E. Bičkauskas: In 1990, Moscow had concentrated some of the world’s best diplomatic talent

SUMMARY

Egidijus Bičkauskas — the first official representative of the Republic of Lithuania to the Soviet Union and later to Russia — recalls that while Moscow was well aware of Lithuania’s actions, they did not expect him to hand over the Act of Independence to Mikhail Gorbachev publicly, in the middle of a session.
He notes that until the failed coup of August 19, 1991, the Soviet leadership still believed it could keep the situation under control. After the coup, it became clear they could no longer hold back the Baltic states.
In his conversation with Artūras Jonkus, Bičkauskas also recounted his arrival in Moscow in April 1990: the Lithuanian mission refused to give up the head’s office for him, Moscow cut off the telephones, and as a result, Gorbachev had to call the mission’s guesthouse and ask the administrator to help him reach Lithuania’s representative.

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