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3/1/1990 - Lithuania Declares Independence from the USSR by Ina Navazelskis

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUTWRITER SCONSENT INSTITUTEOFCURRENTWORLDAFFAIRS ILN Vilnius 232055 Lithuania March LITHUANIA DECLARES INDEPENDENCE FROM THE USSR Ina Navazelskis Sunday March II overcast A light drizzle sometimes escalating sometimes taporing It anything should happen certainly anything momentous declaring nation independence The streets Vilnius empty Only DeoDle braving clammy weather waited outside Supreme Soviet Parliament Supreme Council heart Lithuanian caDital A there early A M The morning session began AoM As evening people lighted candles eldinq flames Others pressed flowers their heroes newly elected parliamentarians occasionally appeared front courtyard The crowd cried lapped Some peoDle shouted Vytautas calling Sajudis leader Vytautas Landsberqis others simply Aiu Thank It anywhere turnouts hundreds thousands people common years But participate parliamentary manifestation reestablishment Lithuanian state necessary present spirit enough So people Lithuania glued their television Independence witnessed private circles family friends Ina Navazelskis journalist written extensively about East European Soviet affairs She author biographies about Leonid Brezhnev Alexander Dubceko Since Institute Current World Affairs Crane Rogers Foundation provided fellowships enable outstanding young adults outside United States write about international areas issues Endowed bythelateCharlesR Crane theInstit uteisalsosupportedbycontributionsfromlike mindedindividualsand foundations That THE national public experience When P M Vytautas Landsberqis newly elected President Parliament declared The Dassed I congratulate Supreme Council I congratulate Lithuania without actually seeinq champagne corks popped tears flowed across country It boggling Less years independence still subversive forbidden unreachable Indeed brave souls nervously floated notion sovereignty republic Now sudden living technicolor Television shared public experience intensely personal Older people remembered meant survive fifty years without independence Its sanctioned great dictators neighbor Stalin Hitler ushered signalled foreign occupation ideological order It mercilessly destroyed people thousands physically spiritually From dissidents recently Soviet jails having dared openly demand independence handful including Balys Gajauskas veteran Soviet prisons newly elected parliamentarians those Communist Party apparatchiks secretly gnashed their teeth humiliating Moscow reminded collective workers bitterly remembered before deportations which thousands meant death owned their tragic individual destinies spanned several generations But nation clearly defeated manage resurrect itself dustheap history borrow phrase Leon Trotsky consign Russian anarchists Although strong armed Josef Stalin A Hitler forcibly annexed Soviet Union Lithuania never entirely vanquished At first there armed resistance As Red Army beqan march Berlin bloody guerilla broke Lithuania It dragged until Although there concrete statistics estimated least lives country million people And happened heels World War II Lithuania several times battleground between Nazi Soviet forces In Europe emerged resistance course doomed Outwardly looked people finally however unwillingly accepted defeat status But years delineate identity separate violently imposed Soviet inwardly Lithuanians always qroaned whenever foreigners mistook Russians became resistance power That resentment stubbornness unwillingness reshape themselves prescribed versions sovieticus necessary psychological foundations resurrect political independence Although decades submerged resistance found expression subtle creative It rarely political least direct sense It could afford Setting The Stage For architect Algirdas Nasvytis example resistance meant following inner vision professionally For March Ii marked ultimate reward after years discreet determined effort As chief architect Lithuanian Parliament years Algirdas Nasvytis together brother Vytautas consciously quietly quite literally about building stage Lithuanian independence Their began brothers republic competition design government complex Given their bourgeo pedigree award contract unusual Neither brother member Communist Party And their connection through cousin marriage family ultimate persona grata Antanas Smetona former president Lithuania incriminating Their ideological unsuitability overlooked blueprint building nevertheless years This after still Soviet Union Today entire modern government complex located Vilnius central boulevard Gediminas Prospect known until Lenin Prospect Parliament itself modern square story white building large rectangular orange tinted glass windows In front three sides extend frame courtyard In parliament buttressed Ministry Finance Trade Union Council buildings Flanked Neris River other Mazvydas State Library imposing structure reminiscent Greek temple Parliament separated concrete plaza ideal space rallies demonstrations Inside entrance