Cinema Lietuva Timeline

TIMELINE OF THE CINEMA LIETUVA: FROM ART PROJECT TO JURIDICO-POLITICAL PROCESS

TIMELINE OF THE CINEMA LIETUVA: FROM ART PROJECT TO JURIDICO-POLITICAL PROCESS

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1965 – Opening of the newly build cinema Lietuva (Lithuania) with 1000 seats and screen size more than 210 square meters, first widescreen cinema in the country.

1965 - 1985 – The average load of the cinema hall is 85%, with annual attendance of more than 1,84 million visitors, and the ticket sales revenue more than 1 million rubles.

1990 - 1991 The State run cinema Lietuva is reorganized into UAB Lietuvos kino teatras (private limited liability company) with 93% shares owned by the Vilnius Municipality and 7% acquired by the 14 employees of the cinema.

1994 – Cinema Lietuva becomes member of Europa Cinemas a pan European organization to support European art house and independent cinema. Annual international film festival Kino pavasaris (The Spring of the Cinema) is organized, along with other festivals presenting national cinematography from Europe, Asia, America and Africa. Cinema club is established to organize lectures with Nikita Michalkov, Peter Greenaway, Werner Herzog, Leos Carax, Krzysztof Zanussi, Agnieszka Holland, Jerzy Kawalerowicz, Valery Todorovski, Sergei Solovjov, Ala Surikova, Kira Muratova and others.

December 4, 1994 – Cinema Lietuva as Municipal owned company signs the State Land Lease Agreement operative until 2093 (Lease number N001194-1745). The article 8.1 determines the primary purpose of the land use – “the land lot can only be used for economic activities, associated with the mission of the cinema theater”. The lot of 4052 square meters, was settled as part of the agreement to satisfy the needs of the cinema theater as required for objectives of public institution in respect to the venue capacity (1500 viewers) and their function that is to guarantee trespassing and evacuation. The part of the land incorporates a square public space in front of the cinema.

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1997 – The cinema Lietuva borrows a credit of 1 900 000 Litas (551 000 EUR) from Zemes Ukio Bankas (from 2002 the DnBNord bank) for major repairs and equipment purchase. After the reconstruction the building has become most modern cinema venue in the country. In two years the credit was paid back from revenues rendered from the ticket sales. There was no State support received.

1998 – Due to success of the first credit the cinema Lietuva borrows the second credit of 2 500 000 Litas ( 724 050 EUR) for further repairs and equipment purchase. The loan return was spread over to 2005.

1998 – Major repairs of the cinema Lietuva is finished introducing big hall with 983 seats and the small hall with 88 seats installed with comfortable seating, excellent acoustic resolution, equipped with new cinema projection and digital sound system (Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Dolby SR).

July 14, 1998 – The State Center of Register officially estimated the property value of the cinema Lietuva building as 7 7674 656 Litas (2 249 6135 EUR) 1998 – The Vilnius City Council is assigning cinema Lietuva with the State property land lot at Pylimo 17 with attributed public purpose as noted in the Grand planning of the city.

January 1, 2002 – The Vilnius City Municipality takes decision to privatize cinema Lietuva, i.e. to sell Municipality owned shares at the privatization auction.

May 2002 – The Vilnius City Municipality is organizing the first auction to privatize the cinema Lietuva , and the auction winner is UAB Regiono Investicija a branch of a national chain of supermarkets Vilniaus prekyba (VP Market). The company refuses to accept the purchase consequently loosing the auction deposit of 100 000 Litas ( 28 962 EUR).

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December 21, 2002 – The second privatization auction is organized with the only company participating, that is the same UAB Regiono Investicija.

The winning bid is 3 times less than was noted at the first auction – approximately 3 000 000 Litas (868 860 EUR). The company undertakes the guarantee for operation of the cinema for the next 3 years from the moment of signing the privatization papers.

May 27, 2003 – The company UAB Regiono Investicija is entered up into the State land lease agreement as lessee, although the primary purpose of the land use remains unconverted determining “the land lot use exceptionally for the cultural purpose” (agreement Number K01/200327099) December, 2004 – Government of Lithuania includes cinema Lietuva in the application (prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Vilnius City Municipality) for Vilnius to become European Capital of Culture in 2009, suggesting the cinema Lietuva “amongst advanced venues for international audiovisual projects and as potential house for festival events”.

December 29, 2004 – Vilnius City Council eliminates public purpose of the State property land lot at Pylimo 17 where the cinema Lietuva is located by taking resolution (Number. 1-635) that alters The Grand planning of the Vilnius city. Instead the new purpose is inscribed along with the means of the land use – “for housing, and multi-stored buildings”. Decision is taken secretly and without any public approval. It is obvious violation of Aarhus convention that is ratified by Lithuanian Republic in 2001, as convention obliges any parties to inform public about planning of teritories in time and efficiently, and to guarantee public participation in the decision making.

January 2005 – Mailing list vilma@vilma.cc is started to discuss the possibilities and methods of reclaiming public spaces and cultural purpose of space and the territories and the return of the cinema to the people.

Discussion expands towards the general debates about the rights to the

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city. Mailinglist is subscribed by more than 200 members, mostly activists that come from various backgrounds.

