Victims of Soviet Repression in Lithuania and Azerbaijan Honored in Baku
Updated 2026-06-10
On June 8, 2026, a commemoration of the victims of Soviet repression in Lithuania and Azerbaijan took place in Baku, organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in cooperation with the Writers’ Union of Azerbaijan and the Mikayil Müşfiq No. 18 Secondary School.
The event was attended by members of the Azerbaijani Parliament, writers, historians, cultural figures, and relatives of repressed Azerbaijani poets who also delivered speeches.
In his speech Kęstutis Vaškelevičius, Lithuania’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan, emphasized that the peoples of Lithuania and Azerbaijan are linked not only by friendly relations and historical ties, but also by the painful experiences of totalitarian regimes.
“Lithuanians and Azerbaijanis might live far apart geographically, but our nations share common historical experiences. Both nations suffered repressions under Soviet totalitarianism, losing their intellectuals, artists, public figures, and thousands of innocent people. Preserving historical memory is not only an expression of respect for the victims, but also an important contribution to strengthening our countries’ resilience and independence,” the ambassador noted.
In presenting Lithuania’s experience, the ambassador recalled the mass deportations of Lithuanians to Siberia, the fates of political prisoners and the significance of the civic initiative “Misija Sibiras,” - when young Lithuanian volunteers travelled thousands of kilometres to former places of exile in Siberia and other remote regions. They restored forgotten cemeteries, documented graves, met local communities, collected testimonies, and brought home stories of Lithuanian deportees
During the event special attention was paid to Azerbaijani poet Mikayil Müşfiqui—one of the most prominent victims of Stalinism in Azerbaijani history who was executed by the Soviets in 1938.
An important part of the event was dedicated to the artistic program prepared by the students. The students presented acting performances about the victims of Soviet repressions in Lithuania and Azerbaijan, portraying Lithuanian statesmen and political prisoners such as Pranas Dovydaitis, Vladas Mironas, and the poet Antanas Miškinis. A poignant staging was also presented by telling the story of Mikayil Müşfiq and his wife Dilbər Axundzade’s life on the eve of the arrest.
Participants watched an excerpt from the documentary film “Sözün represiyası” (“Repression of the Word”) about repressed Azerbaijani writers and poets, as well as a video narrative prepared by the Lithuanian Embassy about victims of Soviet repression in Lithuania.
The cultural program was complemented by performances by Azerbaijani mugham artists, renowned Azerbaijani musicians and performers, poetry readings by Mikayil Müşfiq, songs based on his works and a Lithuanian folk dance performed by students.
This event was not only a tribute to the victims of repression and a testimony of the preservation of historical memory, but also as a meaningful bridge for historical dialogue and cultural friendship between Lithuania and Azerbaijan.
