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Daiva’s Story

Inside the Revolution

“Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.”

– Robert F. Kennedy (American Politician)

On January 13, 1991, Soviet forces attacked unarmed civilians at the TV Tower in Vilnius, killing fourteen and injuring hundreds. 

I arrived in Lithuania two days later.

I soon found myself working inside the barricaded Lithuanian Parliament as a press spokesperson, editor, and translator. The months that followed brought Soviet military threats, shortages, propaganda, and constant uncertainty, but also extraordinary civic courage.

These photographs document what I witnessed from January through the summer of 1991 as Lithuanians defended their newly restored independence.

1991 – 01 – 16

The funeral procession in Kaunas for Titas Masiulis, a victim of the January 13, 1991 Soviet military attack at the TV Tower. I arrived the night before.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 16

In Kaunas, the funeral procession with the casket of Titas Masiulis, victim of the January 13, 1991 Soviet military attack at the TV Tower at the center. I arrived the night before.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 17

Daiva received food ration coupons. Apparently, these weren't new due to the economic blockade. It's been a thing since WWII. Each coupon was good for specific items not normally available: milk, cheese, flour, grains, eggs, butter, etc.

1991 – 01 – 20 (Los Angeles)

CNN's Wolf Blitzer interviews my family in Los Angeles about me returning to Lithuania a day after the bloody January 13, 1991 events.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (02)

Siga and Eimis took me around Vilnius to show me the buildings that the Soviet military had seized. At the TV Tower, Emis bends down to light a candle among the flowers that others left for the victims, while Siga describes what happened on January 13.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (04)

Barricades behind the parliament building.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (1)

At the Soviet military occupied TV-Radio Center on Konarsko Gatvė Lithuanian civilians asking this Soviet officer why they have seized the building.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (1)

Soviet military conitinuing to occupy and guard the TV-Radio Center on Konarsko Gatvė.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (1)

Raimonda, Siga, and Eimis met me at the train station to take me on what was becoming a pilgrimage to the sites of the Soviet military attack. Here, they are at the Soviet military-occupied TV-Radio Center on Konarsko Gatvė where they were serving as human shields on January 13, 1991.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (1)

Ongoing protest at the TV-Radio Center (on Konarsko Gatvė) up the hill from parliament, that the Soviet military also seized on January 13, 1991.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (2)

A memorial for the victims at the TV Tower, including a wreath with a Latvian flag for the victims of the Soviet military attack that occurred in Riga on January 20.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (2)

Soviet APCs guard the Vilnius TV Tower. The retaining wall shows bullet holes and scars from the attack of January 13, 1991. Lithuanians lined the wall with flowers and candles.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (2)

I was surprised I could walk right up the retaining wall at the TV Tower, where armed Soviet soldiers guarded the area, though they kept an eye on me.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (3)

The victims of the TV Tower were buried in Antakalnis Cemetery. When my friends took me there, the entire hillside below was covered with flowers.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

Barricades along the highway behind the parliament building with the TV Tower in the distance.

Photo: Daiva Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

A message for the Soviet military. The barricades along the highway behind the parliament building.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

Barricades at parliament. "We Will Die so that We May Live"

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

Protest signs on the fence in Independence Square.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

Barricade on Gediminas Street protecting Independence Square.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

The drawings of children depicting the attack on the TV Tower in Independence Square.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

Protest signs on fence in Independence Square.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

Signs on fence in Independence Square.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

"Lithuania will be free" barricade on the highway near the tunnel beneath the parliament building.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

"Common Cause" graffiti on barricades at parliament.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

Barricades, and human shields at parliament.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

The side of the barricaded parliament building was covered in fencing, barbed wire and anti-Soviet protest signs.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

Thousands of human shields are still holding vigil and protecting the parliament building.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

A truck dumping firewood for the bonfires at parliament for the human shields continuing to protect the building.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

Barricades in front of the Lithuanian parliament building.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

The barricades placed at the end of Gediminas Gatvė leading to the public square of the parliament building.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

In front of the Lithuanian parliament building, Lithuanians nailed their Soviet passports and medals on a pole to protest Soviet rule and in defiance after the massacre at the TV Tower.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

The barricaded parliament building.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 24 (4)

In front of the Lithuanian parliament building, Lithuanians nailed their Soviet passports and medals on a pole to protest Soviet rule and in defiance after the massacre at the TV Tower.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 28

Rasa with Benas the cat in the Kaunas apartment.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 30

Siga and the Belgium banana. You need to read the book to understand ...

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 01 – 30

Eimis and Belgium Banana in Kaunas. You had to be there - lol

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 02 – 16

Commemorating the 1918 Lithuanian Independence Day in Vilnius, but no one was in the mood to celebrate after the brutal Soviet attacks at the TV Tower.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 02 – 16

Demonstration in Vilnius on Independence Day. The event was somber, since the Kremlin sent in Soviet military forces to seize the TV Tower and other buildings in Lithuania and it was clear the Kremlin would never let Lithuanian be free.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 03

My Lazdynai neighborhood near the TV Tower, when I found my first apartment. That's my bus stop.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 03 – 24

Everyone arrives for my birthday pizza party. (Raimonda, Siga, Audrius.)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 03 – 24

Rasa and me preparing pizzas for my birthday party. It took a month to gather the ingredients and Eimis found cheese that sort of melts from the black market in Klaipėda. And I found some baking yeast on the black market from an old lady behind the farmer's market who had it hiding inside her long skirt.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 03 – 24

My pizza birthday party in Vilnius. (Karla's cousin, Karla, Rasa)

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 04 – 01

The view from my government housing in the Vilnius neighborhood of Fabijoniškis. I tried my best to keep that plant alive.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 04 – 29

My temporary authorization to enter the parliament building as I waited for my official parliament employment ID. They even spelled my name wrong in Lithuania!

