Social and political activities of the reform movement of Lithuania (Sajudis) in 1988-1990

The paper attempts to consider the problems of existence and development of the Reform Movement of Lithuania (Sąjūdis) from June 1988 to March 1990. This movement was one of the first that raised the question of the Lithuanian legality as a part of the USSR proclaiming unilaterally its independence. The author identified several stages in the history of Sąjūdis: 1) from June to October 1988 - the Reform Movement of Lithuania, the Sąjūdis Initiative Group’s activity were developed; 2) from October 1988 to February 1989 - the movement was institutionalized, the majority of the Lithuanian population became a part of this movement; 3) from February to May 1989 - there were fundamental changes in the strategy and tactics of the Reform Movement of Lithuania in order to achieve political independence of the Republic; the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Lithuanian Republic was adopted by the Supreme Council of the Lithuanian SSR under the influence of Sąjūdis; 4) from May 1989 to March 1990 - the Sąjūdis destabilized the political situation in Lithuania; the representatives of the Reform Movement of Lithuania rose to power and prepared Lithuanian secession from the USSR. The author concluded that the Sąjūdis was at the forefront of restructuring during its formation and revealed its true goals and objectives intending to implement them in full only after having drawn wide support from the Lithuanian population.