VILNIUS, Jun 18, BNS – Information published by the Genocide and Resistance Research Center of Lithuania must be double-checked and must be very trustworthy, Adas Jakubauskas, the candidate to led the center, says.

"This institution has a very sensitive mission. In my mind, it's an honorary institution of Lithuania, therefore, it's very important to make sure it performs the functions the Seimas delegated to it by law," he told lawmakers during his self-presentation on Thursday.

Jakubauskas says the center investigates the consequences of all occupation periods, and these are very sensitive issues.

"There are many sensitive issues and therefore, I believe the center should base its actions on professional conclusions, therefore, I would like urge the community of historians to get involved, as all adopted conclusions are very sensitive, therefore, there should be no speculation, information should be checked and double-checked and only then published," Jakubauskas said.

He also paid attention to the fact the center should focus more on the research of resistance to the Soviet occupation.

Also on Thursday, the Seimas of Lithuania launched proceedings for the dismissal of Terese Birute Burauskaite, the GRRCL's incumbent director, as of June 30.

If approved, Jakubauskas will replace her on July 1.

Under the existing law, the GRRCL's director is appointed for a five-year tem.

The Genocide and Resistance Research Centre of Lithuania investigates all of the manifestations of genocide, crimes against humanity and humaneness, persecution of the Lithuanian population during the years of occupation, and also the processes of armed and unarmed resistance against the occupations, and initiating legal assessment of the organizers and perpetrators of genocide.

By Jūratė Skėrytė

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