DISINFO: Unknown shooters killed 14 people in Vilnius, on January 13, 1991
SUMMARY
The tragic events of January 13, 1991 have yet to be investigated. Then, after fire was opened by unknown shooters, 14 people were killed.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Lithuania and events of January 13, 1991 in Vilnius.
On January 13th Lithuania commemorates the night in 1991 when Soviet forces attempted to crush the re-established independence, killing 14 civilians. Lithuania proclaimed independence in March 1990. Moscow tried to foil the secession with an economic blockade. When that proved ineffective, Soviet troops still garrisoned in the capital Vilnius attacked its TV broadcast tower and sole TV station, killing civilians standing as human shields there. The events of the January 13th, 1991, and the offences committed by the USSR troops have been extensively documented.
On the 27 of March, 2019 the regional court in Vilnius found Dmitry Yazov, former Soviet defence minister, and more than 60 other former Soviet officers guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity for their involvement in Soviet aggression in Lithuania on January 13, 1991. Read more here.