January Events

The January Events (Lithuanian: Sausio įvykiai) were a series of violent confrontations between the civilian population of Lithuania, supporting independence, and the Soviet Armed Forces. The events took place between 11 and 13 January 1991, after the restoration of independence by Lithuania. As a result of the Soviet military actions,^[2]^[3] 14 civilians were killed and over 140 were injured.^[4] The 13th of January was the most violent day of the month in Lithuania. The events were primarily centered in the capital city Vilnius, but Soviet military activity and confrontations also occurred elsewhere in the country, including Alytus, Šiauliai, Varėna and Kaunas.

For the January 1991 events in Latvia, see The Barricades. For the crisis in Kazakhstan, see 2022 Kazakh unrest.

January 13th is the Day of the Defenders of Freedom (Lithuanian: Laisvės Gynėjų Diena) in Lithuania and it is officially observed as a commemorative day.^[5]

11:50 – Soviet military units seize the National Defence Department building in .

Vilnius

12:00 – Soviet military units surround and seize the Press House building in Vilnius. Soldiers use live ammunition against civilians. Several people are hospitalized, some with bullet wounds.

12:15 – Soviet paratroopers seize the regional building of the National Defence Department in .

Alytus

12:30 – Soviet military units seize the regional building of the National Defence Department in .

Šiauliai

15:00 – In a press conference held in the building of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania, the head of the Ideological Division announces the creation of the "National Salvation Committee of Lithuanian SSR" and that from now on it will be the only legitimate government in Lithuania.

Juozas Jermalavičius

16:40 – Minister of Foreign Affairs sends a diplomatic note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union in which he expresses his concerns about Soviet army violence in Lithuania.

Algirdas Saudargas

21:00 – Soviet military units seize a TV re-transmission center in .

Nemenčinė

23:00 – Soviet military units seize the dispatcher's office of the Vilnius railway station. Railway traffic is disrupted but restored several hours later.

Antakalnis Cemetery

Baltic Way

Black January

(Latvia)

The Barricades

Autumn of Nations

Sąjūdis

April 9 tragedy

Singing Revolution

Soviet OMON assaults on Lithuanian border posts

Vilnius TV Tower

(in Lithuanian) – portal dedicated to 15th anniversary of massacre.

www.laisve15.lt

– collection of photo, video and other testimonies.

www.lrs.lt

. BBC News. 13 January 1991.

"On This Day 13 January, 1991: Bloodshed at Lithuanian TV station"

Loreta Asanavičiūtė's Story

(in Ukrainian)

Russia refused to question the former president of Soviet Union

(in Ukrainian) Polishchuk, M. Recollections of a student defense squad participant in the 1991 Winter Vilnius events. Ukrayinska Pravda. 18 January 2011