Prime minister marks Reform Movement anniversary: unity shapes our destiny

Lithuania’s Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has marked the 37th anniversary of the Lithuanian Reform Movement (Sąjūdis), calling it an enduring symbol of unity and freedom, state news agency ELTA reported on Tuesday.

“Sąjūdis is more than a page in history. It is a timeless reminder of the strength of those who were unafraid, of the power of truth and human unity—bold yet creative, not destructive but unifying in the shared pursuit of freedom,” Ruginienė stated.

She emphasised that the movement, which laid the groundwork for Lithuania’s independence, remains a source of optimism today. “It proves that we ourselves, when united, are the architects of our fate,” the prime minister added.

The Reform Movement’s 35-member initiative group was founded on 3 June 1988 in Vilnius. That summer and autumn, Sąjūdis organised mass rallies, launched its own press, and established local chapters across Lithuania. Its founding congress on 22–23 October 1988 elected a governing council and adopted a programme, statutes, and 30 resolutions. On 15 February 1989, the movement’s council first declared its goal of restoring Lithuanian independence.