March 11 Hall, Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
Supreme Council – the Last Barricade
Defenders of Lithuania’s freedom,
Champions of 13 January,
Members of the Reconstituent Seimas,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The state of Lithuania is commemorating the 20 th anniversary of the 13th of January. The commemoration is stained with pain and sadness as Lithuania sincerely bows to those who sacrificed for our freedom and those who were wounded; it is tinted with gratitude to all defenders of freedom and with powerful spiritual light and pride that such a small and economically weak but spiritually mighty Lithuania performed a significant and unbelievable historical mission.
Nobody else but us, the participants of those dramatic events, can understand that there are no descriptors or discourses that can adequately describe the historical significance of these days and hours as it was the spiritual victory against the military power of the then strongest empire in the world.
A number of times I have searched for an answer to the question: where were the deep roots of the 13 January miracle? Who or what encouraged people to fight and make a united live circle around the TV Tower, Radio and Television, and the Seimas? After all, almost a year had passed since 11 March and the optimism that followed it. Lithuania had already learned the lesson and knew that on the way to freedom, economic blockades, psychological compulsion, political provocations, and blackmail may be part of reality for a long time. Lithuania had already understood that the choice of freedom deprived it not only of cheaper fuel and cheaper gas but also of a relatively calmer life.
Lithuania’s choice was different. As Vincas Kudirka put it in his poem, we refused, “a grain of gold and a spoonful of good food” in exchange for freedom, historical and human justice, which became the only aim in our lives. I would like to single out and highlight the coincidence of the historical truth and human truth, the truth of the nation and the state, the truth of politics and faith. Therefore, today, when assessing the 13 January, it is hard to single out one aspect as an answer to the question why we were so united; why we trusted each other so much; why we were not afraid to die. The loftiest and the most beautiful words sounded sincerely rather than ironically and thousands of people were no longer just a crowd.
Dear defenders, you had undertaken a highly significant historical mission: not only to defend our restored freedom and the future of our state but also to correct a very painful historical mistake made by Lithuania’s army and its commanders in 1940 when the invaders did not encounter a single symbolic shot of resistance. History repeatedly tested us with the same and thanks to you we passed the test with dignity. We hope that this time the mission undertaken by Lithuania was completed to the end and that our future generations will not have to take such historical tests.
Ladies and Gentlemen, it may sound paradoxically but the nights full of tension, casualties, blood, and tears became a gift of fate for each of us who saw it and experienced it. One can probably experience such emotional purity, unconditional trust and unity, such spiritual purification and common spiritual strength only once in a lifetime. The opportunity to see it with your own eyes and to feel it with our own hearts was unique, indescribable and probably cannot be revealed in books. Thus our January 1991 experience probably was and will continue to be the peak of our lives and this is the reason why most of us pride ourselves on the most important moment in our lives, “I was there on 13 January...”
Unfortunately, there is a saying that paper endures all. Each of us is very well aware that our freedom, our perished people, and our 13 January are worrisome to those whose mind, honour, and conscience remained in the soviet empire. Even now manipulators from foreign states and, unfortunately, our own “mankurts” blackmail the victims of 13 January and other defenders of freedom, distort the truth, and undermine our state and our freedom. I apologise to the relatives of the victims. I apologise to the defenders of freedom and I sincerely call on all of you, who can spread the word of truth, please do this, don’t wait till you’re asked. Teachers and parents, freedom defenders and all eyewitnesses, do not allow your children and other young people to believe the lie. Do not allow the ears and hearts of young people to be contaminated with lies that were heard from the loudspeaker of the soviet armoured vehicle on 13 January 1991. Let’s protect our young people from believing in the lies and becoming new victims of the 13 January soviet aggression.
Our dear defenders! These days we will see many commemorations, many events, and much commotion. But when everything ceases, alone, in silence find a moment to be with yourselves, with your own conscience, with your memory and drift back into the time when we were sincerely praying, sharing a cup of tea, waiting for news from other parts of Vilnius, and hushed upon hearing the news in the square near this building; when none of us were afraid and when we were sincerely ready to sacrifice ourselves as the fourteen perished did. When despite our different nationalities, all of us were one nation in the presence of history and truth, God and a person standing next to us.
I express my sincere gratitude to each of you who believed in our victory 20 years ago and who still do today. I express my sincere gratitude to everyone, whose sacrifice turned our belief and our word of Lithuania’s freedom into flesh.
I am sincerely grateful to you that we are free today, that Lithuania is free!
