Misplaced Pages

#313686

45-742: The structure and functions of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR were copied from the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union . The sessions of the Supreme Soviet lasted only several days twice a year and decisions were made unanimously and without much discussion. Until the dedicated Seimas Palace was completed in 1981, the Soviet gathered at the Russian Drama Theater of Lithuania . In between

90-744: A crucial role during the confrontation between the Lithuanian independence movement and Soviet armed forces in January 1991. Iceland was the first state that officially recognized the restoration of Lithuanian independence; Landsbergis was somewhat critical of certain Western powers (such as the United States and United Kingdom) for not showing enough support in Lithuania's bid to restore its independence after more than 40 years of Soviet occupation , although he did accept

135-503: A member of the international advisory council of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation . Vytautas Landsbergis, member of an old German Landsberg family , was born in Kaunas , Lithuania. His father was the architect Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis . His mother, ophthalmologist Dr. Ona Jablonskytė-Landsbergienė, assisted her sister's family in sheltering a Jewish child, Avivit Kissin, from

180-2194: A national parliament, while others changed to double-chamber assemblies.    Soviet Republics dissolved before the dissolution of the Soviet Union    Parliaments not formally recognized by some countries such as the Western Bloc Верховный Совет РСФСР Верховный Совет Украинской ССР Верховна Рада Української РСР Верховный Совет Белорусской ССР Вярхоўны Савет Беларускай ССР Верховный Совет Узбекской ССР Ўзбекистон ССР Олий Совети Верховный Совет Казахской ССР Қазақ ССР Жоғарғы Советі Верховный Совет Грузинской ССР საქართველოს სსრ უმაღლესი საბჭო Верховный Совет Азербайджа́нской ССР Азәрбаjҹан ССР Али Совети Верховный Совет Литовской ССР Lietuvos TSR Aukščiausioji Taryba Верховный Совет Молдавской ССР Совиетул Супрем ал РСС Молдовеняскэ (Moldovan Cyrillic) Sovietul Suprem al RSS Moldovenească (Latin alphabet) Верховный Совет Латвийской ССР Latvijas PSR Augstākā Padome Верховный Совет Киргизской ССР Кыргыз ССР Жогорку Совети Верховный Совет Таджикской ССР Совети Олӣ РСС Тоҷикистон Верховный Совет Армянской ССР Հայկական ՍՍՀ Գերագույն Խորհուրդ Верховный Совет Туркменской ССР Түркменистан ССР Ёкары Советы Верховный Совет Эстонской ССР Eesti NSV Ülemnõukogu Верховный Совет Карело-Финской ССР List of known autonomous republics councils: Верховный Совет Башкирской АССР Башҡорт АССР-ы Юғары Советы Верховный Совет Бурятской АССР Буряадай АССР-эй Верховно Совет Верховный Совет Карельской АССР Верховный Совет Татарской АССР Татарстан АССР Югары Советы Верховный Совет Тувинской АССР Тыва АССР-ниң Дээди Соведи Верховный Совет Чувашской АССР Чӑваш АССР Верховнӑй Совечӗ Верховный Совет Каракалпакской АССР Қарақалпақстан АССР Жоқарғы Совети Верховный Совет Абхазской АССР Аҧснытәи АССР Иреиҳаӡоу Асовет Верховный Совет Аджарской АССР აჭარის ასსრ უმაღლესი საბჭო Верховный Совет Нахичеванской АССР Нахчыван МССР Али Совети Vytautas Landsbergis Vytautas Landsbergis ( Lithuanian: [ˈvʲîːtɐʊtɐs ˈɫɐ̂ˑnʲdzʲbʲɛrʲɡʲɪs] ; born 18 October 1932)

225-581: A street that had been named after Kazys Skirpa (who formed the Lithuanian Activist Front , which massacred Jews across Lithuania) and removed a memorial to Jonas Noreika (who ordered and oversaw the killings of Lithuanian Jews in Plungė during the Plungė massacre ). Landsbergis posted a poem on social media that referred to the Virgin Mary as a " žydelka " ("jew-girl"), and Faina Kukliansky, chair of

270-508: A vote to appoint Kazimira Prunskienė as a deputy Prime Minister, 100 votes were cast against her during a secret ballot. When the vote was repeated, this time in public, not a single delegate voted against her and only a few abstained. In August 1989, the Soviet announced that the 1939 Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact directly resulted in the Baltics being forcibly incorporated into the USSR in 1940. This marked

315-684: A year. In September 1991, after the August Coup , it was reorganised into the Soviet (council) of Republics and the Soviet of The Union, which would jointly amend the Soviet Constitution , admit new states, hear out the President of the Soviet Union on important home and foreign policy issues, approve the union budget, declare war and conclude peace. The Soviet of Republics would consist of 20 deputies from each union republic, plus one deputy to represent each autonomous region of each republic, delegated by

