SAM on MAMA Awards: Some Stick to Restrictions, Others Show Apathy

According to Minister Arūnas Dulkis, during a pandemic and under emotional pressure, the burden of responsibility must be shared.

“Each individual is not responsible for the irresponsibility of the other, but each can rely on their own personal responsibility. We can each “bunny” or be the first to take responsibility. “What was the responsibility of the participants of the event yesterday was a question for them,” their representative Aistė Šuksta conveyed the position of the SNB minister.

According to her, the events cannot occur during the quarantine, but it is likely that the MAMA awards were treated like filming a television program, which is not prohibited.

“It is likely that the organizers dealt with the permit or hired it like filming a TV show, and the filming of TV shows is not prohibited. However, we are talking more about the moral background, when many famous Lithuanians who influence the the way other people see and think, and each of us must evaluate through our own prism whether to consider it responsible or irresponsible behavior. “It is more about when others hold on to protect each other, others show apathy.” said a SAM spokeswoman.

The Minister of the Interior, Agnė Bilotait declaró, declared that anyone who violates the requirements of the quarantine regime must take responsibility. According to her, questions arise as to whether events on this scale should take place at all.

“Movement restrictions, which are a temporary measure and necessary to reduce contact, should apply to everyone. The exceptions apply only to those provided for by a government resolution. There can be no other exceptions. Anyone who violates the requirements of the quarantine will have to take responsibility. And I really would like to have more understanding and sensitivity towards other members of society, “wrote the minister on Facebook.

The organizer of the event, the president of the association “Music Awards of the Year”, Martynas Tyla did not comment on the situation, promised to do so on Monday.

“Everything is fine, Sunday, and we will officially go out with everything tomorrow. We give people a voice, we let them have their say, ”Tyla told BNS.

Due to possible violations of the MAMA awards event held in Kaunas Žalgiris Arena, the Kaunas police received around 30 reports, they are clarifying the situation.

In the Žalgiris arena, the event took place without spectators, its organizers announced that all participants had been tested for COVID-19 before the event, but there was outrage in the public space that the quarantine rules were not followed, no masks were used and there were no safe distances. Some called the event a “party during the plague.”