The 1918 Act of Independence
The Council of Lithuania proclaimed on 16 February 1918 "the restoration of the independent state of Lithuania, founded on democratic principles, with Vilnius as its capital," signed by all twenty Council members.[1]
· Declaration
Act of Independence of Lithuania, 1918
The Council of Lithuania unanimously proclaimed the restoration of an independent state of Lithuania, with Vilnius as its capital, on 16 February 1918, signed by all twenty Council members.
Restoration of statehood
On 11 March 1990, the Supreme Council declared "the execution of the sovereign powers of the State of Lithuania abolished by foreign forces in 1940, is re-established," the first such declaration among the Soviet constituent republics. Moscow declared the Act illegal and imposed economic sanctions through 1990.[2]
· Declaration
Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania, 1990
The Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania declared on 11 March 1990 that the sovereign powers of the State of Lithuania, abolished by foreign forces in 1940, were re-established, becoming the first Soviet constituent republic to declare independence.
The January Events
On the night of 12-13 January 1991, Soviet military and KGB forces stormed the Vilnius TV tower and broadcasting centre, killing 14 unarmed civilians and wounding hundreds; the failure of Soviet forces to fully reassert control amid civilian resistance is widely seen as exposing the weakening grip of Soviet power.[3]
· Conflict episode
January Events, 1991
Soviet forces stormed the Vilnius TV tower and broadcasting centre on the night of 12-13 January 1991, killing 14 unarmed civilians and wounding hundreds, in the bloodiest attempt to reverse Lithuania's restoration of independence.
United Nations membership
The Security Council recommended Lithuania's UN membership on 12 September 1991, and the General Assembly admitted Lithuania on 17 September 1991.[4][5]
· Recognition
Admission of Lithuania to the United Nations, 1991
The Security Council recommended Lithuania's admission to the United Nations on 12 September 1991, and the General Assembly admitted it on 17 September 1991.
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: On 16 February 1918, the Council of Lithuania unanimously proclaimed: "The Council of Lithuania, as the sole representative of the Lithuanian nation, based on the recognized right to national self-determination, and on the Vilnius Conference's resolution of September 18-23, 1917, proclaims the restoration of the independent state of Lithuania, founded on democratic principles, with Vilnius as its capital, and declares the termination of all state ties which formerly bound this State to other nations." The Act was signed by all twenty members of the Council of Lithuania, chaired by Jonas Basanavičius.
- Wikipedia contributors, Act of Independence of Lithuania (Wikipedia) link, translated text. Source record
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2.
Claim: On 11 March 1990, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania adopted the Act on the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania, providing: "The execution of the sovereign powers of the State of Lithuania abolished by foreign forces in 1940, is re-established, and henceforth Lithuania is again an independent state." The Act stated that the 1918 Act of Independence and a 1920 Constituent Assembly decree "never lost their legal effect." The Supreme Council approved the Act with 124 in favour, six abstaining, and none opposed.
- Wikipedia contributors, Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania (Wikipedia) link, translated text and vote count. Source record
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3.
Claim: Following economic sanctions Moscow imposed on Lithuania through 1990, Soviet military and KGB forces stormed the Vilnius TV tower and broadcasting centre on the night of 12-13 January 1991, ramming tanks into unarmed civilians and firing on the crowd; 14 civilians were killed and hundreds wounded. The failure of Soviet forces to fully reassert control amid civilian resistance is widely seen as having exposed the weakening grip of Soviet power over Lithuania.
- Thirty Years After Soviet Crackdown In Lithuania, Kremlin Accused Of Rewriting History (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty) link, article text. Source record
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4.
Claim: On 12 September 1991, at its 3007th meeting, the Security Council, having examined the application of the Republic of Lithuania, recommended without a vote that the General Assembly admit it to UN membership, alongside identical recommendations for Estonia and Latvia.
- United Nations Security Council, Security Council resolution 711 (1991) (United Nations, 12 September 1991) link, resolution text. Source record
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5.
Claim: The General Assembly, at its 1st plenary meeting on 17 September 1991, having received the Security Council's recommendation and considered Lithuania's application, decided to admit the Republic of Lithuania to United Nations membership.
- United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly resolution 46/6: Admission of the Republic of Lithuania to membership in the United Nations (United Nations, 17 September 1991) link, operative paragraph. Source record
Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/lithuania/history · last substantive update 24 September 2026.