Lithuania gained independence initially on February 16, 1918, when the Council of Lithuania signed the Act of Independence, proclaiming the restoration of an independent state governed by democratic principles with Vilnius as its capital. This marked the re-establishment of Lithuania as a sovereign state after being part of the Russian Empire for over a century.
Later, Lithuania declared the re-establishment of its independence from the Soviet Union on March 11, 1990, making it the first Soviet republic to do so. This declaration emphasized the restoration and legal continuity of the interwar independent Lithuania following Soviet occupation in 1940. The independence declared on this date was a critical moment leading to the eventual dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Thus, Lithuania has two significant independence dates: February 16, 1918, for its original independence, and March 11, 1990, for the restoration of independence from Soviet control.
