Abducted and executed: Lithuanian film director dies at hands of Russian fascists in Mariupol

09.04.2022 17:40

Ukrinform

Lithuanian filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravičius was killed by Russian invaders in Mariupol. His body was simply thrown out into the street.

Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Liudmyla Denisova reported on the circumstances of the director’s death on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

“New information has emerged about the circumstances of the death of Lithuanian film director Mantas Kvedaravičius in Mariupol. He was taken prisoner by Russian fascists, who later shot him dead. The occupiers threw the director's body out on the street,” the ombudsperson said.

According to Liudmyla Denisova, the cause of Kvedaravičius’ death had not previously been disclosed for the sake of his wife’s safety. Risking her life, she had travelled to the besieged city and brought her husband’s body back to Lithuania.

The Commissioner also reminded that Yevhen Bal, 78, a journalist, writer, volunteer, member of the National Union of Journalists and the National Union of Writers, died after being tortured by Russian aggressors. On March 18, he was captured by the Russian military at his home in Melekine near Mariupol. He was nabbed allegedly over a number of "compromising" photos taken with the Ukrainian military. He was released three days later after the brutal beating, and on April 2, Yevhen Bal passed. Liudmyla Denisova stressed that his death was a result of torture.

Denisova called on the UN Human Rights Council’s commission investigating violations committed during Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine and the OSCE expert mission created under the Moscow Mechanism to take into account Russia's war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as human rights violations in Ukraine.

As reported, on April 3, film director Vitalii Manskyi announced that Lithuanian filmmaker Mantas Kvedaravičius had been killed in Mariupol. The Lithuanian media initially reported that a Russian missile hit his car.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his condolences to the President of the Republic of Lithuania and to the entire Lithuanian people in connection with the killing of Kvedaravičius.