Military historians search for Lithuanian independence fighters' graves in Vilnius

The research project is being carried out by the Centre of Military History at the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania, the Defense Ministry told BNS.

"At the initial stage, possible burial sites were physically examined and all available public sources, such as the press and public speeches of the interwar period, etc., were researched in order to gather as much information as possible about where participants of the Wars of Independence died and where they were buried," it said.

According to the ministry, the research is still ongoing and it is too early to say when it could be completed.

Lithuania fought against Bolshevik forces, Bermontians and Poland to defend its independence after the Council of Lithuania on Feb. 16, 1918 proclaimed the restoration of an independent state of Lithuania with Vilnius as its capital.