immediately right brass double doors phones various colors manned militia check everyone ID cards The foyer ceiling stories lined sides plush brown velvet armchairs modular sections occupied during month mostly weary foreign TV crews A staircase leads hastily Press The official ideology touted internationalism given ideal New Soviet Man Russian ILN second floor President office third floor A staircase right leads offices Presidium members large conference third floor Two other staircases recessed central chamber Parliament itself The center lobby sunken enclave lined sofas ideal discreet comfortable lobbying The total effect functional spacious business While there signs wealth gleaming brass fixtures smooth imported marble often found modern buildings Western countries there absence shoddiness common structures throughout Eastern Europe All materials build furnish Parliament granite floors Ukraine orange tinted stained glass windows East Germany produced Lithuania As inside central chamber Parliament recently architect Algirdas Nasvytis environment created He light yellow shirt sported mustard colored suede jacket He upholstered golden fabric scanned walls neutral beige A diminutive thinning silver Nasvytis clearly favore color schemes various beige personal attire interior design He definitely someone rebelled against establishedrder But Nasvytis perfect example subtle resistance Sovietization which first glance usually recognizable Some Lithuanians themselves mistook something entirely The comments Nasvytis heard Parliament first opened doors testify Why asked designed building those rotten Communists Because answered someday II I Parliament appear I building Nasvytis purposely designed Parliament easily accommodate monumental change If closely explained cannot permanently built symbols heralding Soviet Socialist Lithuanian Republic Neither large bronze reliefs either entrance build which human figures moving direction stained glass windows lobby display known Soviet hammer sickle And added Nasvytis those Soviet symbols place large bronze Soviet Lithuanian crests above entrance other central chamber easily removed Nasvytis recalled building first completed Dresident Supreme Soviet noticed peculiar absence nothing about ILN The Power Symbols Maybe should On March II those Soviet symbols disappeared easily Nasvytis Dredicted would At about P M foreiqn television cameras rolled theater director Jonas Juraas honored guests ceremonies directed perhaps politically satisfying career Juraas Lithuania after Dubliclv resistinq censorhiD Dlavs direct produ ctions Broadway Now extended visit directing repertory company which kicked almost years earlier As young climbed bronze Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic crest above front entrance Parliament Juraas shouted directions below Later batik tapestry featuring medieval knight horse traditional Lithuanian symbol called Vytis empty space It rumored entire sDectacle spontaneous inspiration foreign television crews course nothing against capturing split second visual If their suggestions willingly accepted But there really suggest anything The removal Soviet symbols written ceremonies Later evening Parliament central chamber color yellow green Lithuanian national covered second Soviet Lithuanian crest behind rostrum people stood clapped Thus hammer sickle disappeared citadel Lithuanian government revered symbols longed restored The national Vvtis Posts Gediminas these traditional Lithuanian symbols adopted independent government during inter years They therefore represented cultural national traditions brief period modern Lithuanian history foreiqn domination which quite understandably Soviet Union sought stamp livin memory It surprizing years Dublic display reminders furtive minutes enough hefty sentence That however increased their value Last novelty displaying national symbols still I asked emotion attached after merely reDresentations thinqs He answered relatin incident childhood In after Soviet occuDation Red Army officer corpse Lithuanian soldier Posts Gediminas uniform The years That medieval Lithuanian crest public In summer appearance these forbidden symbols signalled beginning opposition movement Sajudis Meetings demonstrations grass roots initiatives followed They important gestures awakening common spirit amongst Lithuanians people thought extinguishe The lmination important gesture declaration independence In keeping events leading I which extraordinarily indicative turbulence society entirely symboIic For independence declaration morse other evocaive substantial tanks currency would place But soldiers streets spoke Lithuanian still Soviet unilforms currency bread still Soviet ruble At certain moments seemed Lithuanian leadership believed sacred independence repeated often might actually become reality It reminded phrase Khrushchev uttered You badly Mama Symbois Have Lmits The enthusiasm independence course enough tears front television around country enough After February elections Lithuanian Supreme Soviet Sajudis candidates campaigned platform their fundamental purpose reestablish independent