB–MGB was in charge of the executions of people sentenced to death. When the documents containing information about the death sentences pronounced by the Military Tribunal and information on where the detained persons were held was received by Division A, the condemned people were moved from the various agencies of detention to Vilnius 1st prison of the NKVD–MVD (today– Lukiškių skg. 6) and from there to the Vilnius NKGB–MGB internal prison (today – Gedimino pr. 40 / Aukų g. 2A).

A special group consisting of the head of Division A, the head of the prison, deputy head of the prison, wardens, and a representative of the Military Prosecutor’s Office carried out the executions by shooting. Prior to execution, the head of Division A and the prosecutor verified the identity of the person sentenced to death and other documents. The convicts were shot in a special cell, which, in an attempt to mask its real purpose, was marked as a “kitchen” on the plan of the building. An executioner, who had gained experience in various regions of the Soviet Union, would carry out the sentence. Usually executions were carried out by the heads of internal prisons. According to the Criminal Code of the Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic (RSFSR) the only method of execution was by shooting. The majority of the convicts were shot in the back of the head. However, some of them died differently, as signs of stabbing and cuts were identified on some bodies. After execution, the head of Division A, the prosecutor, and the executioner signed the deed of execution of the death sentence. The head of the division informed the leadership of the Military Tribunal which had passed the sentence, and the leadership of the USSR NKGB–MGB in Moscow about the execution by issuing certificates.

Between 1944 and 5 January 1946, when Division A was managed by Lieutenant-Colonel Stepan Kharchenko, 535 executions were carried out and from 15 January 1946 and 16 April 1947, under the leadership of Major Pavel Grishin, there were a further 232 executions.

The surviving KGB archive documents specify the names of the executioners. In September–October 1944, Yegor Kuznetsov, Commandant Captain of the NKGB–MGB unit of the Lithuanian SSR, personally carried out the execution of 18 convicts. Between November 1944 and October 1946, the head of the prison Major Vasiliy Dolgirev lead 41 mass executions during which he personally executed 650 people. From November 1946 until March 1947, executions were carried out by Captain Boris Prikazchikov, the head of the prison. During 11 such executions, 99 lives were taken.

After each execution, the bodies were stripped, loaded onto a truck, covered with tarpaulin, and taken at night to be buried within the grounds of Tuskulėnai Manor which was guarded by NKGB–MGB. The bodies were thrown into an already prepared trench. Many trenches were used several times: new bodies were thrown on top of the corpses covered with lime and tar paper. When the trench filled up, it was covered with soil and stones. Executioners referred to this procedure cynically as ‘disposal of the contingent.’

The “PROCESS” – ARTICLE 58

Article 58 of the RSFSR (Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic) Penal Code was put in force on 25 February 1927 to arrest those suspected of counter-revolutionary activities. It was revised several times. In particular, its Article 58-1 was updated by the listed sub-articles and put in force on 8 June 1934.

This article introduced the formal notion of the “enemy of workers”. Penal codes of other republics of Soviet Union also had articles of similar nature.

58-1: Definition of counter-revolutionary activity:

"A counter-revolutionary action is any action aimed at overthrowing, undermining or weakening of the power of workers' and peasants' Soviets... and governments of the USSR and Soviet and autonomous republics, or at the undermining or weakening of the external security of the USSR and main economical, political and national achievements of the proletarian revolution"

58-1а. Treason: death sentence or 10 years of prison, both cases with property confiscation.

58-1в. In the case of flight of the offender of treason, his relatives were subject to 5–10 years of imprisonment with property confiscation or 5 years of Siberia exile, depending on the circumstances: either they helped or knew and didn't report or simply lived with the offender.

(Between 28 September 1944 and 16 April 1947, the death penalty was carried out on 767 people in Lithuania. 613 of them were sentenced under Articles 58-1а and 58-1в ‘For treason’ of the 1926 Criminal Code of the RSFSR)

58-1б. Treason by military personnel: death sentence with property confiscation.

58-1г. Non-reporting of a treason by a military man: 10 years of imprisonment. Non-reporting by others: offense by Article 58-12.

58-2. Armed uprising or intervention with the goal to seize the power: up to death with confiscation, including formal recognition as "enemy of workers".