March, 2005 – Opening of Pro-test Lab in the former ticket office of the cinema Lietuva, starting with the Modeling Zone and series of afternoons with Home Made Cookies and other temporal events organized around idea of communal cooking conceived by vegans and other types of young activists. Pro-test Lab is planned as unfolding self-initiated space organized by multitude of independent groups individually concerned with free exchange, self-education and imagination of space in action.

April 2, 2005 – The One Ingredient Party is organized by AviZa, an alternative kitchen zone that starts as temporal initiative conceived to create place for alternative cooking and leisure for young people.

April 3, 2005 – Vilnius Citizens, a spontaneously organized group of people willing to stay anonymous is organizing a poster action in the public sites of the city to hang three posters with caption PARDUOTA (SOLD OUT) on the three bridges in Vilnius.

April 3, 2005 – AviZa, an alternative kitchen zone is organizing event called Pilaf and distribute public call to bring something from home to make pilaf together.

April 6, 2005 – Spaces in the City a blog and small collective starts to operate. It is conceived as meeting and conversation event to organize a talk on Public Spaces in Vilnius.

April 7, 2005 – Release party of net based magazine BALSAS (VOICE) on media culture (http://www.balsas.cc) is organized by VILMA with Live voice+sound+cinema performance, joint boruz (vocal) and audio_z project and remakes by dj egidija_m.

April 8, 2005 – Pin release party For Lietuva is conceived by Spaces in the City and followed with sounds by following collectives Beauties For All

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Season, Fetish Fantomas, Kitchen Unit and performance by students from the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater.

April 9, 2005 – Open Forum Uz Lietuva (For Lietuva) is inviting everybody to discuss the situation and future of cinema Lietuva. Citizen movement Uz Lietuva be kabuciu (ForLithuania without quotation marks) is established.

April 9, 2005 – Open air Dj event Sounds for Lietuva organized by disco club Stereo45 in a square in front of the cinema, featuring djs Kym Wilde, Pupa, Manfredas, Daimon.

April 10, 2005 – Vilnius Citizens are organizing a second poster action in public sites of the city to hang two posters with caption SOLD OUT in 2 public sites in Vilnius.

April 10, 2005 – Event Pin DIY and Vegan Lunch is launched by Spaces in the City calling to bring soya meat (for pancakes), different types of vegetables, spices, flour, rice, oil, corn flakes.

April 11, 2005 – Interview with film director Emir Kusturica (head of the jury at the Cannes film festival in 2005) on privatization of the cinemas is conceived by VILMA. April 4-16, 2005 – ASK, Architecture Student Club start a street game called VIPmarket, that is a strain of Monopoly game, where playing with card board models one can gamble with a real estate of a city buying and selling heritage objects.

April 12, 2005 – Talk Show Creative destruction: words and images with philosopher dr. Gintautas Mazeikis and film theorist Rytis Juodeika on creativity, norms, transgressions, conflicts, refuse, spontaneous, subvert and Lietuva is conceived by VILMA. April 13, 2005 – Open air event For Freedom is organized by Hardcore.LT in a square in front of the cinema featuring Kaya (Vilnius reggae), Blues mafija (blues), Juvelyrika (funk) and is followed by discussion event Public

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Spaces on development of non commercial sites in the city conceived by Spaces in the City.

April 15, 2005 – Group of so called Independent Observers, a collective of audiovisual producers (NSG) conceive a protesting sound event with guest performances by benua (happyendless), domino (deep ink), dublicate (dublick 8) live, eo (nsg), korb ((nsg) video, pb8 (nsg) video, zw-x (nsg).

April 16, 2005 – Open air Rhythm session For Freedom is organized by Hardcore.LT, a platform for alternative culture in the square in front of the cinema calling everybody to join with djambe, congo, bongo or other percussion come together and be free in collective performance.

April 17, 2005 – Vilnius Citizens are organizing the third Poster action in public sites of the city to hang two posters with caption SOLD OUT on 2 bridges in Vilnius.

April 17, 2005 –Talk Show on shrinking public space, entropy and role of citizen with politician Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, lawyer Kestutis Cilinskas and architect Gediminas Paslaitis is organized by Spaces in the City.

April 20, 2005 – Milk-shake party Want To Be Healthy - Drink Milk. Are You Sick? is organized by AviZa, an alternative kitchen zone for production of milk shakes and music, calling to bring instruments and revolutionary ideas, milk, ice-cream, berries, fruits, juice, vegetables, spices, yoghurt, kefir, shakers, cups, napkins, etc. - just everything!!! Followed by music theater by Kasparas and Ovidijus Empty Pots Sound Loudly.

April 21, 2005 – Green Movement is organizing a jamming at the primetime talk show Prasau Zodzio (I Ask to Speak) during the real-time broadcast at the Lithuanian National Television.

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April 22, 2005 – Spaces in the City is organizing a meeting and conversation event Theater games and How to get to know each other better.

April 23, 2005 – Music Information Center (mic.lt) is organizing Djembe Party, a sound event with Nomeda & Gediminas Urbonas in collaboration with composers Linas Rimsa and Linas Paulauskis.

April 24, 2005 – Vilnius Citizens are organizing the fourth Poster action in public sites of the city to hang one poster with caption SOLD OUT on the hill of Three crosses in Vilnius.