Lithuanian state They simply following through promise And although sudden Lithuania declaration really surprize Most political activists predicted would declared sometime But recently month would would happen In practical terms everyone recognized unprepared Lithuania She military force reserves although products substantial republic national product materials The declaration rather reason Of course there various rationalizations offered sound sense declare independence NOW The compelling Extraordinary Third Session Soviet Congress People Deputies scheduled begin Moscow March would amendments Soviet Constitution making almost impossible leave Union In addition expected Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev would named newly created President would means consolidate almost dictatorial powers Neither these events boded Lithuanian interests thought declaring independence before place would Lithuania greater leverage juridically A making rounds Vilnius these Q Why Gorbachev hurry become President Soviet Union A So meets Vytautas Landsberqis equal But necessary Lithuania brink At point before February elections Vytautas Landsbergis hinted another reason Lithuanians simply Fifty years enough adding Berlin Wall about East Germany reuniting West Germany about Lithuania independence We ready Landsberqis world So during weeks preceding March momentum Lithuania suddenly speeded The sentiment emerged Either never It became nothing political suicide restraint To against independence equated being against independence period Throughout February almost Lithuanians I spoke unhesitating their support independence Typical former airplane pilot I stopped street Vilnius Old Town asked thought about Lithuania declaring independence His lined wrinkles piercing carried hefty shopping His answer unequivocal I would bread water freedom And pointed Russian stood smiling She thinks added He echoed physician Petras Tulevicius Interviewed February polling place school Vilnius Antakalnis district Tuleviius voted Sa_udis candidate Why Sajudis force which I II I believe The important thing Soviet Union And recalled I years Lithuania independence I remember Russians tanks I could understand everything I could understand somethinq After century durinq which Lithuanians erased international consciousness there concentrated efforts erase earth arqument being impatient entirely The Elections Lithuanian Supreme Soviet Still public support psychological readiness alone enough explain There another reason common elections world The winners wanted secure their power A minority idealistic disillusioned Lithuanians addition naturally disqruntled losers This declaration merely means Sajudis individuals written history books It course But ILN I For Sajudis which landslide still threatened independent Lithuanian Communist Party LCP In forcinq issue LCP erred gradual drastic approach independence Sajudis activists hoped LCP would It could unmasked revealinq entire nation really still morally bankrupt Party pledged Moscow bidding rather Lithuania But Sajudis alarmed After LCP trounced elections In entire history Soviet Union first Communists emerged victors Indeed first round elections newly elected deouties Communists Forty eight belonged party During first round Sajudis seats There seats decided February Of Sajudis backed candidates seats those LCP candidates under Sajudis banner On LCP seats By first session Parliament convened Saturday March seats decided SaSudis backed candidates which LCP members LCP candidates hacked Sajudis The LCP therefore total seats Parliament seats Communist Party LCP CPSU platform still loyal Moscow The those deputies supported neither LCP Sajudis With LCP deputies backed Sajudis elected Parliament perfectly clear resounding against party As Algimantas Cekuolis newspaper editor executive council member Sajudis AND member LCP succinc Just years collaboration which Lithuania voters would easily forgive Nevertheless LCP discredited rulinq force numbered staed certain comeback Under direction First Secretary Algirdas Brazauskas LCP dramatic split Communist Party Soviet Union CPSU December Party fighting chance February elections SuDDort course modest election Doll showed resoondents sayinq would But first century SUDDOrt enuine And December brief ephemeral moment LCP managed steal limelight Sajudis Just after LCP officially broke Moscow DeoOle Doured streets after Christmas cheer Brazauskas The Party ranks thinning party cards being returned daily Yet moment hardy individualists never would imagined actually joined Party ILN I But LCP steal Sajudis thunder It cooDted political platform In dramatic break Dast policy LCP adopted oolitical indeoendence autonomy sovereignty basic cornerstone ooaram During elections previous March Union Council People Deouties LCP policy quite ifferent We cannot cross fromosovereignty independence Brazauskas interview The LCP dearly position Of seats election Lithuania Council People Deputies Sajudis backed candidates But Februarv elections Lithuanian Supreme Soviet entirely different matter At least officially there longer significant distinction