Eastern Vilnius region

Eastern Vilnius region is the part of territory of Vilnius region which was not returned to Lithuania after Second World War . In the interwar period, Vilnius region at first was controlled by Lithuania, then by Poland, but still claimed by Lithuania. In 1939, Soviet Union took over the region, but, despite of so far considering it as part of Lithuania, actually given Lithuania only 1/5 of Vilnius region, and even that only in exchange for stationing of troops in Lithuanian territory. At first Lithuania did not want to agree to that, but had to, because Russians said that troops would enter Lithuania anyway. In 1940, when all Lithuania was annexed by Russians, Lithuanian SSR was formed, and some more territories of Vilnius region were attached to it, mostly territories with Lithuanian majority of population. However, greatest part of historical Vilnius region was attached to Belorussian SSR instead. This is the Eastern Vilnius region. Lithuanians there, who made a majority at certain places of Eastern Vilnius region, were russianised: there was no Lithuanian language in any of the schools, in censuses these people were forced to sign as either Poles, Russians or Belorussians. This way now only some old people speak Lithuanian in the region. After collapse of Soviet Union, Eastern Vilnius region remained part of Belarus. Currently there is no dispute over it, as Lithuania recognised the existing boundary, this way effectively ceding Eastern Vilnius region to Belarus. For those few Lithuanians still remaining in the region it is easier to aquire Lithuanian citizenship and move to Lithuania.

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Situation was similar in Western Vilnius region , which was part of Lithuania SSR (attached to it by Russians in 1939 and 1940), but Soviets tried to polonize it (disputed), so currently even in some territories formerly with Lithuanian majority there is Polish majority. That was done to weaken position of Lithuanians, who were generally seen as unloyal.

Later, when Lithuanians were seeking their independence, Russians thrown in an idea of Polish autonomy in Western Vilnius region , and this attributed to the fact that all Polish-majority areas voted for Soviet Communist party candidates.

In Suwalki region, in the interwar claimed by Lithuania, which became part of Poland, situation was better however, and while there was some discrimination against Lithuanians, this was later removed, and now there are Lithuanian schools as well as towns with Lithuanian majority there.

Also look:

• Occupied territories of Baltic States