April 26, 2005 – Tortilla de patata a Spanish afternoon and event with film, sound and kitchen is organized by AViZaite, Pablito and Nacho, el Cuadro flamenco group, Sangria and friends.

April 28, 2005 – Italian afternoon Now Or Never with film Ora O Mai Piu, Italian pasta by cafe SoleLuna, Diego playing the guitar and discussion followed with CandyCactus is organized by AViZa an alternative kitchen zone and Italian Cultural Institute.

April 29, 2005 – Inga, someone's friend is organizing a chalk drawing session with kids on the pavement in the square at cinema called City of my Dreams.

May 6, 2005 – Talk Show New Face of Vilnius: Pro-jections by the architects with Algimantas Nasvytis, Rolandas Palekas, Tomas Grunskis and moderated by Rytis Juodeika is organized by VILMA. May 7, 2005 – Street game Apartment Block in the square in front of cinema Lietuva is organized by ASK Architecture Student Club. In the place of cinema is planned an apartment block, delivering the public space to a few privileged. How it will look like? Who would live there? Each Participant is given the space to create imaginary apartment.

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May 7, 2005 – Pirate Cinema screening Futuro. A New Stance For Tomorrow by Mika Taanila is organized by VILMA and followed by discussion.

May 11, 2005 – Pirate cinema screening Bowling for Columbine by Michael Moore is organized by AViZa and followed by discussion.

May 19, 2005 – Sound and bar event called Polyphonic Protest 1 is conceived by Involved a bar and social space organized by artists Mirjam Wirtz and Augustinas Beinoravicius, and Co:labUK a temporal initiative by Tom Nolan, Hannah Martin, Nell Harrison art students from Dartington college, UK. They call everybody to come with their favorite protest song to be heard by all!

May 22, 2005 – Talk show An Open Bus Tour: Erased city spaces in search for the dead cinemas is organized by VILMA, providing with guided tour on the open top bus and live discussion following the route of privatized cinemas through the city with Skirmantas Valiulis, film critic moderated by Rytis Juodeika, film theorist.

May 23, 2005 – The making of the pro-test action Human-chain of Swimming Enthusiasts at the former site of privatized and demolished public swimming pool is organized by VILMA, calling to bring swimming suits, towels, slippers, all what's needed for swimming to join the collective performance.

May 26, 2005 – Sound and bar event Polyphonic Protest 2 called In search of dead cinemas conceived as virtual journey with live improvised soundtrack and video featuring vj Stasys, and dj PopX is organized by Involved & Co:labUK. June 2, 2005 – The making of the pro-test action called America Will Help Us! promising popcorn and much more is organized by VILMA to reanimate the promise of the President of the United States George W. Bush during his visit to Vilnius on 23 November 2002, where he stated that

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“from now on, any enemy of Lietuva is an enemy of the United States”.

Everyone who is for Lietuva, join the action! Together with the United States, let's save Lietuva from the enemy!

June 2, 2005 – Sound and bar event Polyphonic Protest 3 called Sound Between the lines: Happy End featuring Vj Sta, Involved, Co:labUK is organized by Involved & Co:labUK. June 9, 2005 – Sound and bar event Polyphonic Protest 4 called Bistro Lietuva calling for Protest Against Routine with Ignas Jonynas, discussions, music, video, etc. is organized by Involved & Co:labUK. June 16, 2005 – Sound and bar event Polyphonic Protest 5 called Protest Post: Writing together a letter to A.Zuokas, mayor of Vilnius with music, chat and other... is organized by Involved & Co:labUK June 23, 2005 – Sound and bar event Polyphonic Protest 6 called Every one is Jonas Jonaitis, but only Jonas Jonaitis knows this, calling for making together the photo-portrait of Jonas Jonaitis with music, fire and barbecue is organized by Involved & Co:labUK June 30, 2005 – Sound and bar event Polyphonic Protest 7: SLOW DOWN with goa music, video hayway, lounge island... is organized by Involved & Co:labUK July 7, 2005 – Sound and bar event Re-Punk Electronic Music! Lecture and sound performance with Christiane Erharter for Austria and Norway is organized by VILMA July 12, 2005 – Release event of the internet kiosk featuring Ruta Remake: collection for work and rebel by Nomeda & Gediminas Urbonas in collaboration with Sandra Straukaitė, and followed by the collective photosession on the roof of the cinema is organized by VILMA

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July 14, 2005 – Pirate cinema screening Coffy by Jack Hill is organized by VILMA and followed by discussion.

July 21, 2005 – Pirate cinema screening BaadAsssss Cinema by Isaac Julien is organized by VILMA and followed by discussion.

July 25, 2005 – Cinema’s birthday party LIETUVA goes 40! Featuring collective music project on stage of the cinema with inCulto and Sare Roma, a Roma band from Vilnius is followed by the film screening Black Cat, White Cat by Emir Kusturica and light projection by Skaiste Kerpyte, and the birthday cake...organized by the cinema Lietuva, VILMA and friends.

July 28, 2005 – Pirate cinema screening White Skin Black Mask by Isaac Julien is organized by VILMA and followed by discussion.

July 28, 2005 – Pirate cinema screening The Yes Men by Dan Ollman, is organized by VILMA and followed by discussion.

