COMPENSATIONS TO JEWISH SURVIVORS OF THE HOLOCAUST AND THE SOVIET TERROR IN LITHUANIA WILL BE PAID OUT BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR
Lithuanian Jews, survivors of the Holocaust and the Soviet terror, will be paid symbolic compensation by the end of next year, following the law passed in 2011, informed on Wednesday Jewish NGOs tasked with administration of the compensation fund.
On Wednesday, the Compensation Fund Committee, headed by representatives of the Lithuanian and American Jewish organizations met in Vilnius and presented compensation scheme. They commended decision taken by the Lithuanian authorities as exemplary to other European countries.
The search for recipients of funds will begin by working on information about the Holocaust survivors, available from earlier databases. Those, who were not included in the lists, will be able to submit their applications by the second half of 2013. It is estimated, that 3 million Litas (approx. £750 thousand) will be distributed among 1000 people.
“We believe that by the end of the next year it will be completed”, informed Rabbi Andrew Baker, Director of International Jewish Affairs for the American Jewish Committee.
In addition, according to the law, during the period of ten years, Jewish people will be compensated 128 million Litas (approx. £32 million) for religious communal property nationalized by the totalitarian regime. Compensations could be used to support events organized by the Lithuanian Jewish Community or to finance healthcare, sport, and education or research initiatives in Lithuania.
