Komunistyczna Partia Litwy w latach przełomu 1988–1990
The Communist Party of Lithuania in the Breakthrough Years 1988–1990

Summary/Abstract: In the years 1988–1990, the Communist Party of Lithuania transformed from a Marxist-Leninist party to a classic social democratic formation called the Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania. It could take advantage of Mikhail Gorbachev’s Perestroika ideas in order to achieve its own goals. The party had several experienced politicians (Algirdas Brazauskas, Česlovas Juršėnas and others) who led it during the complex political and economic transformation. The tragic events of 13 January 1991, during which 14 civilians were killed by Soviet soldiers, depicted how tragic and dangerous this period was. In autumn 1992, the Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania recorded a huge success in the parliamentary elections by winning over a half the mandates. Its leader Algirdas Brazauskas was elected the president of Lithuania. The formation had its representatives during all terms of offices of the Lithuanian Sejm still after 1990. Irrespective of the successful trajectory, the Lithuanian Sejm passed a resolution in June 2017 by a majority of votes and found the Communist Party of Lithuania a criminal organization. After the events of 13 January 1991, another faction of the Communist Party of Lithuania on the platform of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union was accused of acting in order to overturn Lithuania’s independence, found to be illegal and against the country’s interests, while its leaders were sentenced to many years of imprisonment.

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