DOPESHEET
Lithuania remembers January events 25 years ago when crowds of peaceful people defended state institutions from Soviet military aggression and 13 of defenders died.
The night of January 13 was the bloodiest during Soviet attempt to overthrow Lithuanian government who was the first in the Soviet Union that declared independence in 1990 March.
During early hours of January 13 tanks drove straight through lines of people who surrounded TV station and killed 13 civilians also injuring 1000. An additional civilian died at the scene due to a heart attack, and one Soviet soldier was killed by friendly fire.
However Soviet military forces which at the beginning took one institution after another later retreated and did not attack a massive crowd of people surrounding Parliament. Although smaller military raids continued for several months there were no large open military encounters after the night of January 13 which was later claimed the day of Freedom Defenders.
A non violent defense by massive crowds of peaceful defenders remains of the central peace in the history of Singing Revolutions that broke down Soviet Union in a peaceful way without precedent.
In the morning, all Lithuanian schools, state institutions and embassies traditionally lit candles in their windows in memory of those who lost their lives during January 13.
Meanwhile the Parliament hosted a solemn ceremony and state flag was officially raised in front of the Parliament building that was surrounded by peaceful defenders 25 years ago.
Lithuanian army’s Huard of Honor marched through the central Gediminas Street in capital Vilnius.
There were dozens of smaller events held throughout January 12 and January 13. The most popular among people were an improvised meadow of forget-me-not flowers and huge bonfires that burnt throughout the night at those places where people surrounded main institutions 25 years ago.