August 17, 2005 – Love night in Color a party and film screening program featuring The Other side of bed, Voice of the Sea, Mating time is organized by cinema Lietuva August 23, 2005 – Television bridge Oslo - Lietuva featuring a videoconference discussion between architects, artists, activists debating on privatization and entropy of the public spaces in Vilnius and Oslo with architect Andre Baldisiute, human geographer Guro Voss Gabrielsen, architect Tomas Grunskis, politician Grete Horntvedt, anthropologist Gintautas Mazeikis, philosopher Nerijus Milerius, urbanist Ole Moystad, moderators Arunas Gelunas and artist and curator Tone Hansen is organized by OCA Office for Contemporary Art in Oslo, Atelier Nord in Oslo and VILMA in collaboration with ASK Architecture Student Club.

September 22, 2005 – Pirate cinema screening Stop Shopping! Reverend Billy's Peace Revival featuring the Church of Stop Shopping Choir followed

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by the sound session by KIT/NTNU students with experimental video + test streaming + bar program is organized by VILMA and KIT/NTNU September 24, 2005 – An event for dogs of various breed and the making of the pro-test action Dogs barking will not disturb the clouds that calls for the competition amongst the loudest barking dog is organized by VILMA in the square in front of the cinema.

September 24, 2005 – The launch of Protestas a paper published by the Protestas editorial collective takes place in the square in front of the cinema.

September 24, 2005 – Sound event Carnival in Rio - Carnival in Lietuva with KIT/NTNU students from Norway and RuT RuT collective from Vilnius featuring image, karaoke and streaming by [os], iermo?, themnh, DeFboY derehctub + others is organized by VILMA in collaboration with KOEPT and KIT/NTNU. September 25, 2005 – Architectural mourning event Candle in the Wind to pay homage for the cinema calls to bring candles, crosses, flowers, black ribbons to the square in front of the cinema is organized by The Society of Gloomy Students.

September 25, 2005 – Closing party Idiots - people of the Future with the introduction by Kees Brienen from Rotterdam film festival and the official last screening at the cinema of films Idiots by Lars Von Trier and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Milos Forman is organized by cinema Lietuva.

October 5, 2005 – Five days before the cinema Lietuva is sold out, a jointstock company the Cinema Scotland is established. The information about this company is particularly tight. Officially is announced that shareholders come from UK and Ireland, although Google search proves existence of only two shareholders – farmer specializing in cheese making and cab driver with refused license. No evidence found about any correlations of this company with cinema businesses.

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October 10, 2005 – UAB Regiono Investicija, a branch of VP Market corporation sells their shares of the cinema Lietuva for 15 million Litas (4’344 300 EUR) to the company UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments). The deal includes the two of cinema Lietuva buildings on the site and State land lease agreement with cinema owners. Ninety percent (90%) of shares of UAB Rojaus Apartamentai is owned by the Cinema Scotland, UK based investment company established five days ago, and the ten percent (10 %) is owned by the real estate developer UAB M2 Invest.

November 22, 2005 – The State land lease agreement is changed to upgrade with the new owner company UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments), although agreement itself stays intact and the purpose of the land use is not altered, and still features the duty to use the State land for the cultural purpose (agreement Number. K01/20051407) March 10, 2006 – Vilnius City Municipality disposes the territory planners rights over to private company UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments) under the agreement (Number.04520) for the detailed planning of the lot at Pylimo street 17. The act of disposal of territory planners rights is violating the Aarhus Convention, as doing so Vilnius City Municipality delivers function of public administration (that is duty of State or Municipal institutes) over to the private enterprise to perform the supervision of the detailed planning of territory.

UAB Rojaus Apartamentai are owners of the cinema Lietuva and therefore have private interest in the development of the lot.

Such disposal of the planners rights is admitted as violation of Aarhus Convention during the UN European Commission of Economy declaration announced in the 4th part subsection “d” during June 11-13, 2008 Aarhus convention meeting in Riga. It is noted that such disposal of planners rights violates decision of Vilnius City Council Nr.1-903 “Regarding the detailed planning in Vilnius Old Town” published September 7, 2005. This

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document clearly defines functions of the planning organizer as duty of City Development Department at Vilnius Municipality.

April 14, 2006 – Under the request of UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments) the Administration of Vilnius City Municipality issues the conditions regarding the detailed planning of the lot, indicating the aim of the planning as „determination of the management and usage of the lot at Pylimo g. 17 with intended disposition as residential, attribution as multistorey dwelling-house; the ground floor premises for commercial usage“. Such planning condition allow State property land with the cultural and public purpose for change of the function and redevelopment.

The document overrides the public purpose of the land referring to the decree approved without any public consent by Vilnius City council on December 29, 2004 (look above).

June 4, 2006 – The first public hearing of the detailed planning of the lot to present plans of the development is organized by the company UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments) at the hall of the Vilnius City Council. According to the plans presented by developer, cinema Lietuva is planned to be demolished, land to be redeveloped into the building of dwellings and commercial premises, that simultaneously destroy square, cultural purpose and public space in front of the cinema. Citizens and NGO’s present more then thirty alternative proposals, that oppose developer’s plans to demolish the cinema. The company UAB Rojaus Apartamentai is not able to produce articulate argument on the spot.

Public hearing meeting concludes that the detailed planning is justified as undischarged, due to the lack of evidence that would present means to diminish negative consequences for the city if planning takes place.

