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Lithuanian Language Commission Rejects Proposal to Change Name of Russian Exclave, Encourages Use of Historic Toponym

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Wojciech Zylm
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VLKK emphasizes the promotion of historic toponyms in contemporary references.
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Image Credit: AP

The State Commission supports the usage of 'Karaliaučius' alongside 'Kaliningrad'

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The State Commission of the Lithuanian Language (VLKK) has recently made a decision regarding the proposal put forth by several Members of Parliament to cease using the name 'Kaliningrad' when referring to the Russian exclave situated between Lithuania and Poland. While the commission rejected this proposal, it expressed its support for the usage of 'Karaliaučius' as an alternative name, which is the Lithuanian version of Königsberg, the historical designation of the region.

The initiative to alter the name 'Kaliningrad' was brought forward by MPs Vilius Semeška and Paulė Kuzmickienė, both of whom represent the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD). However, the VLKK, comprised of language experts, decided not to back this proposition and affirmed that the existing name should not be excluded from the Lithuanian language.

MPs' proposal to exclude the use of 'Kaliningrad' in Lithuanian language not supported

In the past, 'Karaliaučiaus kraštas' (Königsberg region) and 'Karaliaučiaus miestas' (the city of Königsberg) were the terms used in Lithuanian to refer to the area when it was part of East Prussia until World War Two. The VLKK expressed its support for the initiative to encourage the usage of historical toponyms, not only in historical contexts but also in contemporary references to the places.

The decision of the VLKK aims to strike a balance between acknowledging the historical significance of the region and maintaining the existing name in common usage. By promoting the use of 'Karaliaučius' alongside 'Kaliningrad,' the commission hopes to preserve the connection to the region's past while allowing for recognition of its current geopolitical reality.

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