It is reported that from noon, an Honor Guard stood by the urn with Kazimira Prunskienė’s remains. Very soon, it was noticed that one of the soldiers standing there felt unwell, causing a commotion among the ceremony participants.
A representative of the General Emergency Center informed the Žmonės.lt portal that medics were called to St. John’s Church on Thursday at 12:21. It is reported that a man fainted in the church.
The moment was also captured by LRT television, which was broadcasting the farewell.
It was noticeable that when the man collapsed, chaos ensued, and members watching the ceremony rushed to call the emergency number. The fallen soldier was also noticed by priest Ričardas Doveika.
On Thursday morning, the public was able to say goodbye to the deceased at the capital’s St. John’s Church.
On Thursday, not only those close to K.D. Prunskienė said their farewells, but also representatives from politics, society, culture, and the arts. Before 1 p.m., Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius and Speaker of the Seimas Juozas Olekas, along with members of the Government, paid their last respects to the deceased. The priest Ričardas Doveika accompanied the deceased on her final journey.
At 1 p.m., the procession moved towards Antakalnis Cemetery, where the politician will be buried in the Signatories’ Hill. The urn with the deceased’s ashes was carried by a Lithuanian soldier, accompanied by the Honor Guard. Before 2 p.m., the funeral procession reached Antakalnis Cemetery.
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At Antakalnis Cemetery, the first farewell speech was given by Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius, who emphasized the deceased’s contributions to the state. Later, Speaker of the Seimas Juozas Olekas spoke, recalling their joint work during the challenging period of state-building. The Signatories’ Club president Birutė Valionytė also reminded of K.D. Prunskienė’s merits. At the end of the ceremony, the state flag will be handed over to K.D. Prunskienė’s relatives. The ceremony will conclude with a salute and the singing of the Lithuanian national anthem.
The public was also able to say goodbye to K.D. Prunskienė on Wednesday, when a mass was held in the church for the deceased.
President Gitanas Nausėda will not attend the funeral, as he is working remotely this week from Madeira Island, Portugal.
K.D. Prunskienė passed away last week at the age of 83. She was the first head of the Lithuanian Government after the restoration of independence and was actively involved in the country’s politics for several decades.
In 2012, the politician suffered a stroke. Afterward, her speech was impaired, and K.D. Prunskienė did not return to active politics due to her health condition.
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