360-587: Is a Lithuanian politician and former Member of the European Parliament . He was the first Speaker of Reconstituent Seimas of Lithuania after its independence declaration from the Soviet Union . He has written 20 books on a variety of topics, including a biography of Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis , as well as works on politics and music. He is a founding signatory of the Prague Declaration , and

405-490: Is baseless and 26% doubting its validity. On 30 June 2022, Vytautas Landsbergis was officially recognized as the first post-soviet Lithuania's head of state. "Should I be congratulated? I don't know... Lithuania is the one that should be congratulated more as it is finally on a par with Estonia . Estonia has already sorted it out in a way that Arnold Rüütel was President since March of 1990," V. Landsbergis commented. The opposition threatened to renounce Landsbergis' status as

450-664: The Act of the Re-Establishment of the State of Lithuania . The same day the Soviet changed its name to the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania . It is also known as Supreme Council – Reconstituent Seimas ( Aukščiausioji Taryba – Atkuriamasis Seimas ). The council held its last session on November 11, 1992. It was succeeded by democratically elected Seimas . Supreme Soviet of

495-644: The European Union , in addition to Nazi symbols . He also sent a letter to Franco Frattini , the European Commissioner of Justice and Internal Affairs, suggesting that in case the EU decides to ban Nazi symbols , Communist symbols should be banned too. The Commissioner became interested in this proposal and said: I am ready to join this discussion. The Communist dictatorships no less than the Nazi ones are responsible for

SECTION 10

#1732851613314

540-688: The Lithuanian Seimas officially approved the bill regarding V. Landsbergis' recognition as the head of state. "The bill is a symbol of respect and acknowledgement of a person who played a significant role in Lithuania’s history," the Speaker of Seimas , V. Čmilytė-Nielsen , said. The opposition claimed that such a step was a "falsification of history" as the Provisional Constitution along with other historical records state that "[t]he functions of

585-478: The next elections in November 1992 . The Soviet Union attempted to stifle this activity by economic blockade in 1990, but it failed, and other Soviet Republics soon followed suit and declared their independence from Moscow, as well. He was also extremely dubious of the view that Mikhail Gorbachev was trying to liberalize the Soviet Union and that Lithuania should not prevent him from doing so. Landsbergis also played

630-455: The European Parliament. He warns that Russia might have intentions to control Lithuania and the other Baltic States economically and politically through a wide network of former KGB agents and other clandestine activities. Landsbergis is one of the most active politicians who urge Russia to compensate Lithuania and other post-Soviet republics for damage done to them during their occupations. In 2019, Vilnius's mayor, Remigijus Šimašius , renamed

675-657: The Holocaust. She brought Kissin to her sister's home and produced a forged birth certificate with a Lithuanian for Kissin. Her sister and brother-in-law were named Righteous Among the Nations . Jablonskytė-Landsbergienė was also named as Righteous Among the Nations for her efforts to help hide a 16-year old Jewish girl named Bella Gurvich (later Rozenberg). In 1952 he placed third in the Lithuanian chess championship , after Ratmir Kholmov and Vladas Mikėnas . In 1955, he graduated from

720-500: The Jewish Community of Lithuania, condemned it. Landsbergis said the poem was an attempt to show the ignorance of Lithuanian antisemites and requested support from "at least one smart and brave Jew ... who does not agree with Simasius." The question of whether V. Landsbergis should be officially acknowledged as the head of state of Lithuania from 1990 to 1992 has been polarising the Lithuanian public for many years. On 25 June 2022,

765-658: The Lithuanian Conservatory of Music (now Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre ). In 1969, he wrote his thesis for his PhD degree. In 1978, he became a professor at the Lithuanian Conservatory . From 1978 to 1990, he was a professor at both the Lithuanian Conservatory and the Vilnius Pedagogical University . In 1994, he wrote a thesis for his doctor habilitus degree. Landsbergis was married to Gražina Ručytė-Landsbergienė (1930–2020), who

810-578: The Lithuanians began taking steps towards independence or at least autonomy from the Soviet Union . The Soviet became the official venue to seek independence in a legal manner. Starting with its 10th session on October 17–18, 1988, the proceedings were televised, hotly debated, and in the center of attention. The political power shifted from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania to

855-603: The Soviet Union The Supreme Soviet of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ( SSUSSR ) was the highest body of state authority of the Soviet Union (USSR) from 1936 to 1991. It was based on the principle of unified power , which was the only branch of government in the Soviet state. Prior to 1936, the Congress of Soviets was the supreme legislative body. During 1989–1991 a similar, but not identical structure

