Honorary citizens of Trakai District Municipality
The title of Honorary Citizen of Trakai is the highest honour that the citizens of Trakai can bestow. This title is awarded only once. Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and citizens of foreign countries can become Honorary Citizens. The title of Honorary Citizen of Trakai District has been conferred since 1998. The title of Honorary Citizen of Trakai District is conferred for extraordinary merits, efforts and outstanding contribution to science, education, culture, sport, health, economy, social development or other spheres of the Trakai District Municipality, active social activity and for noble deeds that have made a significant impact on society.
The first honorary citizen of Trakai, Maya Pliseckaya
The first honorary citizen of Trakai was Maya Plisetskaya, a ballet dancer and choreographer. Plisetskaya was born on 20 November 1925 in Russia. She was granted Lithuanian citizenship in 1990. In 1998, on the initiative of the ballet star, an international summer festival was established in Trakai. On 16 December 1998, she celebrated her first dance festival. On 16 December 2006, by the decision of the Trakai District Municipality, M. Plisetskaya was awarded the title of the Honorary Citizen of Trakai District for her special services to Lithuania and the Trakai Region. Plisetskaya has received several other awards in Lithuania for her services to Lithuanian culture, ballet art and the promotion of cultural relations.
Honorary citizen Vytautas Pranciškus Rūkas
Vytautas Pranciškus Rūkas was born on 7 May 1925. On 7 May 1918 in Kaunas district. In 2005, the Trakai District Municipal Council awarded Monsignor Rūkas the title of Honorary Citizen of the Trakai District and the Trakai Honorary Citizen's Badge for his special services to the State of Lithuania and the Trakai Region. Monsignor was awarded for his long and meaningful deanal activity in the land of Trakai, his ability to communicate with the community of Trakai residents of different faiths and his desire to teach people to love God. Thanks to the dedication of V. Rūkas, the invaluable collection of the Trakai Church has been preserved. The unique crowns of the image of the Mother of God are a treasure of sacred art of the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Mary.
Honorary citizen Halina Kobeckaitė
Halina Kobeckaitė is a Lithuanian graduate, translator, journalist, doctor of humanities, the first female ambassador of Lithuania, and a Thracian. Halina Kobeckaitė was born on 20 December 1939. She was born in Trakai on the 20th of May, 20. In 2016, the Trakai District Municipal Council awarded the Ambassador the title of Honorary Citizen of the Trakai District for her special services to the State of Lithuania and the Trakai Region. Ambassador Dr. Halina Kobeckaitė was awarded for her services to the Diplomatic Council of the Republic of Lithuania, to the activities of national minorities, and to the Karaite community in Lithuania. The Ambassador handed over more than 100 exhibits and archival documents related to the Karaite community to the Trakai History Museum.
Honorary citizen Jonas Varaneckas
Father J Varaneckas, Dean of the Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Trakai, Dean of Trakai Deanery, was born on 22 April 2018. In 2019, the Trakai District Municipality conferred the title of Honorary Citizen of the Trakai District on the dean for his special services to the State of Lithuania and the Trakai Region. The dean was awarded for his services to the Basilica of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Trakai, the parish and the region of Trakai, as well as for his contribution to Christian culture. Varaneckas is greatly responsible for the designation of the church of Trakai as a basilica.
Honorary citizen Romualdas Rudzys
Romualdas Rudzys is a signatory of the Act on the Restoration of the Independent State of Lithuania. Rudzys was born on 05 June 1947 in Trakai District. In 2019, the Trakai District Municipality conferred on the signatory the title of Honorary Citizen of the Trakai District for his special services to the State of Lithuania and the Trakai Region. The signatory was awarded for his civic and political maturity in achieving the independence of the State of Lithuania by signing the Act of March 11.
Honorary citizen Bronislovas Genzelis
Bronislovas Genzelis - Lithuanian philosopher, political and public figure, signatory, was born on 16 February 1934in Trakai District. In 2020, the Trakai District Municipality conferred on the signatory the title of Honorary Citizen of the Trakai District for his special services to the State of Lithuania and the Trakai Region.
Honorary citizen Vladislavas Sokolinskis
Vladislavas Sokolinskis was born on 16 November 1945 in Trakai. In 1971, he graduated from the Vilnius Pedagogical Institute. During his studies and afterwards, he worked actively as a coach in various Lithuanian sports institutions:
- 1970–1971: Coach at the Trakai Children's Rowing Sports School;
- 1971–1978: Coach and lecturer at the Žalgiris Sports Association;
- 1978–1983: Deputy Director for Sports at the Trakai Boarding School;
- 1983–1990: Coach at various Olympic Reserve Sports Schools;
- Since 1990: Coach at the Trakai Sports Centre;
- Since 2007: Member of the coaching system of the Lithuanian Olympic Sports Centre and the Lithuanian National Team.
He was also a high-level athlete himself and was awarded the title of Master of Sport. Later, he became an International Category Coach and Referee, earning the qualifications of Lithuanian Meritorious Coach (2010) and International Category Coach (2010).
V. Sokolinskis is one of Lithuania's most distinguished rowing coaches, whose name is closely associated with the history of rowing in both Trakai and Lithuania. His coaching career has spanned more than 50 years. He is one of the most important figures of the Trakai rowing school and has contributed significantly to the training of several generations of Lithuanian rowers. His athletes have competed in European and World Championships as well as the Olympic Games, and he continues to coach actively even after reaching the age of 80.
The title of Honorary Citizen of Trakai District Municipality was awarded to him for his long-standing and dedicated contribution to the development of rowing, the training of elite athletes, and for promoting the name of Trakai and Lithuania throughout the world.