58-3. Contacts with foreigners "with counter-revolutionary purposes" (as defined by 58-1) are subject to Article 58-2.

58-4. Any kind of help to "international bourgeoisie" which, not recognizing the equality of communist political system, strives to overthrow it: punishment similar to 58-2.

58-5. Urging any foreign entity to declaration of war, military intervention, blockade, capture of state property, breaking diplomatic relations, breaking international treaties, and other aggressive actions against USSR: similar to 58-2.

58-6. Espionage. Punishment: similar to 58-2.

58-7. Undermining of state industry, transport, monetary circulation or credit system, as well as of cooperative societies and organizations, with counter-revolutionary purpose (as defined by 58-1) by means of the corresponding usage of the state institutions, as well as by opposing their normal functioning: same as 58-2. Note: the offense according to this article was known as wrecking and the offenders were called "wreckers".

58-8. Terrorist acts against representatives of Soviet power or of workers and peasants organisations: same as 58-2.

58-9. Damage of transport, communication, water supply, warehouses and other buildings or state and communal property with counter-revolutionary purpose: same as 58-2.

58-10. Anti-Soviet and counter-revolutionary propaganda and agitation: at least 6 months of imprisonment. In the conditions of unrest or war: same as 58.2.

58-11. Any kind of organisational or support actions related to the preparation or execution of the above crimes is equated to the corresponding offenses and prosecuted by the corresponding articles.

58-12. Non-reporting of a "counter-revolutionary activity": at least 6 months of imprisonment.

58-13. Active struggle against revolutionary movement of tsarist personnel and members of "counter-revolutionary governments" during the civil war, same as 58-2.

58-14 (added on June 6, 1937) "Counter-revolutionary sabotage", i.e., conscious non-execution or deliberately careless execution of "defined duties", aimed at the weakening of the power of the government and of the functioning of the state apparatus is subject to at least one year of freedom deprivation, and under especially aggravating circumstances, up to the highest measure of social protection: execution by shooting with confiscation of property.

Article 58 was used for the imprisonment and execution of many prominent people as well as multitudes of nonnotable innocents.

Sentences were long, up to 25 years, and frequently extended indefinitely without trial or consultation. Inmates under Article 58 were known as "politichesky" (полити́ческий), as opposed to common criminals, "ugolovnik" (уголо́вник). Upon release, the prisoner would typically be sent into an exile within Russia without the right to settle closer than 100 km/60 miles from large cities.

On 3 September 1944, the People’s Commissariat for Internal Affairs arrested partisan signaler and teacher Jonas Tomėnas in Šiauliai. This is a translation of an excerpt from the letter of farewell he was able to secretly send to his family. Jonas Tomėnas was one of the many buried in the Mass Graves of Tuskulėnai.

“I do not know when I will return, it depends on various circumstances. Stay safe and strong.”

 

The “PROCESS”

The “PROCESS” consisted of four primary “STEPS”. It was required that these four steps be precisely documented so that everything was kept “legal” in accordance with the 1926 Criminal Code Article 58 of RSFSR.

Step 1 – Conviction and Death Sentence

Military Tribunals of the USSR NKVD troops and the non-judicial authority, the Extraordinary Meeting of the People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the USSR, carried out the instructions of Communist Party officials by surveilling, arresting, investigating, imprisoning, and sentencing to death “traitors of the motherland”.

The following is the English translation of the document which sentenced to death by shooting partisan Jonas Sliuževičius issued by the Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD troops on 12 March 1946.

 

Strictly confidential

/Handwritten note: C06              (104)                   120/

 

SENTENCE

On behalf of the Union of the Soviet Socialist Republics

12 March 1946, Kaunas

 

The Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD troops consisting of the chairman – Major of Justice Rumyancev, members – Lieutenant Bondarev and Militia Sergeant Nikolayenko, secretary – Mamedova, and translator – Leskauskas, at the hearing held in camera has heard the case in which citizen:

Jonas SLIUŽEVIČIUS, son of Pranas, born in 1923, residing in Graužėnai Village, Veliuona Rural District, Kaunas County of the Lithuanian SSR, originating from middle peasants, himself a middle peasant, non-party member, education – 4 grades, single, Lithuanian, citizen of the USSR, no previous convictions, is charged with a crime pursuant to Articles 58 (I)(a) and 58(II) of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR.

