"On May 9, we will greet whoever comes to cemeteries with more detailed and real information about who is who. Because the slogan "never again" obviously, is not enough as this "again" is happening now. We will not turn cemeteries into a political debate field but there will be clear information about the conditions under which we are living. It will be more detailed," Simasius told BNS.
On May 9, Russia marks the day of the WWII victory over Nazi Germany, and in Vilnius the biggest commemoration takes place at the Antakalnis cemetery where the controversial St George's Ribbon banned by the Lithuanian Seimas from being displayed in public because of the war in Ukraine is a common sight among visitors.
The West considers May 8 as the date of the end of the war.
Simasius also urged everyone who would wish to truly honor the fallen to come on this day.
"As I said, there will be no permits, they have been no applications, there are no events. We have no reason and we are not going to ban people from going to cemeteries as someone may have a personal reason to come," the mayor said.
"I urge everyone, if there's a personal reason, to come on May 8 because it's the day of the victory over Nazi Germany, despite not being the day of the end of WWII, if we are to be precise (...) for us, it ended in 1993," the mayor said.
Lithuania's State Security Department has earlier warned of possible provocations and violent incidents in Lithuania on May 9. Speaking earlier this week, Culture Minister Simonas Kairys also urged citizens to avoid provocations on May 9 and to let officials work at cemeteries and other places of commemoration.