July 4, 2006 – Public appearance of Black widows (Shakhidi) at the public hearing of the detailed planning of the lot (Pylimo street 17) at the Vilnius City Municipality organized by Shakhidi invest.

July 7, 2006 – Citizens movement For Lithuania without quotation marks presents written appeal to UNESCO Members of the World Heritage

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Committee, and Participants of the 30th Session of the World Heritage Committee (Vilnius, July 8-16, 2006) concerning the Destruction of Cultural Heritage. Appeal is followed by meeting with Mr. Francesco Bandarin, Director of the World Heritage Centre at the State Department of Cultural Heritage to discuss case of cinema Lietuva and other violations taking place in Vilnius Old Town, that is site of UNESCO World Heritage.

July 8, 2006 – A Poster action and public appearance of Black widows as the making of the pro-test action is suggested by VILMA for the opening of the 30th Session of the World Heritage Committee at the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theater. The action is repressed by the Green Movement of Lithuania and some members of the citizens movement For Lithuania without quotation marks banning appearance of Black Widows and their posters.

June 9, 2006 – Citizens meeting that calls for alternative vision for the site of cinema Lietuva inviting cultural producers and activists is organized by VILMA at the CAC Contemporary Art Center in Vilnius. More then sixty producers are attending.

June 10 - 11, 2006 – Bezpridel (Unlimitedness) workshop that calls to reflect on the “unlimited” - “go-as-you-please” notion with points of departure from erotic-revolutionary spectacle towards mapping the borderline of Bezpridelia (Unlimitedness), and from that to work out presentation module for Gwangju biennale is inviting cultural producers and activists. Workshop is organized by VILMA in a dialogue with Cristina Ricupero, curator and CAC Vilnius.

July 11, 2006 – The Petition For the cinema Lietuva and the cultural policy related to it addressing the President of the Republic of Lithuania, National Government, Parliament, Ministry of Culture, Vilnius City Municipality and Vilnius County is conceived by workgroup of citizen movement For Lithuania without quotation marks and is signed by more than eight thousand citizens.

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Petition underlines “that public was excluded when administration of Vilnius Municipality has taken the decisive resolutions in relation to the land use and privatization of the cinema Lietuva”. Petition aims at „preservation and development of the tradition of the public cultural space established by the cinema Lietuva; correspondence between the cultural policies of the city and ambitions declared by the European Cultural Capital in 2009 and those to be modeled in respect to the public interest and under the principles of democracy”.

Petition online at: http://www.culture.lt/peticija July 26, 2006 –the President of the Lithuania justifies the Petition by pointing out, that „the privatization critique is justified and solid, as much as questioning of the decision of Vilnius City Municipality to sell the cinema Lietuva. Vilnius City Municipality has to take implicit liability in front of Vilnius citizens and Lithuanian society for such decision and find the means to resolve problems in the proper way”.

– Petition is justified by the Committee of Education, Science and Culture at the Parliament pointing out “that privatization and destruction of the cinema Lietuva contradicts the approaching engagements of Vilnius city as European Capital of Culture in 2009”.

August 18, 2006 – The second public hearing of the detailed planning of the lot organized by company UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments) provokes presence of even more representatives of diverse communities who gather with concerns, that planning solutions presented in the developers proposal violate the main condition of the State property land lease agreement where “the land lot can only be used for economic activities, associated with the mission of the cinema theater”. As in the developer’s proposal the cinema Lietuva is planned to be demolished and large part of the state land redeveloped into the building of dwellings and commercial premises, more than sixty alternative proposals are presented by community leaders, activists and citizens, who suggest to preserve cultural and public space for the future generations.

Despite the citizens proposals company UAB Rojaus Apartamentai as performing the role of public administrator (territory planner) declines all

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alternative suggestions, leaving their own proposal unquestioned.

Representatives of the communities gathered present in writing their requests to guarantee participation of the State institutions, that would represent public interest, although this public request is ignored.

August 27, 2006 – The Open letter approaching shareholders of the company UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments) is published with the appeal that introduces foreign investors with the memorial importance of the site, beside of other cultural and environment concerns.

Organized by the workgroup of the citizen’s movement For Lithuania without quotation marks.

September 4, 2006 – The Open letter to the Trust Ambassadors is published approaching potential spokespersons to stand for cinema Lietuva. Organized by workgroup of the citizen movement For Lithuania without quotation marks.

October 26, 2006 – The Petition Committee at the National Government recognizes the Petition of July 11 and calls for the first session Regarding the cinema Lietuva and the cultural policies related to it. Representatives of Ministry of Culture and Vilnius City Municipality are against the recognition of the Petition. The Petition Committee takes intermediate decision suggesting the compromise and asking citizens movement to upgrade the Petition claims by providing Committee “with concrete proposals, that would suggest improvement of the legislation or would introduce the new legislation to best perform the demands expressed in the Petition”.

December 19, 2006 – The Petition Committee calls for the second session Regarding the cinema Lietuva and the cultural policies related to it concerning the petition of July 11. Representatives of Ministry of Culture and Vilnius City Municipality once again attempt to decline proposals by the workgroup of citizen movement.

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December 29, 2006 – Alfonsas Macaitis, the Governor Administration of Vilnius County approves and validates findings of the detailed planning of the lot. This consequently allows further proceeding of the detailed planning and final (political) approval at the Vilnius City Council.