During both the investigation stage of the proceeding and the judicial proceeding the following has been

ESTABLISHED:

 

In July 1945, the defendant SLIUŽEVIČIUS voluntarily joined the counter-revolutionary nationalist cohort lead by the bandits Gedutis and Naujokas. As a member of the cohort, SLIUŽEVIČIUS was armed. He had a rifle, 150 pieces of ammunition, and a Walter pistol. At the end of July 1945, together with the bandit Marcinkus, SLIUŽEVIČIUS went for food to Gružėnai Village and on the way, in Gervėnai Village, came across Rudžinskas, the commander of Veliuona Rural District platoon of the defenders of the people who was armed with an automatic rifle. Sliuževičius and Marcinkus hid in a ditch and started shooting at Rudžinskas and shot him dead.

In view of the above, the Military Tribunal adjudged SLIUŽEVIČIUS to be guilty of the crimes pursuant to Articles 58 (I)(a) and 58(II) of the Criminal Code of RSFSR. Considering the degree of the crime committed by Sliuževičius and pursuant to Articles 319 and 320 of the Code of the Criminal Procedure of the RSFSR and Article 49 of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR:

 

RULED

 

to convict Jonas SLIUŽEVIČIUS, son of Pranas, pursuant to Article 58(I)(a) of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR, and to impose the most severe sentence – death by shooting – and to confiscate all his personally owned property.

The sentence is final and no appeal in cassation can be lodged.

 

Original if certified by relevant signatures.

True copy.

Chairman         

Major of Justice                            /Signature/                                     Rumyancev

/Seal:

 

 

Translation property of the Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved.

 

 


Step  2 – Giving the Instructions to Execute

When the documents containing information about the death sentences pronounced by the Military Tribunal or the Extraordinary Meeting of the People’s Commissariat of Internal Affairs of the USSR and information on where the detained persons were held was received by Division A, the condemned people were moved from the various agencies of detention to Vilnius 1st prison of the NKVD–MVD (today– Lukiškių gatvė 6) and from there to the Vilnius NKGB–MGB internal prison (today – Gedimino pr. 40 / Aukų g. 2A).

The following is the English translation of a strictly confidential notification dated 7 March 1946 from Lieutenant-Colonel of Justice Aleksey Khaliavin, chairman of the Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD troops, to Lieutenant-Colonel Stepan Kharchenko, head of Division A of the Lithuanian SSR NKGB, instructing him to execute five convicts, informing him of the detention agency in which the convicts are located, and asking for a report when the sentence has been carried out.

/Handwritten note: (47)

08/03/1946 No. 190/

Strictly confidential

1 copy

To the Head of Division A of the Lithuanian SSR NKGB

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL

Kharchenko

USSR

Military Tribunal of

the Lithuanian SSR

NKVD troops

1946 /illegible/

No. 00185

Vilnius

/ Handwritten note:

Absent /illegible/

For execution

09/03/1946/

The Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD troops requests permission to carry out the most severe sentence – death by shooting – passed on 8–9 January 1946 by the Military Tribunal pursuant to Article 58 (1)(a) of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR on the following convicts:

 

Adolfas Kubilius, son of Leonas, born in 1918 in Budriai Village, Kartena Rural District, Kretinga County of the Lithuanian SSR.

Jonas Venclauskas, son of Antanas, born in 1919 in Tomsk.

Antanas Stalmokas, son of Antanas, born in 1920 in Gargždai Town, the rural district of the same name, Kretinga County of the Lithuanian SSR.

Sergejus Semsys, son of Jonas, born in 1908 in Trakiškiai Village, Kalvarija Rural District, Marijampolė County of the Lithuanian SSR.

Stepas Derbutas, son of Ferdinandas, born in 1904 in Alsėdžiai Town, the rural district of the same name, Telšiai County of the Lithuanian SSR.

The sentence was passed and approved by the Military Collegium of the USSR Supreme Court.

The convicts are imprisoned in Vilnius prison.

Please notify the time for carrying out the execution.

Annex: a copy of the sentence and extracts dated 18 February 1946 from instructions (for 5 people) No. 1/00171-75 of the Military Collegium of the USSR Supreme Court.

