Statehood Restoration Day.

On March 11, 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to declare independence from the USSR. The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania, led by Vytautas Landsbergis, voted overwhelmingly in favor of re-establishing Lithuania’s sovereignty. This moment was a critical turning point in the collapse of the Soviet Union. Background Lithuania had been forcibly incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1940 following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between Nazi Germany and the USSR. For decades, Lithuanians resisted Soviet rule through armed uprisings, dissident movements, and cultural preservation efforts. By the late 1980s, the Sąjūdis movement, a pro-independence political organization, gained massive public support. With the USSR weakening under Mikhail Gorbachev’s glasnost (openness) and perestroika (restructuring) reforms, Lithuania saw an opportunity to break away. The Declaration of Independence On March 11, 1990, the newly elected Supreme Council of Lithuania passed the Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania, stating that the country was no longer part of the Soviet Union and was restoring its independence as it existed before Soviet occupation in 1940. Vytautas Landsbergis was elected as Chairman of the Supreme Council, making him the de facto leader of the country. Moscow's Reaction and Aftermath The Soviet Union, under Gorbachev, refused to recognize Lithuania’s independence. Economic blockades were imposed, and in January 1991, Soviet forces attempted to crush the independence movement by storming the Vilnius TV Tower, resulting in the deaths of 14 unarmed civilians and injuring hundreds. Despite the violence, Lithuania held firm, and its defiance inspired other Soviet republics. International recognition was slow, but after the August 1991 coup attempt against Gorbachev, Lithuania's independence was finally recognized by most of the world. The Soviet Union officially acknowledged Lithuania's independence on September 6, 1991. Legacy Lithuania’s declaration paved the way for the collapse of the Soviet Union, influencing Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, and other republics to seek independence. Today, March 11 is celebrated as Restoration of Independence Day in Lithuania, a symbol of resilience and national pride. #LithuaniaIndependence #SovietCollapse #MomentsOfLife #MoofLife_Moment #MoofLife