between goals major political forces Lithuania Sajudis LCP Unlike before voters clearly drawn sides which choose To further confuse matters candidates SaSudis backed umbrella reform movement members LCP A Sajudis leaders Romualdas Ozolas Kazimeiera Prunskiene LCP members joined Party Central Committee All candidates wrapped themselves newly resurrected symbols All talked alike How voters differences between candidate another Pre election pundits declared voters would their muddle voting individuals whose backgrounds _familiar rather party platforms In confusinH election exolained would distinguish A election early February reported respondents surveyed would their based ndidate personality And February popular politician Lithuania Communist Algirdas Brazauskas He outranked prominent Sajudis leaders Kazimiera Prunskiene Romualdas Ozolas Vvtautas Landsbergis It Sajudis jitters A thinas different Then durina elections Union Council People Deputies Sajudis actually saved Brazauskas political In March future direction Lithuanian Communist Party still unclear Fierce internal battles erupted between reformers Brazauskas aDDaratchiks longed SaSudis faced dilemma Its candidate nonula vouna soober named Arvydas Juzaitis pitted Brazauskas strict Vilnius The chances Juozaitis would defeat Brazauskas weuld probably result latter beinq removed First Secretarv republicL Sajudis decided great Jozaitis steooed aside It esture oodwill calculated enlightened interest Sajudis someone worse thanBr azauskas perceived spineless acceptable standard CP aoparatchiks Brazauskas popularity March dangerously point still feeling stigma having ledfollow Estonia declare Lithuanian sovereignty November That failure admitted interview March elections dearly politically His position wthin LCP strengthened whatevex support reform Qolicies amongst population evaporated A later Brazauskas earned political mistakes And interested generosity Sajudis vanishedA Brazauskas perceived greatest threat reform movement consolidation power In native district Kaiadorvs Brazauskas hopping almost third citizens fifth largest Lithuania Panevezvs awarded their victorious Sajudis candidate Vytautas Landsberqis Brazauskas DoDularitv today unauestioned When I debate Sajudis opponent loqist named Alfredas Smailys Kietaviks village means subsistence farmina kilometers Vilnius there contest Most villaaers Smailvs Dayin attention campaign posters hanging village Party headquarters Brazauskas villagers turned stood Gorbachev The hallways small story party headquarters packed They clapped politely Smailys their cheers enthusiasm reserved Brazauskas Smailys himself deferential Probably realizing stood chance winning manner towards Brazauskas friendly llenger rather ideological enemy As Brazauskas meeting escorted seemed entire villae where aides Vilnius waited campaign Smailvs stood ignored Humble Brazauskas campaign entourage still outshone Smailys offer Minutes after First Secretary drove Sajudis candidate yellow Soviet waving putted himself Thus Brazauskas could Party nevertheless manaaed himself other Party officials Tuet chances remote istis assured victory They disappointed In addition Brazauskas second secretary Party Vladimir Beriozov Central Committee Secretary Justas Paleckis Central COmmittee Secretary Kestutis Glaveckas The Partv leaders still unused would longer calling shots certain these returns could guarantee substantial voice coalition government They couldn wrong In weeks between February elections March declaration independence victors elections virtually ignored LCP Sajudis formed Sajudis Deputies Club SDC whose members Sajudis backed winners elections Their necessary documents takeover power declaration independence They worked seemed sometimes round clock The Club little LCP Before first Darl amentarv session Valdimir Beriozov complained nascent witch against Communis wirtually accused Parliament deputies inored adding first LCP brouqht debate during meetinq March I0 declaration ndependence T reply Sajudis Kazimieras Uoka former bulldozer operator biting What witchhunt there responded anqrilv When amonqst several hundred former Parliamentary plenary session We terms Uoka course right The LCP might accuse Sajudis being gloating wnners exactly gracious losers Still Landsbergis Brazauskas andful times during weeks prior March Both wanted President Supreme Council Brazauskas retain Landsbergis Both confident victory One sorely disappointed In final Brazauskas evoked snickers during discussions Sajudis Deputies Club meetinas The Sajudis members suggested Brazauskas metained president Rarliament interests smoother joltina transition indepen dence stony silence The dominant sentiment Brazauskas staed there would declaration independence There justification Br azauskas visitin Gorbachev earlv March returned Vilnius urginq restraint Gorbachev warned Lithuania decided break further payments goods Union would currency currency which course Lithuania In addition border regions southeast Lithuania Klaipeda territories Soviet Union hinted layinq The message aimed upset Lithuanians Being bearer great wonders Brazauskas