 

CHAIRMAN OF THE MILITARY TRIBUNAL OF THE LITHUANIAN SSR

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL OF JUSTICE

(Khaliavin)        /Signature/                                                                 /Handwritten note:

/Seal:                                                                                                                                                                                              Received

 

Translation property of the Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved.

 

 


The following is the English translation of a strictly confidential notification dated 19 March 1946 from Major of Justice Afonin, deputy chairman of the Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD troops, to Lieutenant-Colonel Stepan Kharchenko, head of Division A of the Lithuanian SSR NKGB, instructing him to execute Leonas Virkietis and Jonas Starevičius, informing him of the detention agency in which the convicts are located, and asking for a report when the sentence has been carried out.

/Handwritten note: (105)/

/ Handwritten note: 195 / 13/03/1946/

Strictly confidential

1 copy

To the Head of Division A of the Lithuanian SSR NKGB

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL

Kharchenka

 

USSR

Military Tribunal of

the Lithuanian SSR

NKVD troops

/Illegible/ March 1946

/Illegible/ 0209

/ Handwritten note:

Accept

for execution

30/03/1946/ /Signature/

The Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD troops requests permission to carry out the most severe sentence passed on 19 January 1946 by the Military Tribunal on the following convicts:

 

  1. Leonas VIRKIETIS, son of Vladas, born in 1921 in Khabarovsk, RSFSR, prior to arrest residing in the city of Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR, convicted pursuant to Clauses 58 (I)(a) and 58(II) of the Criminal Code.
  2. Jonas STAREVIČIUS, son of Petras, born in 1921 in the town of Jurbarkas, Raseiniai County, Lithuanian SSR, convicted pursuant to Clauses 58 (I)(a) and 58(II) of the Criminal Code, prior to arrest residing in the city of Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR.

 

The sentence was passed and approved by the Military Collegium of the USSR Supreme Court. The convicts are imprisoned in Kaunas prison.

Please notify the time for carrying out the execution.

Enclosure: two copies of the instructions of the Military Collegium and a copy of the sentence.

 

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE MILITARY TRIBUNAL OF THE LITHUANIAN SSR NKVD

MAJOR OF JUSTICE

                             /Signature/                                     /Afonin/

/Seal:                                                                                                            

Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD/

 

/Illegible/ 2 copies

/Illegible / adr.

/Illegible/ MT

 

 

Translation property of the Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved.

 

 


The following is the English translation of a strictly confidential letter of 14 May 1946 from Colonel-General of justice Vasilij Ulrich, chairman of the USSR Supreme Court Military Collegium, to the chairman of the Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR MVD troops to carry out the death sentence on Jonas Sliuževičius without delay and to notify him of the execution.

/Handwritten note: (108)            121/

Copy

Urgent                                                                          Strictly confidential

Military Collegium

of the USSR Supreme Court

14 May 1946

No. 00834

Moscow

 

To the CHAIRMAN OF THE MILITARY TRIBUNAL OF THE LITHUANIAN SSR MVD TROOPS

 

Please carry out the most severe sentence passed by the Military Tribunal without delay on the following convicts:

Jonas SLIUŽEVIČIUS, son of Pranas, born in 1923.

 

Please inform when the sentence has been executed

 

Chairman of the Military Collegium of the USSR Supreme Court

Colonel-General of Justice (V. Ulrikh)

 

True according to the original.

Secretary of the Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR MVD troops                  /Signature/        (Sakharova)

/Illegible/

/Seal:

Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD /

 

 

 

Translation property of the Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved.

 

 


                                                                          

Please note - Military tribunals were subordinate to the USSR Supreme Court Military Collegium which was the highest instance of the legal system. After passing a death sentence, military tribunals had to notify the Military Collegium of it without delay and the Military Collegium, within 72 hours of the receipt of the notification by telegram, could suspend execution of the sentence. However, the Military Collegium usually confirmed decisions made by the military tribunals.

 

 

 

 

Step 3 – Verifying the Identity

The next step of the “Process” was that prior to an execution, the head of Division A of the Lithuanian SSR NKGB–MGB and the prosecutor verified the identity of the person sentenced to death and other documents.

The following is the translation of a certificate issued by Major of Justice V. Barmin, assistant to the prosecutor of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD troops on 22 March 1946, confirming that the sentence on Jonas Starevičius can be carried out.

