Lithuanian independence act signatory Zenonas Juknevičius dies at 77

Zenonas Juknevičius, a signatory of Lithuania’s March 11 Act of Independence and a prominent jurist, has died at the age of 77, the Seimas Chancellery announced on Tuesday. Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas extended condolences to Juknevičius’ family, colleagues, and the community of independence signatories.

“I sincerely sympathise with the late Zenonas’ family, loved ones, colleagues, and the entire community of the Act of Independence signatories,” Olekas said. “His memory will live on in Lithuania’s history and in the hearts of all who hold the unchanging values of state freedom, justice, and duty to the homeland.”

Born in 1949 in Valdeikiai village, Pasvalys district, Juknevičius graduated from Vilnius University in 1977 with a law degree. Throughout his career, he served as a judge at the Šilutė District People’s Court, senior notary at the Kupiškis State Notary Office, and investigator at the Kupiškis District Prosecutor’s Office.

From 1987 to 1990, he was first deputy minister of justice of the Lithuanian SSR, and in 1990, he temporarily led the Ministry of Justice for two years.