The Elektrėnai municipality has rejected Russian allegations that it is desecrating the remains of Soviet soldiers, while confirming plans to relocate the remains of more than 100 soldiers buried after the Second World War.
Elektėnai municipality mayor Gediminas Ratkevičius said the aim was to move the remains to a more appropriate location.
"The goal is to relocate the soldiers' remains to a place of honour because the current location is not suitable. Public events and city celebrations take place there, and we believe the site does not provide the appropriate setting for a military burial," he said on Tuesday.
His comments came after Russia summoned Lithuania's chargé d'affaires in Moscow on Monday and protested against what it described as the desecration of Soviet war graves.
According to Ratkevičius, the remains will be reburied at the cemetery in Vievis city, a few hundred metres from the current site.