either March II Supreme Council Still believed fighting chance President Parliament Throughout prior March petitions circulated amongst people calli Brazauskas election Sajudis angrily charged organized campaign whose purpose snatch victory those justly LCP advocates retorted nothing petition campaign spontaneous genuine reflection public opinion Most likely In early afternoon March II addressed Parliament plenary session Landsbergis followng Brazauskas Both fielded se_veral questions various deputies Borazauskas embattled Landsberg conident Brazauskas repeated known views The restoration independence immediate recognized Lithuania Htioaed If political sovereignty enough We economic sovereiqnty But Brazauskas moment passed Marz Vvtautas Landsberqis While snoke caution other Spoke vision W defend lives those chil6r Landsberais I would thingt I Beyond within expectations people Lithuania An expectation worries about seems exDeation eater determination areater Who contribute whether expectation becomes realtv Kq hearts intuition experience should Your expresses people Lithuania At D taken Ther Brazaskas votes aainst There votes Landsberis aainst The deputies claDDing It expected nothe six_an6ha nttLs passed before second ereal taken In between there letter aloHdrom For_eign Minister independent Lit huania Juozas Urbsvs speech former Russian dissident Serei Kovalev greetings Czechoslovakia Civic Forum After President Landshergis reeinstating declaration independence Votin alphabetical deputies standing acknowledge their Brazauskas included voted Six members LC CPSU platform abstained Three deputies participate It about minutes names Five minutes fifty years reeinstate Lithuanian statehood Five minutes first Soviet empire Many night feeling witnessed history New players emerged stage Alirdas Nasvvts built How would independence declared survive ILN I CHRONOLOGY FEBRUARY MARCH Feb Sajudis holds political convention Lithuania Road backs candidates February elections Suprem Soviet Lithuanian Republic Feb Current Lithuanian Supreme Soviet deputies declare Lithuania petition July Soviet Union Soviet Union acceptance petition August invalid Feb For second since World War II Lithuanians publicly commemorate anniversary declaration independence czarist Russia Countless celebrations throughout country Feb First elections Lithuanian Supreme Soviet candidates campaign seats The opposition movement Sajudis landslide claiming seats decided first round This marks first Soviet Union history Communist majority In Parliament independent Lithuanian Communist Party minority party March Run elections Lithuanian Supreme Soviet seats decided Sajudis candi dates March Victorious Sajudis backed deputies Sajudis Deputies Club caucus begin preparing documents declaration independence March For first publicly Sajudis Executive Council member Kazimieras Motieka announces Lithuanian TV independence declared March Tiesa newspaper Lithuanian Communist Party publishes interview First Secretary Algirdas Brazauskas based meeting Gorbachev Moscow earlier Brazauskas reports Gorbachev threatens claim certain Lithuanian territories require payment currency Soviet goods should Lithuanians declare independence March Sajudis Council delegates meets before session parliament convened confirms opposition movement mandate Newly formed Sajudis Deputies Club begins almost meetings until Supreme Soviet plenary session convenes March Final electio Lithuanian Supreme Soviet polls close Combined elections March seats decided ILN I Sajudis candidates First official public meeting between Sajudis majority LCP minority Parliament Newly elected Parliament convenes There deputies belong party LCP Social Democrats LCP CPSU Greens Democrats Christian Democrats women backed Sajudis March The Supreme Soviet reconvenes Vytautas Landsbergis against defeats Algirdas Brazauskas against presidency Lithuanian Supreme Soviet At Lithuanian Parliament votes reestablish independent Lithuanian state The abstain three participate SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA ACT ON THE RESTORATION OF THE LITHUANIAN STATE The Supreme Counci Republic Lithuania expressing Nation resolves solemnly proclaims execution sovereign power Lithuanian state heretofore constrained alien forces restored henceforth Lithuania again independent state The February Act Independence Supreme Council Lithuania May Constituent Assembly Resolution restoration democratic Lithuanian State never their legal force constitutional foundation Lithuanian State The territory Lithuania integral indivisible Constitution other state jurisdiction within The Lithuanian state emphasizes adherence universally recognized principles international recognizes principle inviolability borders formulated Helsinki Final Act Conference Security Cooperation Europe guarantees rights individ citizens ethnic communities The Supreme Council Republic Lithuania expressing sovereign power begins achieve state sovereignty Vytautas Landsbergis Liudvikas Sabutis President Secretary Supreme Council Supreme Council Republic Lithuania Republic Lithuania Vilnius March ILN I ILl Received Hanover