H.E. Andrius Kubilius
Prime Minister
Republic of Lithuania
Gedimino ave. 11
LT-01103 Vilnius
Lithuania

Dear Mr. Prime Minister:

We write to express our appreciation for your condemnation of the recent anti-Semitic attack on the synagogue in Kaunas. Such public condemnations, especially at the highest levels of government, are critical to convey to the public that anti-Semitism will not be tolerated.

Your comment is particularly welcome, given the Lithuanian Jewish community's previous statements of "deep concern regarding the increase in instances of anti-Semitism" and their concern about "the obvious unwillingness of some politicians and civil servants" to condemn it. Should future anti-Semitic incidents occur, we certainly expect your government will continue to speak out.

We urge you to ensure that the police dedicate significant resources to investigating this case, given its widespread impact of intimidation on a vulnerable community. To the best of our knowledge, no arrests were ever made in connection with the attacks on the Vilnius synagogue in August 2008 or in Klaipeda in January 2009.

If arrests are made in this case, the prosecutors should vigorously prosecute the alleged perpetrators. Since the attack was against a synagogue on the Jewish Sabbath, those charges should include criminal code articles 169 and 171, which respectively prohibit intimidation against participation in religious services and disturbance of religious services. Anything less would send a message of official apathy toward a clear hate crime.

We look forward to a robust response by Lithuania's law enforcement authorities in the pursuit of justice in this case.

Sincerely,