In Ukmergė, Lithuania, a picket is being organized to protest the potential relocation of a monument dedicated to Juozas Krikštaponis, a figure accused by the Jewish community of involvement in the persecution of Jews during World War II. The Lithuanian Center for the Study of Human Rights has referenced Krikštaponis’s role in a battalion that was allegedly implicated in the persecution of Jews, prisoners of war, and civilians during the German occupation period between 1941 and 1943.

The local community's frustration stems from a perceived lack of inclusion in the municipality’s decision-making process regarding the monument's fate, particularly after a court had previously canceled an order for its removal. The Commission for the De-Sovietization of Lithuania has argued that the monument symbolizes totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, which adds further complexity to the local sentiment and public discourse surrounding this issue.

The planned picket in front of the Ukmergė district municipal building aims not only to protest the handling of the monument but also to draw attention to the broader issues of historical memory and the importance of community involvement in discussions related to remembrance and heritage, highlighting tensions between commemorating historical figures and acknowledging historical atrocities.