Ringaudas Bronislovas Songaila (20 April 1929[1] – 25[citation needed] June 2019)[2] was an official of the Lithuanian SSR nomenclatura. In 1987–1988, he was the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Lithuania or the de facto head of state.
Ringaudas Songaila | |
|---|---|
 Songaila in 1983 | |
| First Secretary of the Communist Party of Lithuania | |
| In office 1 December 1987 – 19 October 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Petras Griškevičius |
| Succeeded by | Algirdas Brazauskas |
| Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR | |
| In office 24 December 1975 – 16 January 1981 | |
| Preceded by | Antanas Barkauskas |
| Succeeded by | Lionginas Šepetys |
| Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Lithuanian SSR | |
| In office 16 January 1981 – 18 November 1985 | |
| Preceded by | Juozas Maniušis |
| Succeeded by | Vytautas Sakalauskas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 April 1929 Klaipėda, Lithuania |
| Died | 25 June 2019 (aged 90)[citation needed] Trakai, Lithuania[citation needed] |
| Political party | Communist Party of Lithuania |
| Occupation | veterinarian politician |
Biography
editSongaila was born in Klaipėda. He graduated from a veterinary school and within five years became a deputy of the Minister of Agriculture. In 1962, at the age of 33, he became Minister of Production of Agricultural Products and Resources.[2] In agriculture, he worked on increasing the size of kolkhozs (collective farms), increasing centralization and specialization of agricultural production, elimination of khutors (single homesteads), and implementation of land improvements.[3] Songaila was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania (1962–1981), Chairman of the Council of Ministers (1981–1985; equivalent to Prime Minister), Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR (1985–1987; de jure head of state),[4] and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Lithuania (December 1987 – October 1988; de facto head of state).[2]
He was described as a "bland" and indecisive but loyal communist who stayed away from political intrigues and showed interest only in agricultural matters.[2] When Songaila ordered KGB and Internal Troops to forcibly disperse a rally of the radical pro-independence Lithuanian Liberty League on 28 September 1988, he was forced to resign one month later.[5] He was replaced by Algirdas Brazauskas, who supported Sąjūdis movement and Lithuania's declaration of independence in March 1990.
After the resignation, Songaila retired from public life and died on 25[citation needed] June 2019 at the age of 90.[2] He was buried in the Antakalnis Cemetery in Vilnius.[6]
References
edit- ^ Sužiedėlis, Saulius (2011). Historical Dictionary of Lithuania. Historical dictionaries of Europe. Vol. 80. Scarecrow Press. p. 280. ISBN 978-0-8108-4914-3.
- ^ a b c d e Vaitelė, Tomas (14 July 2019). "Anapilin iškeliavusio sovietinės Lietuvos vadovo klystkeliai: po "bananų baliaus" tapo visų užmiršta praeities šmėkla" (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- ^ "Ringaudas Bronislovas Songaila". Visuotinė lietuvių enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Mokslo ir enciklopedijų leidybos centras. 24 January 2020 [2012].
- ^ Zinkus, Jonas; et al., eds. (1985–1988). "Songaila, Ringaudas". Tarybų Lietuvos enciklopedija (in Lithuanian). Vol. 4. Vilnius: Vyriausioji enciklopedijų redakcija. p. 72. LCCN 86232954.
- ^ Beissinger, Mark R. (2002). Nationalist mobilization and the collapse of the Soviet State. Cambridge University Press. p. 175. ISBN 978-0-521-00148-9.
- ^ Jockus, Arvydas (28 June 2019). "Mirė "bananų baliaus" organizatorius R.Songaila" (in Lithuanian). Alfa.lt via Vakarų ekspresas. Retrieved 15 July 2019.