January 22, 2007 – The workgroup of the of citizen movement For Lithuania without quotation marks approach Vilnius City Council and their Committee of City Development with the appeal that solutions for the detailed planning of the lot presented by the company UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments) violate the principle condition of the State property land lease agreement.

January 23, 2007 – Four representatives of the citizen movement For Lithuania without quotation marks: musicologist Tomas Bakucionis, heritage expert Jurate Markeviciene, filmmaker Vytautas Domasevicius and artist Gediminas Urbonas submit the complaint at the Vilnius County Administrative Court to argue the actions performed by the Governor Administration of Vilnius County in connection to their validation of findings of the detailed planning of the cinema Lietuva lot at Pylimo street 17, that was signed on December 29, 2006. (June 14, 2007 – Administrative Court of Vilnius County concludes to reject the complaint.)

January 27, 2007 – The Petition Committee at the National Government concludes with decision to “halfway satisfy claims by citizens expressed in the petition July 11, 2006”. Their decision is not interrupting proceedings of the detailed planning of the lot, although two of the ministries are commissioned by the Government to establish workgroups to discuss and prepare legislation regarding “notion of the public space in the law of the territory planning” (Ministry of Environment) and “the regulations for registry of public and cultural spaces” (Ministry of Culture and Vilnius Municipality).

February 14, 2007 – Despite the numerous community protests Vilnius City Council approves the Grand planning of the Vilnius city, that legitimizes quite a few obviously corrupted decisions. The Grand planning

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reaffirms the decree of the Vilnius City Council to eliminate public purpose of the State property land at Pylimo 17 – lot of the cinema Lietuva.

May 8, 2007 – Four citizens - Tomas Bakucionis, Jurate Markeviciene, Vytautas Domasevicius and Gediminas Urbonas have been subpoenaed to appear before the Vilnius County Administrative Court on the matter of their submission to the court of an ‘abrogation of responsibility’ by the Governor Administration of Vilnius County - for awarding building/redevelopment consent for the site of cinema Lietuva.

May 14, 2007 – The making of the pro-test action Exploration of the public space: vertical and horizontal values is organized by VILMA in front of cinema Lietuva inviting everybody to join together on Monday afternoon to visualize measurements of the building that will take over the public space. Eighteen of pro-test scarves are tied together to measure the 18 meters height of the apartment block planned according the detailed planning of the lot.

June 14, 2007 – the Vilnius County Administrative Court takes decision to decline the claim presented on January 23, 2007 by four members of the citizen’s movement arguing the operation of the Governor Administration of Vilnius County.

June 27, 2007 – Four citizens Tomas Bakucionis, Jurate Markeviciene, Vytautas Domasevicius and Gediminas Urbonas submit appellation to the State Supreme Administrative Court regarding the ‘abrogation of responsibility’ by the Governor Administration of Vilnius County - for awarding building/redevelopment consent for the site of cinema Lietuva.

June 27, 2007 – the company UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments) submit the civil claim at the Vilnius County Civil Court against the four citizens: Tomas Bakucionis, Jurate Markeviciene, Vytautas Domasevicius and Gediminas Urbonas for compensation of the incurred losses due to the citizens’ “experimentation in the frame of the public interest, as performed by the accused”.

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October 10, 2007 – Sarunas Bagdonas, the representative of the citizen movement For Lithuania without quotation marks approaches Vilnius City Public Prosecutor to investigate possible violation of the State property land lease agreement. The argument is that property development presented by UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments) has no intention to perform any cultural or public function.

April 21, 2008 – the State Supreme Administrative Court carries final resolution to reject the complaint by four representatives of the citizen movement (presented January 23, 2007) arguing the actions by the Governor Administration of Vilnius County in connection to their validation of the detailed planning of the lot cinema Lietuva.

May, 2008 – The National Television carries series of public attacks against the citizen movement For Lithuania without quotation marks arguing that protesters just imitate public interest and cannot represent opinion of all citizens.

June 3, 2008 – Public appearance of Black widows (Shakhidi) at the HQ of the National Television calling for the freedom of speech, organized by Shakhidi invest.

July 9, 2008 – The Committee of Culture, Education, Sports and Youth Concerns at the Vilnius City Municipality discusses the proposal for detailed planning of the lot, that suggests demolition of cinema Lietuva as presented by UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments). The chairman of the Committee Vidmantas Martikonis calls such proposal „kind of flimflam” and confirmes, that company has not provided any substantial prove, that cultural function would be continued as it required by the State land lease agreement. As compromise the company UAB Rojaus Apartamentai suggests the development plans to guarantee cultural function for the next five years. In case if such promise is violated the penalty developers suggest is 1’000 Litas (almost 290 EUR!) per month, i.e. if the penalty of 60 000 lt would be paid, the developer may resign any obligations towards preserving the cultural or public function at the site.

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July 14, 2008 – The Alternative Committee of the Cultural Heritage, director of the State Department of Cultural Heritage and Lithuanian ambassador at UNESCO invite developers, architects and activists to discuss priorities and principles in the safeguarding and cherishing Vilnius Old town scrutinizing the case of the cinema Lietuva.

