Lithuania is a democracy in which political rights and civil liberties are generally respected.

Aside from a brief period of independence from 1918 to 1940, Lithuania was occupied by Russia beginning in 1795, was controlled by Germany for a brief period during World War II, and was incorporated into the U.S.S.R. in 1944 as one of its constituent republics.

On March 11, 1990, Lithuania declared its independence by a unanimous vote of its newly elected parliament. The new Soviet parliament acknowledged Lithuania's independence on September 6, 1991. Lithuania was admitted into the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 2004.

In Lithuania are celebrated two days of independence: the Restoration of the State Day on February 16th and the Restoration of Independence Day on March 11.

Celebration of these two independence days are marked with the closure of businesses, and people dress in national colours – yellow, green, and red – or wave flags to show their pride.

13 January  Freedom Defender‘s Day in Lithuania

The Day of the Defenders of Freedom is a good occasion to remember historical events that are still alive in the memory of people. In this year, we celebrate a significant anniversary – thirty years of the defence of the restored independence of Lithuania. Some students share their opinions „What does freedom mean to them...