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January Events (Lithuanian: Sausio įvykiai) is a series of events that occurred on January 11-13, 1991 in Vilnius, Lithuania. As a result of Soviet military actions at least 14 civilians were killed and more than 600 injured.
Background After declaring independence from the Soviet Union on March 11, 1990, the Lithuanian Republic was undergoing hard times. Economic and energy shortages were undermining faith in the newly restored state. Inflation rate was reaching 100% and rapidly increasing. That (and mostly the fact that Lithuania had unilaterally proclaimed its independence) was keeping some part of Lithuania's residents discontent. They were mainly supporters of the Moscow-backed branch of the Lithuanian Communist Party and, the mainly communist-dominated "Jedinstvo" workers movement. Tensions were sharply raised during the first days of 1991, when food prices were increased and food rationing was introduced. In response to that, on January 8 the "Jedinstvo" movement organized an unsanctioned rally in front of the Supreme Council. Protesters tried to storm the parliament building, but were driven away by unarmed security forces using water cannons. Despite a Supreme Council vote on the same day to abolish price increases, the scale of "Jedinstvo" and Communist Party backed protests and provocations was increasing. The Speaker of the Supreme Council, Vytautas Landsbergis, called independence supporters during his radio and television address to gather around and protect the main governmental and infrastructural buildings. On January 8-9 several special Soviet military units were flown to Lithuania (including the famous counter terrorist Alpha Group and paratroopers of the 76th Airborne Division of the VDV based at Pskov) with an explanation that this was needed to ensure constitutional order and effectiveness of laws of Lithuanian SSR and Soviet Union. On January 10 president of Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev issued an ultimatum-like request addressing the Supreme Council, demanding restoration of the constitution of the USSR in Lithuania and the revocation of all anti-constitutional laws. January 11 In the morning, Speaker of the Supreme Council Vytautas Landsbergis and Prime minister Albertas Šimėnas were presented with another ultimatum from "Democratic Congress of Lithuania" demanding that they comply with Gorbachev's request by 15:00 on January 11. January 12 During an overnight session of the Supreme Council, Speaker Vytautas Landsbergis announced that he had tried to call Mikhail Gorbachev three times, but was unsuccessful. Deputy Minister of Defense of Soviet Union General Vladislav Achalov arrived in Lithuania and took control of all military operations. People from all over Lithuania started to encircle the main strategic buildings: Supreme Council, Radio and Television Committee, TV Tower, main telephone switch. January 13 Following these two attacks large crowds (20 000 during night, more than 50 000 in the morning) of independence supporters were gathered around Supreme Council building. People started building anti-tank barricades and setting up for defense inside surrounding buildings. Provisional chapels were setup inside and outside of Supreme Council building. People were praying, singing and shouting pro-independence slogans. Despite columns of military trucks, BMPs and tanks moving into the vicinity of Supreme Council, Soviet military commanders receded an attack. List of victims Out of the victims, thirteen people (on the Lithuanian side) were killed by the Soviet army, one person had died at the place of the events due to heart attack and one Soviet soldier was killed by friendly fire. All the victims, except that soldier, were awarded the Order of the Cross of Vytis (the Knight) on January 15, 1991. Aftermath Immediately after the attacks, the Supreme Council issued a letter to all people of Soviet Union and Western world denouncing attacks and calling for foreign governments to admit that Soviet Union has started an act of aggression against sovereign country. Following first news from Lithuania, government of Norway appealed to United Nations. The Government of Poland expressed their solidarity with the people of Lithuania and denounced the actions of the Soviet army. During the following day, meetings of support took place in many cities (Kiev, Riga, Tallinn). Although occupation and military raids were still ongoing for several months following the attacks, there were no big open military encounters after January 13. Strong Western reaction and actions of Russian democratic forces put the President and government of the Soviet Union into an awkward situation, as news of support from Western democracies started to appear. This influenced the future Lithuanian-Russian negotiations and resulted in the initialization of corresponding treaty on January 31. During a visit of the official delegation of Iceland to Lithuania on January 20, Foreign Minister Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson said: "My government is seriously considering possibility to establish diplomatic relations with Republic of Lithuania". Iceland kept its promise and on February 4, 1991, just three weeks after the attacks, recognized Republic of Lithuania as a sovereign independent state and diplomatic relations were established between the two nations. It is also considered that these events were one of the main factors that led to overwhelming win of Independence supporters in a referendum on February 9, 1991 (turnover was 84,73% of registered voters, 90,47% of them voted in favor of full and total independence of Lithuania) Later several streets in the neighborhood of the TV tower were named after victims of the attack. See also | ||||||||
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