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Republic of Užupis (Lithuania)

Last modified: 2024-04-06 by zachary harden
Keywords: lithuania | vilnius | užupis |
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Blue/Winter flag
image by Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024



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Overview

Užupis is a neighborhood in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, largely located in Vilnius' old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Užupis means "on the other side of the river" in the Lithuanian language and refers to the Vilnia River. The name Vilnius was derived from the Vilnia. The district has been popular with artists for some time, and has been compared to Montmartre in Paris due to its bohemian atmosphere. The district houses art galleries, artists' workshops, and popular cafés. On April Fools Day, 1997, the district declared itself an independent republic (The Republic of Užupis), replete with an army of 12 personnel.
Užupis is quite small and isolated, being only about 148 acres (0.60 km2) in size. On one side it is separated from the Old Town by the Vilnia River, on the other there are steep hills, and on the third there is an industrial area built under the Soviet rule. The first bridges across the river were built in the 16th century, at which time the district's inhabitants were mostly Jewish.
In 1997, the residents of the area declared a Republic of Užupis, with its own flag, currency, president, constitution, and an army (numbering approximately 17 men). They celebrate this independence annually on Užupis Day, which falls on April 1st. Artistic endeavours are the main preoccupation of the Republic and indeed the current President of the Republic of Užupis, Romas Lileikis, is himself a poet, musician, and film director. The first major initiative undertaken by the Republic after its foundation was to build a monument for Frank Zappa, in Vilnius.
Artūras Zuokas, a former mayor of Vilnius, lives in Užupis and frequently takes part in the Republic's events.
It is unclear whether the statehood of the Republic, recognized by no government, is intended to be serious, tongue-in-cheek, or a combination of both. The decision to place Užupis Day on April 1 (April Fools' Day) may not be coincidental.
The Constitution of the Republic of Užupis:
Everyone has the right to live by the River Vilnelė, while the River Vilnelė has the right to flow by everyone.
Everyone has the right to hot water, heating in winter and a tiled roof.
Everyone has the right to die, but it is not a duty.
Everyone has the right to make mistakes.
Everyone has the right to individuality.
Everyone has the right to love.
Everyone has the right to be not loved, but not necessarily.
Everyone has the right not to be distinguished and famous.
Everyone has the right to be idle.
Everyone has the right to love and take care of a cat.
Everyone has the right to look after a dog till one or the other dies.
A dog has the right to be a dog.
A cat is not obliged to love its master, but it must help him in difficult times.
Everyone has the right to sometimes be unaware of his duties.
Everyone has the right to be in doubt, but this is not a duty.
Everyone has the right to be happy.
Everyone has the right to be unhappy.
Everyone has the right to be silent.
Everyone has the right to have faith.
No one has the right to violence.
Everyone has the right to realize his negligibility and magnificence.
Everyone has the right to encroach upon eternity.
Everyone has the right to understand.
Everyone has the right to understand nothing.
Everyone has the right to be of various nationalities.
Everyone has the right to celebrate or not to celebrate his birthday.
Everyone shall remember his name.
Everyone may share what he possesses.
No-one can share what he does not possess.
Everyone has the right to have brothers, sisters and parents.
Everyone is capable of independence.
Everyone is responsible for his freedom.
Everyone has the right to cry.
Everyone has the right to be misunderstood.
No-one has the right to make another person guilty.
Everyone has the right to be personal.
Everyone has the right to have no rights.
Everyone has the right to not be afraid.
Do not defeat.
Do not fight back.
Do not surrender.

The Flag of the Republic of Užupis:
The Republic of Užupis has four official national flags. They are always white. In the center of the cloth with a colored logo is shown. The logo is blue or red or yellow or green. Really dominated but in the streets of Vilnius, the blue version of the flag.

Sources: www.fotobankas.lt/.../id/133747/search/Užupis photo)
http://www.spiegel.de/reise/staedte/0,1518,329608,00.html (in German)
Jens Pattke, 23 August 2013


Seasonal Flag

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024
Green/Spring version

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024
Yellow/Summer version

image by Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024
Red/Autumn version

The flags with the logo in blue, green, yellow and red are intended for use in winter, spring, summer and autumn, respectively. (Source) While the winter flag may be used permanently during the year, it is not uncommon to use all flags out of their seasons, including joint use of two or more flags. (Source) The flag ratio is 10:17; the logo is set off-center, closer to the hoist and only slightly closer to the top. When the flag is attached to the wall, the thumb must always point to the top. When the flag is flown from a staff, the thumb is pointing to the fly. (Source)
Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024

Blue/Winter flag
image by Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024

The logo has two variants, the charge upon the hand being either a disc or a ring of unequal width. Both variants appear on all the flags, although the one with the disc seems to be much more used; it is not uncommon to see flags with both variants of the logo used jointly, too. (Source)
Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024


Ceremonial Flag

Blue/Winter flag
image by Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024

As part of the celebration of the Independence Day, the most honored Užupean of the year cuts the hole in the flag which is hoisted at the main flagstaff; the hole occupies the area of the disc or within the outer diameter of the ring upon the hand palm; this symbolizes the notion that Užupis cannot be appropriated by anyone [1, 2]. Only blue flags have been documented to undergo this ritual [1, 2, 13, 14].
Tomislav Todorovic, 02 April 2024


Coat of Arms

image located by Zachary Harden, 2 April 2024


"Independent Republic of Užupis"