July 18, 2008 – Vilnius City Council approves detail planning of the lot as presented by UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments) and their intention to demolish cinema Lietuva. The State property land, that is assigned for cultural and public purpose, is to be covered by construction of commercial buildings, that erases public site in front of the cinema.

August 24, 2008 – Four members of citizen’s movement For Lithuania without Quotation Marks: journalist Rasa Kalinauskaite, political scientist Tomas Tomilinas, mathematician Saulius Norvaisas and filmmaker Vytautas Damasevicius submit the complaint at the Vilnius County Administrative Court against the Vilnius City Council decision (Number 1593) issued on July 18, 2008 that approved detailed planning at Pylimo street 17, the lot of the cinema Lietuva. Four members call to strike down decision of Vilnius City Council, that is violating public interest. Citizens request to retry the public hearing of the detailed planning of the lot with the measures to guarantee representation of State institutes safeguarding public interest to be taken.

October 17, 2008 – Vilnius County Civil Court examines the appellation presented by the developer company M2 Invest (shareholders of company UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments)) regarding the decline of their complaint at Vilnius City 1st Vicinity Court, that rejected slander claim against heritage expert Jurate Markeviciene. After semiotic expertise conducted by dr. Kestutis Nastopka, head of A. J. Greimas Centre of Semiotic Studies and Research, the Vilnius County Civil Court concludes that there was no evidence of slander found. The Court awarded Jurate Markeviciene for litigation expenditure she experienced to be compensated by the developer.

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The developer M2 Invest required to award 30 000 Litas ($12 000) from Jurate Markeviciene as compensation for diminishing business reputation of the company, that was suspected in Jurate’s statement recorded on the live radio broadcast. During the examination of the case comparing the transcription and original broadcast recordings it was found that developer company M2 Invest have presented the court with transcription, that was not compatible with what was originally said in the recording. Because of this finding Jurate Markeviciene appealed the court for investigation regarding the possible forgery of the evidence.

September 11, 2008 – VISI (IPI) Institute of Public Interest was founded in Vilnius by the community and members of citizen’s movement For Lithuania without quotation marks to establish a counter-balance against the Institute of Free Market.

November 7, 2008 – the Petition calling for Help to Correct a Grave Injustice is Needed to Martin Shulz, MEP was published by Open Commitee for Social Justice in Lithuania (comprising VISI (PISI), DEMOS and New Left citizen's movement).

October 21, 2008 – The company UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments) announces the increment by 457 000 Litas to add to the claim put against the four members of the citizens’ movement for the compensation of the incurred losses, therefore developers upgrade the claim to 1 million 670 thousand 260 Litas and 92 cents (483’852 EUR).

January 19, 2009 – Vilnius County Civil Court postpones the examination of the civil case where UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments) claim against the four citizens: Tomas Bakucionis, Jurate Markeviciene, Vytautas Damasevicius and Gediminas Urbonas for compensation of 1 million 670 thousands 260 Litas and 92 cent of the incurred losses due to the “experimentation in the frame of the public interest, as performed by the accused”. Examination takes place in June, 2009.

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January 20, 2009 – Vilnius County Administrative Court satisfies the citizen’s request to apply temporal measures and put the arrest on the detailed planning of the lot of cinema Lietuva (stopping the development), as it was approved by the Vilnius City Council.

January 22, 2009 – Valstybes žinios (the oficial State Newsletter) publishes fundamentally corrected Lithuanian edition of Aarhus Convention.

Corrceted version of the translation edited by citizen’s movement was accepted by Lithuanian goverment only after numerous apeals to the supreme govermental institutions and European Commision. According to those appeals, the use of the fundamentally false translation allowed not only a multitude of violations that supressed civic rights (otherwise guaranteed by the Convention), but also introduced several new laws, permitting subjection of civic rights (and public interest) in the courts, that is in contradiction with international laws.

February 19, 2009 – (court case #2) Vilnius County Civil Court postponed the examination of the civil case where Rojaus Apartamentai claims against the four citizens Tomas Bakucionis, Jurate Markeviciene, Vytautas Domasevicius and Gediminas Urbonas for compensation of 1 million 670 thousands 260 Litas and 92 cent of the incurred losses due to the “experimentation in the frame of the public interest, as performed by the accused”. Examination takes place in June 4, 2009 .

February 21, 2009 – (court case #3) the State Supreme Administrative Court carries final resolution to abrogate decision of Vilnius County Administrative Court that satisfied the citizen’s request to apply temporal measures and put temporal arrest on the City Council’s decision stopping planning of the cinema lot.

March 31, 2009 – citizen’s movement For Lithuania without Quotation Marks submits complaint to General Public Prosecutor requesting to stand in defense of public interest and investigate possibly criminal privatization of cinema Lietuva resulting in huge damage to public property. General

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Public Prosecutor handles complaint over to Vilnius vicinity Public Prosecutor.

April 10, 2009 – (court case #1) The State Supreme Administrative Court issuing the decision to renew the legal process in connection to the appeal by the four citizens: Tomas Bakucionis, Jurate Markeviciene, Vytautas Damasevicius and Gediminas Urbonas (administrative case Nr. P-85-09). In this decision the Court admits that edition of Aarhus Convention translation as published in State News of January 22, 2009 is fundamentally different from the one that was followed when the administrative case was examined. The Court concludes that during examination of the case there was possible damage incurred in connection to violation of norms of civic rights, therefore the legal process is renewed.

