The Sąjūdis philosopher who launched the 2-million-signature campaign demanding Red Army withdrawal
After a long while of hesitation, I made up my mind to see 'what makes socialism.' After a few years it was absolutely clear.
Lithuanian philosopher and politician who taught philosophy at Vilnius University and edited the cultural journal Kultūros barai. He joined the Lithuanian Communist Party in 1973 but broke with it during perestroika; as a founding member of Sąjūdis (1988), he became the movement's theorist and launched a 2-million-signature campaign demanding the withdrawal of the Red Army from Lithuania. He was a central figure in the trilateral planning of the Baltic Way with the Estonian and Latvian popular fronts, and served as deputy prime minister (1990–1991) in the Landsbergis-Prunskienė cabinet. After independence he founded the Lithuanian Centre Union, served in the Seimas (1992–2000), and opposed EU membership as a surrender of sovereignty.
Activities and affiliations
Career Timeline
- 1957–1962Studied philosophy, Vilnius University
- 1965–1968Editor, Kultūros barai journal
- 1973–1989Lecturer in philosophy, Vilnius University
- 1988–1990Founding member and council member, Sąjūdis
- 1989–1990People's Deputy, USSR Congress of People's Deputies
- 1990–1991Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania
- 1992–2000Member of the Seimas
- 1993–2000Chairman, Lithuanian Centre Union
Related historical events
- 1985–1991Perestroika and GlasnostSąjūdis founding memberDuring perestroika, he helped found Sąjūdis in 1988.
- 1988–1991The Nationalities Crisis and the Collapse of Central AuthorityLithuanian independence movement theoristAs a theorist of the independence movement, he led a signature campaign demanding Soviet troop withdrawal from Lithuania.
- 1987–1991The Baltic Independence Movement and the Baltic Wayleader of the withdrawal signature campaignAs a Sajudis leader, he initiated the 2-million-signature campaign demanding Red Army withdrawal from Lithuania in the run-up to the Baltic Way, and played a central role in the trilateral planning.
State-building after independence and criticism of European integration
Ozolas was elected to the Supreme Council of the restored independent state in 1990 and signed the Act of Independence. He served as deputy prime minister under Kazimira Prunskienė from 1990 to 1991, chaired the state commission on regional problems from 1990 to 1993, and took part in state negotiating delegations with the Soviet Union and later Russia. He subsequently served in the Seimas from 1992 to 2000 and chaired the Lithuanian Centre Movement, founded in 1992, and the Lithuanian Centre Union from 1993. His bibliography includes writings and political commentary on Lithuania in the European Union beginning in 2004, indicating his engagement with the country's post-independence governance and European integration. The specific grounds for his opposition to EU membership require confirmation from additional sources.