900-606: The Soviet Union and was imbued with great lawmaking powers. In practice, however, it was a toy parliament which did nothing other than ratify decisions already made by the USSR's executive organs and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) – always by unanimous consent – and listen to the General Secretary 's speeches. This was in accordance with the Stalinist CPSU's principle of democratic centralism and became

945-436: The Supreme Soviet at its next session, they were considered revoked. In practice, however, the principle of democratic centralism rendered the process of ratifying Presidium decrees a mere formality. In some cases, even this formality was not observed. After 1989 it consisted of 542 deputies (divided into two 271 chambers) decreased from a previous 1,500. The meetings of the body were also more frequent, from six to eight months

SECTION 20

#1732851613314

990-400: The Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union, each of its constituting union republics and each autonomous republic had a supreme soviet. These supreme soviets also had presidiums, but all consisted of only one chamber. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union , some soviets of the succeeded independent republics simply changed their name to their more historic name or to emphasise their importance as

1035-512: The Supreme Soviet was not in session. For example, it could ratify international treaties or amend laws. However, in reality it was a rubber stamp institution for the CPL and de facto head of state was the First Secretary of the CPL. The chairmen of the presidium were: The Soviet became an important political battleground since 1988. Inspired and encouraged by perestroika and glastnost ,

1080-536: The Supreme Soviet, which transformed itself from a rubber stamp institution to an actual legislature. In about a year and a half, the Soviet reinstated interwar coat of arms of Lithuania and national anthem Tautiška giesmė , declared superiority of Lithuanian laws over the laws of the Soviet Union, laid groundwork for de- collectivisation , investigated and condemned events surrounding the occupation of Lithuania in 1940 , granted religious freedom, adopted citizenship law, enacted new truly democratic election law reducing

1125-505: The Union was changed to be the same as the Soviet of Nationalities, regardless of the population size. The Supreme Soviet convened twice a year, usually for less than a week. For the rest of the year, the Presidium performed its ordinary functions. Often, the CPSU bypassed the Supreme Soviet altogether and had major laws enacted as Presidium decrees. Nominally, if such decrees were not ratified by

1170-510: The beginning of February 2005, the European Commission rejected calls for a proposed Europe-wide ban on Nazi symbols to be extended to cover Communist Party symbols as well. Frattini said it would not be appropriate to include the red star and the hammer and sickle in a draft EU law on racism. Finally, at the end of February 2005, the European Union dropped proposals to ban Nazi symbols across its 25 member states. Luxembourg withdrew

1215-457: The center of Italian media's attention. One of the most influential Italian dailies, La Repubblica , published an interview with Landsbergis outlining his proposal. It was the first time the daily allocated a full page to a politician from Lithuania. Landsbergis's proposal found few supporters among Italian politicians. One was Alessandra Mussolini , a granddaughter of former Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini , who commented: "To implement

1260-514: The deaths of tens of millions of people . A bit later, however, the Commissioner decided that he would not attempt to ban any symbols, as there was no agreement as to which symbols should be banned. Landsbergis's proposal caused quite a stir in Italy, where leftists strongly protested such a move. The Communist Refoundation Party and Party of Italian Communists were outraged at the proposal. It became

1305-413: The first time in the country's history that an official Soviet body challenged the authority of Soviet rule. In February 1990 elections , when for the first time candidates from the opposition were allowed to run, candidates endorsed by pro-independence Sąjūdis won 96 seats out of 141. During its first three sessions on March 11, 1990, the Soviet elected Vytautas Landsbergis as the chairman and adopted

1350-619: The founders of Sąjūdis , the Lithuanian pro-independence political movement. In 1989 elections to the Congress of People's Deputies of the Soviet Union , Landsbergis was elected as one of the People's Deputies from Lithuanian SSR. After Sąjūdis' victory in the 1990 elections , he became the Chairman of the Supreme Council of Lithuania . On 11 March 1990, he headed the Parliamentary session during which

1395-601: The head of state during the transitional period remain with the collegial Parliament body—the Presidium of the Supreme Council of Lithuania ." The latter was a collective political entity consisting of 11 deputies possessing equal powers, which was disbanded on 22 November 1992, when the current Constitution of Lithuania was adopted. The decision made by Seimas proved to be unpopular among the public. According to one survey done by Lietuvos rytas , 68% of respondents disagree with such an initiative with 42% of them believing that it

Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic - Misplaced Pages Continue

1440-563: The newly formed Henry Jackson Society . Since 2015 Landsbergis is together with Roswitha Fessler-Ketteler, MEP Heidi Hautala , Aleksi Malmberg and Frank Schwalba-Hoth member of the advisory board of the Caucasian Chamber Orchestra association and its German "Förderverein". In January 2005, Landsbergis, backed by Member of the European Parliament from Hungary Jozsef Szajer , urged that Communist symbols be banned in

