Lithuania Vote Asks Russian Troops to Leave
An overwhelming majority of Lithuanians have voted to demand an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from the Baltic nation, preliminary government results showed Monday.
Unofficial results from Sunday’s referendum showed 1,744,135 people, or 91%, voted in favor, while 140,051, or 7%, voted against, according to Lithuania’s Supreme Council.
The Lithuanian government has called the former Red Army troops an occupying force and complained they could destabilize the newly independent country.
“We can only rejoice that the people understand today’s situation, Lithuania’s historic goals and problems,” President Vytautas Z. Landsbergis said, the Baltfax news agency reported.
The referendum demands that the withdrawal of the estimated 35,000 troops begin immediately and be completed by year’s end.
The referendum also demands that Lithuania be compensated for damages resulting from the Soviet annexation in 1940.
The Supreme Council said that 75% of all eligible voters participated.
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