VILNIUS — 1991 · Major Tragedy
The January Events in Vilnius
After Lithuania declared independence in March 1990, Soviet army and special forces units attacked civilians gathered to protect the television tower and broadcasting building in Vilnius on the night of 13 January 1991. Fourteen civilians were killed by tanks and gunfire, and more than 140 were injured. The event became one of the last major Soviet military crackdowns in the Baltics and is commemorated in Lithuania as Freedom Defenders' Day. After years of investigation, a Vilnius court on 27 March 2019 convicted 67 people, most of them in absentia, of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Date
- 1991
- Place
- TV Tower, Lithuania, Vilnius, LT
- Category
- Major Tragedy
- Case Status
- Solved
- Coordinates
- 54.6870, 25.2150 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 11 March 1990Lithuania declared independence.
- 13 January 1991Soviet troops stormed the TV tower; 14 civilians died.
- After 1991Lithuanian prosecutors opened an investigation.
- 27 March 2019A court convicted 67 defendants, mostly in absentia.
Sources
- BBC News — Lithuania convicts Russians of war crimes under Soviet rule bbc.com ↗
- RFE/RL — Lithuania verdict on Soviet crackdown rferl.org ↗
- DW — The January Events in Vilnius 25 years on dw.com ↗
- BBC News
- RFE/RL
- Deutsche Welle
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.