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LRT © 2016

Lithuanian Government sued capital’s Vilnius administration on Monday for introducing duplicate non-Lithuanian signs which are merely decorative friendly elements in Vilnius mayor’s opinion.
A Vilnius court on Monday opened hearings into the bilingual street signs in the Lithuanian capital.
The government's representative Vilda Vaiciuniene who took the case to the court says that non-Lithuanian signs run counter to the law and may instigate hatred.
‘I can see an ethnic hatred in public press, in commentaries there, in commentaries by residents and so many people addressed us with their complaints. Therefore, the example of putting these signs up probably instigates rifts in the society and does not create a friendly city,’ says Vaiciuniene.
Vilnius introduced nine duplicate signs in foreign language to honor ethnic minorities that lived there in the past or to honor friendship with other states such as Iceland which was the first to recognize Lithuanian independence after it broke away from Soviet Union.
Mayor of Vilnius Remigijus Simasius states the signs are merely a decorative element.
‘We did discuss the implementation of this with State Commission of the Lithuanian Language and it recommended that the signs should be with traditional national ornaments, every sign should look like a separate object of art. So it was done like that,’ says Simasius maintaining that the administration did not violate the law which allows regular signs only in a state language which is Lithuanian.
Last year administration altogether hung nine signs that alongside official signs in Lithuanian language duplicate street names in the original language. These signs hang in Iceland Street, Russian street, Warsaw Street, Latvian street, German street, Jewish street, Tartar street, Karaites street and Washington square.
‘I wonder if the English sign of Washington square hangs in a Washington square, what kind of strife it instigates? It could only be with Russia, only then I understand the logic like that…’, questioned mayor Simasius.
Some columnists believe the dispute is mirroring tension over Lithuanian identity as some still view neighboring Russia and Poland with suspicion. In 20th century both occupied parts of what is today Lithuania. Before the war Vilnius was called Wilno in Polish name as it was a part of northeast Poland.

Lithuania has long experienced tensions, including the issue of bilingual signs, with its vocal and politically-united Polish minority, which makes up around 7 percent of its population. There are fewer tensions over ethnic Russians, mostly Soviet-period immigrants who make up about 6 percent of the population.

Shots of bilingual signs on Vilnius streets
Sound bite (Lithuanian), REMIGIJUS SIMASIUS, Mayor of Vilnius: By the way, we did discuss the implementation of this with State Commission of the Lithuanian Language and it recommended that the signs should be with traditional national ornaments, every sign should look like a separate object of art. So it was done like that. It is a pity that Commission started to change its opinion and wander.
Shots of the court
Sound bite (Lithuanian), VILDA VAICIUNIENE, Representative of the Government appointed to Vilnius district: Look, the municipality can say many things, but in this case it was stressed that exterior elements like those do not have neither necessary drawings nor it was included in construction‘s technical regulations, which is necessary for those items if they pretend to be classified as elements of exterior.
More shots of bilingual signs
Sound bite (Lithuanian), VILDA VAICIUNIENE, Representative of the Government appointed to Vilnius district: I can see an ethnic hatred in public press, in commentaries there, in commentaries by residents and so many people addressed us with their complaints. Therefore, the example of putting these signs up probably instigates rifts in the society and does not create a friendly city.
Sign of Washington square
Sound bite (Lithuanian), REMIGIJUS SIMASIUS, Mayor of Vilnius: These signs honor our friendship and they are only honoring our friendship. I wonder if the English sign of Washington square hangs in a Washington square, what kind of strife it instigates? It could only be with Russia, only then I understand the logic like that…
Animation of all nine bilingual signs that hangs in Vilnius streets

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