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 05 – 01

My official parliament ID, employed as "Information Department Editor."

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 05 – 01

My resident card, which allowed me to use my food ration coupons in the stores. Not that there was ever anything available.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 05 – 15

Daiva's daily ride, with a private parking spot right in front of the parliament barricades.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 05 – 19

My official motorcycle registration.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 05 – 5

Daiva at her desk in the InfoBureau inside the parliament writing another press release.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 05 – 5

Working at the telex machine in the fax room of the InfoBureau inside the parliament. Sometimes I had to help type in press releases.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 06

Lithuanian checkpoint on the approach to the Lithuanian Parliament building with the TV Tower in the distance. My daily commute on my motorcycle to get to work.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 06

Parliament checkpoint, where I drove through each day on my motorcycle to get to work. This view is leaving the Parliament complex.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 06

With my motorcycle in my Fabijoniškis neighborhood.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 06

Checkpoint on approaching the Lithuanian parliament building. Daiva's daily greeting in her commute to work.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 06

Rita Dapkus, theLithuanian-American who established the InfoBureau Press Office at the Lithuanian Parliament who worked selflessly to counter Soviet propaganda and get the truth out to the world. And my boss!

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 06 – 01

Working with with Tomas, in the InfoBureau fax/telex room.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 06 – 02

Soviet soldiers destroyed and burned down the Medininkai post in May. I was sent to the post on June 2 to check out why six Soviet APCs had arrived at the new post that replaced the burnt out one and took this pic.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 06 – 05

The barricades on the bridge to parliament and Independence Square. During the August Coup, these barricaddes, and hundreds of unarmed people, stopped the Soviet tanks from approaching.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 06 – 05

Now an employee of parliament, I pose alongside the parliament barricades.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 06 – 05

Barricades and Lithuanian guard behind the parliament building.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 06 – 05

Barricades at the parliament building in Vilnius. Sometimes I parked my motorcycle right here next to the barricade.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 06 – 15

Breakfast of champions in the Parliament cafe: Pepsi, farmer's cottage cheese (so good!), and a poppy seed pastry.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 07

Lithuanian parliament security Simas, hanging out on the roof of the fourth-floor InfoBureau lounge area.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 07 – 15

UCLA student Auris Jarašūnas arrived in the summer of 1991 to intern at the parliament. He is leaning against the sandbags at the side entrance. Auris, his brother, and I were lifelong friends, as their family lived only a few blocks from mine. His parents were prominent members of the Los Angeles diaspora, and his mother was my literature teacher at Lithuanian Saturday School.

Photo: Auris Jarašűnas

1991 – 07 – 23

Lithuanian-Americans began arriving in late July for the first Lithuanian "Olympics." I greeted my friends as they arrived at the dorms, and of course, they all wanted photos with my motorcycle. (Romas and Auris Jarašūnas on the back of the bike)

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 07 – 23

Giving Auris Jarašūnas a ride on my sweet motorcycle and greeting Lithuanian-Americans who arrived to Vilnius for the Lithuanian "Olympics."

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 07 – 23

Lithuanian-Americans began arriving in late July for the first Lithuanian "Olympics." I greeted my friends as they arrived at the dorms, and of course they all wanted photos with my motorcycle. (Romas Jarašūnas, Tomas Burokas, Daiva, Auris Jarašūnas)

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 04

Lithuanians lay flowers on the graves of the victims of the Medininkai massacre.

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 04

Thousands gathered at the Antakalnis Cemetery for the burial of the victims of the Medininkai murders

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 04

Thousands gathered at the Antakalnis Cemetery for the burial of the victims of the Medininkai murders

1991 – 08 – 04

Funeral process for the victims of the Medinikai massacre.

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 04

Funeral procession for the victims of the Medininkai massacre appoaches the Cathdral.

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 04

Funeral Procession for the victims of the Medininkai murders

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 04

Funeral in Vilnius for the victims of the Medininkai massacre.

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 04

Funeral Procession for the victims of the Medininkai murders

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 04

Funeral in Vilnius for the Medininkai victims

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 04

Thousands gathered at the Antakalnis Cemetery for the burial of the victims of the Medininkai murders

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 15

During January 13, 1991 Lithuanian defense volunteers didn't have weapons, so they grabbed whatever they could. They pulled out the stair railing's metal rods, and months later, throughout the parliament building, this was typical to see with little notes: be careful!

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 15

The Lenin statue as it stood for decades.

Photo: Auris Jarašűnas

1991 – 08 – 15

The front of the parliament building in the summer. People continued to serve as human shields.

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 15

The evolving barricades at parliament

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 15

The barricades during the summer

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 15

"For March 11 - We are grateful to Iceland"

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 15

The barricades with the InfoBureau windows above.

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 15

Ongoing protest sign at the ongoing hunger strike protest.

Photo: Auris Jarašūnas

1991 – 08 – 17

I needed break which was actually encouraged by my boss Rita at parliament since the political situation had intensified. So Siga took me as far away from Vilnius as possible, to Nida, Lithuania.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 08 – 17

Sightseeing with Siga in Nida, Lithuania.

Photo: Daiva K. Venckus

1991 – 08 – 18

The night before the August Coup, Siga and I enjoyed a decent meal at a restaurant in Nida.

Additional Story Galleries

Roots & Inheritence
Crossing the Iron Curtain
Freedom & Identity Reclaimed