1485-407: The norm for other Communist legislatures . The Supreme Soviet was composed of two chambers, each with equal legislative powers: Under the 1936 Constitution, the Supreme Soviet was elected for a four-year term, and the Soviet of the Union had one deputy for every 300,000 people. This was changed by the 1977 constitution; the term was extended to five years, and the number of seats in the Soviet of

1530-434: The number of delegates grew from 180 in 1947 to 350 in 1980. The chairman of the Supreme Soviet was the presiding officer ( speaker ) of that legislature. The presidium was the permanent body of the Supreme Soviet. Its chairman was the de jure head of state. The presidium (chairman, two deputy chairmen, secretary, and 13 other members) was elected during the first session of the Soviet. Formally it had great power while

1575-417: The number of delegates to 141, abolished political monopoly of the Communist Party allowing other parties to run in the next election. The delegates struggled with changed duties. About 100 of conservative, pro-Soviet delegates did not attend the sessions. Others, accustomed to blindly following orders from top, voted according to the wishes of the presidium and displayed political immaturity. For example, during

1620-480: The opposition to run. The candidates were selected so that each Soviet had the same proportion of social groups; for example, women comprised about a third of the delegates, factory workers about a half. According to official results, voter turnout reached 97.91% during the 1947 elections. Other elections, except for the one in February 1990, were similarly staged. One delegate represented approximately 10,000 people; thus

1665-519: The plan when it became clear that members could not reach a consensus on which symbols to ban. There were also concerns that the proposed ban was a threat to freedom of expression . Landsbergis is a fierce critic of Russia's intentions to impose any kind of influence on the Baltic states and publicly questions Russia's actions vis-à-vis the Baltic States on both local and international media, as well as in

1710-645: The proposal of the Members of the European Parliament regarding Communist symbols is our moral duty". Landsbergis's proposal was opposed by the Russian Parliament as well. The First Vicespeaker of the Russian State Duma called the proposal "abnormal". Another Russian MP, a communist, commented that "somebody in Europe became insolent and forgot who saved them from the fascists". The debate came to an end when, in

1755-616: The recommendation from his government that the newly independent Lithuania immediately seek to establish full diplomatic relations with the UK and US. In 1993, Landsbergis led much of Sąjūdis into a new political party, the Homeland Union ( Tėvynės Sąjunga ). It gained a landslide victory in the 1996 parliamentary elections . Landsbergis served as Speaker of the Seimas from 1996 until 2000. He ran, although unsuccessfully, for president in 1997 (coming up

1800-479: The republics' legislatures. Russia was an exception with 52 deputies. The Soviet Union consisted of deputies apportioned by the existing quotas. In 1989, its powers were: Acts by the Supreme Soviet entered into force after signature by the President and publication. Between 1938 and February 1990, more than 50 years, only 80 laws were passed by the Supreme Soviet, less than 1% of total legislative acts. Beside

1845-519: The restoration of Lithuanian independence from the Soviet Union was declared . Lithuania became the first Soviet Republic to do so. According to the Temporary Primary Law ( de facto temporary Constitution, until the permanent Constitution comes to power) of Lithuania, Landsbergis was both: the highest officer of State and the Speaker of the Parliament . He held this post from March 1990 until

Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic - Misplaced Pages Continue

1890-426: The session the Presidium acted on behalf of the Supreme Soviet. The representatives were elected in general elections every four (since 1975 – every five) years. The elections were held in February 1947, February 1951, February 1955, March 1959, March 1963, March 1967, June 1971, June 1975, February 1980, February 1985, and February 1990. All candidates had to be pre-approved by the CPL, which did not allow any members of

1935-496: The third after receiving 15.9% of the votes). During the runoff, he supported Valdas Adamkus , who had finished second in the first round. Adamkus eventually became president. In 2004, Landsbergis was elected by Lithuanian voters to the European Parliament in Brussels (the total number of MEPs from Lithuania in Brussels was 13), and has been returned at every election until 2014. In 2005, Landsbergis became an international patron of

1980-515: Was a well-known Lithuanian pianist and associate Professor of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theater. His daughters Jūratė and Birutė are also musicians. His son, Vytautas , is a well-known Lithuanian writer and film director. His grandson Gabrielius Landsbergis (b. 1982) is the current leader of the conservative party, a member of Lithuanian Parliament and Foreign Minister of Lithuania . Landsbergis entered politics, in 1988, as one of

2025-583: Was the supreme legislative body. The Supreme Soviet appointed the Council of Ministers , the Supreme Court , and the Procurator General of the USSR as well as elected the Presidium which served as the USSR's collective head of state under both the 1936 and 1977 Soviet Constitutions . By the Soviet constitutions of 1936 and 1977 , the Supreme Soviet was defined as the highest organ of state power in

#313686