Drama in Kaunas: a bulldozer in front of a historic village

The demolition started without permission.

The building marked with the number 11 in Kaunas, Perkūno Alley, and more precisely, its sad fate caused a real storm in society.

In 1928, Petras Ruseckas, bookseller, participant in the struggle for independence and member of the Seimas Constituent, lived in the villa designed by architect Aleksandras Gordevičius.

The public was outraged by the actions of the businessman who bought the historic town. When the workers were hired, they began destroying the building with an excavator, although a demolition permit had not been issued. The owner of the building mentioned to the media that permits are not required for this, the building is in a state of emergency and uninhabitable, it seems that the Kaunas resident is ready to defend his position in court.

Thanks to the inhabitants of Kaunas and representatives of institutions that are not indifferent to the historical heritage, the works stopped at least for a time, but a larger part of the building was demolished.

Kaunas residents’ lawsuit: launch pre-trial investigation, restore dilapidated villa

“Yes, the barbarians have stopped, but another part of the authentic material in the building has been destroyed. However, I am convinced that we will win the war because the truth is on our side. This crime is a slap in the face for the state and for all of us. Gone are the days dear ones, your times are over.

Studied for it very expensive. And that those who contributed to it do not sleep in peace, history will also make their masks fall off, ”wrote Saulius Rimas, head of the Department of Cultural Heritage of the Kaunas municipality, on the social network Facebook.

People flocked to the half-destroyed building on Monday, in response to an initiative announced on social media to appeal to police for a pre-trial investigation, as well as to demand that the demolished building be rebuilt.

According to architect and public figure Audrius Karalius, who organized the campaign, some 200 signatures were collected.

The building is not on the list of values, but in the protected area

“This building is unique in that local materials have been used to reproduce world culture. And such buildings are unique not only in Lithuania, but also in the global context, ”said architect Linas Tuleikis about the uniqueness of the Art Deco-style villa.

The main problem is that this building is not included in the Register of Cultural Heritage. On the other hand, it is located in an area covered by a high level of protection under a special plan, and works cannot be carried out without permits.

“We show an absolute inability and inability to handle such things. If someone started cutting a person in the middle of the street, the police would come immediately. Several specialists reacted on their own initiative, in reality the institutions will be powerless to prevent such arbitrariness. Therefore, the man who calmed the pig’s eyes teaches him the truth that no one forbade him to kill this house. If there is no culture, then it is necessary to prohibit ”, L. Tuleikis was angry.

When asked how the fact that the historic building, most of which has already been demolished, was not recognized as a protected historical asset, L. Tuleikis appealed to the public’s understanding of what should be protected.

“In the European context, we have many registered buildings. It is enough that the area is on the list, it protects it from anything. There are cultural things here that should be enough to understand and protect because of their value.

There is no law stating that the Stradivarius violin needs to be protected, but no idiot has cut it, ”said architect L. Tuleikis.

It is unclear what sanctions await the destroyer.

Deputy Minister of the Environment Ligita Valalytė, who arrived at Perkūno Alley on Monday, said she would like to express her outrage at what was happening with her firm, as well as seek ways to help preserve the values.

He mentioned that the fact that the demolition work stopped last weekend shows the great indifference of society and institutions.

“The whole area is in a special plan approved by the municipality, there is a large protection zone. In any case, any work must have the corresponding approvals and permits. If the owner says he can or cannot do something, it is apparently a cynical approach to what we have, ”said a spokeswoman for the Ministry of the Environment.

When asked what sanctions threaten the owner of the building that started the demolition works, Vice Minister L. Valalytė could not answer exactly. He mentioned that it would be clarified what damage was done and how to cover it.

He called the act a terrorist attack on the state.

The architect A. Karalius, who lives in the same Žaliakalnis district in Kaunas, called this situation when a historic building that was demolished without an excavator was called terrorism.

“What we see today, I would see as an act of terrorism against the Lithuanian state. We have to speak not of architecture, not of heritage, but of terrorism, which, as it turns out, is also possible in this way.

Especially considering that the ruined villa belonged to the Lithuanian volunteer, bookseller, illustrator, army major, Knight of the Order of the Cross Vytis and Vytautas the Great P. Ruseckas. A man who sacrificed his life for Lithuania and ended his life in a field did not return home, ”said A. Karalius.

According to the architect and an active public figure, this building, which could have been turned into a museum, belonged to the municipality and was privatized in unclear circumstances.

V. Matijošaitis also spoke

The mayor of Kaunas, Visvaldas Matijošaits, also expressed his position on the passions about the demolished building.

“I am not a judge to publicly blame specific individuals here and now, but we all see the obvious fact: without any permission and coordination with the responsible authorities, they are simply wild principles.

I am proud of the people on my team who reacted categorically on the same day and are constantly working on the scene, helping colleagues from other institutions. We have no right to commit physical abuse, but I can assure you that you will have to be held accountable for your chaotic behavior according to the law.

It doesn’t matter if it is owned by a private estate, but all the work has to be done in accordance with current regulations, and this time they are simply closed. Specialists from the Department of Municipal Cultural Heritage and the Department of Cultural Heritage, and finally the police, registered everything. They warned of the dangers of such arbitrariness, so I have no doubt that the culprit will not escape responsibility.

If the wealth of the past seems useless to someone, it will not change their brain or add anything to their mind. This must be taught in the school bench, in history lessons, so that the minority can understand what heritage is, how expensive it is and why it must be protected, “the mayor of Kaunas is quoted in the report.