Lithuania to Send Compensation to Soviet Army Deserters

One off compensation of 1,158 euros

VILNIUS, January 2 (RIA Novosti) – Lithuania will pay compensation to Lithuanians who refused to serve in the Soviet Army after the Baltic republic announced its independence from the Soviet Union in 1990 and were punished for their decision, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

"The one-off compensation of 4,000 litas (1,158 euros) will be paid out to persons who refused to serve in the Soviet Army and were subsequently forcefully drafted into Soviet military units, were sentenced to prison for desertion from the Soviet Army or for their boycott of the draft and were forced to continue service in the Soviet Army until September 7, 1991," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.