The decision is not subject of appellation.

As the process of administrative case is renewed, there is a legal base to stop the civil case where company UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments) claims the compensation from the four citizens of possibly incurred damage in connection to the administrative court case (court case #2).

April 16, 2009 – Vilnius vicinity Public Prosecutor refuses to start criminal investigation of privatization of cinema Lietuva.

April 23, 2009 – (court case #2) Vilnius County Civil Court carries final resolution to reject investor’s Rojaus Apartamentai request to apply temporal measures and put arrest on the properties of the four citizens Tomas Bakucionis, Jurate Markeviciene, Vytautas Domasevicius and Gediminas Urbonas as part of their claim for compensation of 1 million 670 thousands 260 Litas and 92 cent of the possibly incurred losses.

April 27, 2009 – citizen’s movement For Lithuania without Quotation Marks submits complaint to the Vilnius vicinity Court against Vilnius vicinity Public Prosecutor regarding their refusal to start criminal investigation of privatization of cinema Lietuva (court case #6).

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April 29, 2009 – the Human right committee at Lithuanian Parliament organizes discussion on the citizens right to influence decisions making in EU and Lithuania. Citizen’s movement For Lithuania without Quotation Marks introduces process of translation of Aarhus Conventions and judicial consequences.

January 13, 2010 – Arthur Simonsen, director of UAB Rojaus Apartamentai (Paradise Apartments) distributes public statement announcing possible bankruptcy of the company. In connection to this he threatens citizens with the new claims for the possible damage estimated as 8 million litas (aprox $3,5 million ). He declares that the cinema would be disposed to the SEB bank that credited the company’s project.

October 06, 2010 - (court case #1) - Vilnius Supreme Administrative Court postpones hearing of the case, which was renewed in connection to the appeal by the four citizens: Tomas Bakucionis, Jurate Markeviciene, Vytautas Damasevicius and Gediminas Urbonas (administrative case Nr. P85-09). The case is being reviewed, because of the application mistakes of Aarhus Convention, which could be made in connection to its false translation.

March 28, 2011 - (court case #1) - Vilnius Supreme Administrative Court postpones hearing of the renewed case.

June 06, 2011 – (court case #1) - Vilnius Supreme Administrative Court postpones hearing of the renewed case.

…

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--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*0. Pro-test lab is a project and space initiated by artists Nomeda and Gediminas Urbonas. Pro-test lab started as the space at the cinema LIETUVA in 2005 and continued since then as the citizen’s movement. *1. Events organized and discussed in the mailing list vilma@vilma.cc *2. UAB Vilniaus Prekyba (VP market) is largest national supermarket chain. *3. BARO zona is temporal event organized around idea of joint cooking by young activists. *4. Erdvės Mieste (Space in the city) is meeting and discussion platform organized by Evelina Taunyte *5. AviZa, alternative kitchen zone is temporal initiative organized with idea to create place for alternative cooking and leisure by young people *6. Vilnius Citizens is spontaneously organized group of people willing to stay anonymous *7. VILMA is Vilnius Interdisciplinary Lab for Media Arts: http://www.vilma.cc *8. Kino Pavasaris is a biggest Film Festival in Lithuania organized by cinema LIETUVA *9. Stereo45 was the first electro style club in Lithuania. *10. ASK is Architecture Students Club, http://www.ask.mums.lt *11. Hardcore.LT is the leading platform for alternative culture in Lithuania: http://www.hardcore.lt *12. Group of Independent Observers is a collective of audiovisual producers initiated by the artist PB8. *13. Green Movement is The Lithuanian Green Movement, the first post-Soviet environmental NGO established in Lithuania: http://www.zalieji.lt *14. MIC is Lithuanian Music Information and Publishing Centre, initiative of the Lithuanian Composers' Union: http://www.mic.lt *15. Involved is bar and social space organized by the artists Mirjam Wirtz and Augustinas Beinoravicius in collaboration with other agencies: http://www.involved.lt *16. Co:labUK is temporal initiative founded at Pro-test lab by Tom Nolan, Hannah Martin, Nell Harrison, all students in exchange from Dartington college, UK *17. OCA is Office for Contemporary Art Norway based in Oslo. http://www.oca.no *18. Atelier Nord is new media platform in Oslo. http://anart.no *19. KIT/NTNU is Art Academy in Trondheim: http://www.kit.ntnu.no *20. Protestas editorial collective: http://www.protestas.lt/ *21. KOEPT is network of independent sound producers: http://www.koept.net *22. The Society of Gloomy Students is spontaneous initiative organized by the young architecture students on the last day of the cinema LIETUVA *23. Cinema Lietuva is the largest cinema theater in Lithuania sold by Vilnius Municipality to the corporation “VP market” in 2002 and closed on 25 of September 2005 *24 Shakhidi invest is temporal collaboration by anonymous artists *25 Sare Roma is a cultural collective of roma people living in ghetto (tabor) next to Vilnius airport. *26. Shareholders of “LIETUVA” cinema theatre: Cinema Scotland shareholders, Peter Baker, Chairman, M2Invest, Arthur Simonsen, Vice Chairman, M2Invest, Dalius Kaveckas, shareholder, M2Invest, Amit Majithia, shareholder, M2Invest, Per Moller, shareholder, M2Invest