[ Handwritten note: (I V7)

                                                                                      Strictly confidential

ANNEX TO THE DEED

22 March 1946 

 

CERTIFICATE

 

Jonas Starevičius, son of Petras, born in 1921 sent to me is indeed the person, pursuant to Article 58(I)(a) of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR, on 19/01/1946 sentenced by the Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD troops to death by shooting.

 

Assistant Military Prosecutor of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD

Major of Justice /Signature/      / Barmin /

 

22 March 1946

 

Translation property of the Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved.

 

 

Step 4 – The Execution

Translation of The deed of execution of the death sentence on 7 February 1945, which states who carried out the execution: “Eiva was shot by Major Dolgirev, head of the Lithuanian SSR NKGB internal prison”. The deed was signed by Captain of Justice Fiodorov, deputy prosecutor of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD Troops Military Prosecutor’s Office, Major Stepan Kharchenko, head of the Lithuanian SSR NKGB Division A, and Major Vasiliy Dolgirev, head of the Lithuanian SSR NKGB internal prison.

/ Handwritten note: (250) 254/

Deed No. 136

7 February 1945, Vilnius

 

We, the undersigned, Deputy Prosecutor of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD troops Fedorov and State Security Major Kharchenka, head of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD Division A, carried out the sentence passed by the Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD troops on Bronius Eiva, son of Aleksandras, born in 1913, Pašėtė Village, Šėta Rural District, Kėdainiai County of the Lithuanian SSR, who was sentenced by the Military Tribunal pursuant to Article 58 (I)(a) of the Criminal Code of the RSFSR to death by shooting. Eiva was executed by State Security Major Dolgirev, the head of the Lithuanian SSR NKGB internal prison. Subsequently this deed was completed.

 

Deputy Prosecutor

Captain of Justice                         /Signature/                                     /Fedorov/

 

Head of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD Division A

State Security Major                    /Signature/                                     /Kharchenka/

 

Head of the Lithuanian SSR NKGB internal prison

State Security Major                    Signature/                                     /Dolgirev/

 

 

 

 

Translation property of the Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved.

.

 

 

Translation of the deed of execution of the death sentence dated 25 December 1946 and signed by Major Pavel Grishin, head of Division A of the Lithuanian SSR NKGB, Lieutenant-Colonel of Justice Tugov, assistant to the prosecutor of the Baltic Military District, and the executioner Captain Boris Prikazchikov, head of the Lithuanian SSR MGB internal prison.

/Handwritten note: (111)/

Strictly confidential

 

DEED

 

25 December 1946, Vilnius

 

We, the undersigned, confirm that on the above date the sentence of death by shooting passed by the Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD troops on 17 August 1946 was carried out on Juozas GIEDRA, son of Juozas, who is also known as Juozas BUJANAUSKAS, son of Pranas, born in 1922 in the town of Josvainiai, Kėdainiai County of the Lithuanian SSR and on Juozas PETRUŠKEVIČIUS, son of Antanas, born in 1927 in Margininkai Village, Pakuonis Rural District, Kaunas County of the Lithuanian SSR. The remains were buried.

 

Head of the Lithuanian SSR

MGB Division A

Major                 /Signature/        /Grishin/

 

Assistant Military Prosecutor of PRIBVO Lieutenant-Colonel of Justice

/Signature/ /Tugov/

 

Acting head of the Lithuanian SSR NKGB internal prison

Captain /Prikazchikov/               /Signature/

 

 

 

Translation property of the Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved.

 

 


After the execution the body of the executed person would be stripped of clothing, loaded onto a truck and driven to Tuskulėnai for burial in a mass grave.

Step 4 – Confirming the Execution

Once the execution had been carried out the head of Division A of the Lithuanian SSR NKGB–MGB informed the leadership of the Military Tribunal which had passed the sentence, and the leadership of the USSR NKGB–MGB in Moscow about the executions by issuing certificates.

Translation of a strictly confidential notification dated 31 December 1946 from Major Pavel Grishin, head of Division A of the Lithuanian SSR NKGB, to Colonel of Justice Aleksey Khaliavin, chairman of the Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR MVD troops, informing him that the execution of Juozas Giedra-Bujanauskas was carried out on 25 December 1945.

