Mykolas Burokevičius, Lithuanian politician, Died at 88

  Politician

Mykolas Burokevičius was born on October 7, 1927, and died on January 20, 2016.
He was a communist political leader in Lithuania.
Following the separation of the Communist Party of Lithuania to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), he established alternative pro-CPSU Communist Party of Lithuania in early 1990 and led it as the First Secretary of Central Committee until its ban in 1991.
Mykolas was the only Lithuanian to serve in the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee and did so from 1990 until its ban in 1991.
And then after the Communist Party of Lithuania voted to separate from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in December 1989, Mykolas became the Secretary General of the Moscow-backed communist party and on March 4, 1990 he gained the title of the First Secretary.
Mykolas party’s political programme stated that one of its goals was to maintain Lithuania as part of the USSR.
No other member of Burokevičius’ party were elected during the Supreme Council of Lithuania elections on 24 February 1990.
The Supreme Council declared reinstantment of Lithuania’s independence during its first session in March.
The Soviet Army attack on the Vilnius TV tower and station on January 13, 1991 followed, in which 14 people were killed.
In this period of 11 to 19 January 1991, the pro-CPSU party also made five more public declarations urging the forceful overthrow of the Government and other authorities of independent Lithuania.
Mykolas Burokevičius took part preparing those declarations.
Mykolas Burokevičius passed away at 88yrs old.