Director of the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, Efraim Zuroff has voiced criticism about Vilnius authorities' decision to issue permission for a procession on March 11th. The event is required to be cancelled. "The freedom of speech does not give the right to stir hatred against Lithuanian minorities and foreigners. The fact that racist and anti-Semitic slogans can echo in the streets of an EU country's capital is beyond comprehension," Mr Zuroff said in his statement. The Municipality of Vilnius said it had no intention of responding to the statement.