 

/Handwritten note: (109)/

Strictly confidential

Strictly private

/ Handwritten note:

/Illegible/ 10/15994/A

31/12/1946

/ Signature/

 

To the CHAIRMAN OF THE MILITARY TRIBUNAL OF THE LITHUANIAN SSR MVD TROOPS

 

Lieutenant-Colonel of Justice KHALIAVIN

Vilnius

 

Ref 14/12/1946 No. 00964

 

I hereby inform you that the sentence passed on 17 August 1946 by the Military Tribunal of the Lithuanian SSR NKVD troops on Juozas GIEDRA, son of Juozas, who is also known as Juozas BUJANAUSKAS, son of Pranas, born in 1922 in the town of Josvainiai, Kėdainiai County of the Lithuanian SSR was carried out on 25 December 1946 in Vilnius.

 

Head of the Lithuanian SSR

MGB Division A

Major                 /Signature/        /Grishin/

 

 

Translation property of the Memorial Complex of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park. All rights reserved.

 

 


Look for the next article

Part 3 of 6

BISHOP VINCENTAS BORISEVIČIUS

 

Dear readers

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Dear VilNews readers, we need your help. As we have said, the victims that were executed in the NKGB–MGB internal prison in between 28 September 1944 and 16 April 1947 were buried in secret mass graves in the territory of the Tuskulėnai Manor. These victims have been found, their bodies recovered, given the dignified burial they never received and their souls have been blessed by a Holy person of the religion the worshipped. 

26 May 1947, following the order of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR, the death penalty was abolished.

On 12 January 1950, the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the USSR passed a decree re-instating the death penalty. Between October 1950 and July 1952, 182 people sentenced to death were executed at Vilnius NKGB–MGB internal prison.

Their place of burial is still not known.

 

After July 1952 to 1961 executions continued pursuant to the 1926 Criminal Code Article 58 of RSFSR.

The burial place of these victims is still unknown.

 

The 1926 Criminal Code Article 58 of RSFSR was terminated in 1961 but executions continued.

The burial place of these victims is still unknown 

 

Dear readers we would like to find where these people are buried, recover their bodies, give them the dignified burial they never received and have them blessed by a Holy person of the Religion they worshipped.

This is where we need your help. The NKVD and NKGB–MGB officers that oversaw these executions are now all dead. What ever records and documents which still exist are most likely locked away in a vault somewhere in the Russian Federation and it would seem highly unlikely that anyone in the Russian Federation would be kind enough allow access to these documents and records so that we could find out the location of the burial sites or simply tell us where these people are buried.

We know that there are people out there that know the location of some of these burial sites. Maybe it is a person that processed the documents, maybe it is some one that was just a rank and file soldier that was ordered to drive the truck that transported the bodies or was ordered to dig the trenches for the graves, maybe it is a colleague of one of these people or maybe it is the bartender that heard some of these people talk of it one night. The possibilities are endless.

Maybe none of these people with first hand knowledge of the burial sites are still alive. In that case we are sure that there are people out there with second hand or even third hand information. To have first hand knowledge of these executions would weigh very heavily on any civilized person’s heart and it is very possible that after carrying this weight inside them for many years they finally felt the need to free themselves from this burden they carried inside and told some one.

If you have any information at all, any information of any kind – Please tell us.

It is not important to us how you know, who it was, what they did or who told you.

None of this is important.

The only thing that is important is that we find where the executed people are buried.

This is all we care about.

What we want to do is best explained in the words from Bronius Eiva’s farewell letter he wrote to his wife while waiting his execution while in the prison of Ukmergės Peoples Commissariat for Internal Affairs.

“Please find out when I was shot or hanged and where they bury me.
Dig me up and take me to Šeta cemetary.”

This is all we want to do – Find where they are buried, dig them up and then give them a proper burial but we can only do this with your help.

All information will be kept strictly confidential

We are not concerned with who or what

We are only concerned with where these people are buried

If you have any information of any kind please contact:

The Memorial Complex of Tuskulenai Peace Park
Žirmūnų Gatvė 1F,
LT-09239, Vilnius
Lithuania

Telephone: +370 5 275 1223
E-mail. tuskulenai@genocid.lt

You can also contact me at vkvilnius-tuskulenai@yahoo.com

We sincerely thank you for your help.

Su pagarbe
Vincas Karnila 

Category : Blog archive



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