List of honorary citizens of Vilnius explained

The honorary citizenship of the city of Vilnius, Lithuania has been awarded to 22 people since Lithuania regained independence in 1990.

Honorary citizens of Vilnius

Date awarded NameOccupationAwarded for[1]
127 February 1996 Ronald Reagan
(1911–2004)
Former President of the United StatesFor his contribution to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and his support of the independence of the Baltic states. For example, he proclaimed the Baltic Freedom Day in 1982.
2Jón Baldvin Hannibalsson
(1939–)
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs of IcelandFor his support of the independence of the Baltic states. Iceland became the first country to recognize Lithuania's independence on 12 February 1991.
311 February 2000Kazimieras Vasiliauskas
(1922–2001)
Lithuanian Roman Catholic priest, monsignorFor moral authority and guidance to Lithuanian Catholics. He was the first parson of Vilnius Cathedral when it was returned to the congregation in 1989.
426 July 2000Mstislav Rostropovich
(1927–2007)
Soviet and Russian cellist and conductorFor his support of the independence of Lithuania. He toured Spain with the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra right after the January Events in Vilnius and promoted the cause of Lithuania's independence in the Spanish press.[2]
514 March 2001Dennis Hastert
(1942–)
Former Speaker of the United States House of RepresentativesFor his support of Lithuania's membership in NATO
625 July 2001Czesław Miłosz
(1911–2004)
Polish-American poet, winner of the 1980 Nobel Prize in Literature[3] For his support of the independence of Lithuania. He co-published short piece Poets for Lithuania in The New York Times on 15 January 1991.
7Justinas Marcinkevičius
(1930–2011)
Lithuanian poet and playwrightFor his literary works
815 October 2003Zbigniew Brzezinski
(1928–2017)
Former United States National Security AdvisorFor his support of the independence of Lithuania and membership in NATO
926 April 2006Jonas Kubilius
(1921–2011)
Professor, former rector of Vilnius UniversityFor his scientific work and leadership of the university for almost 33 years
106 June 2012Algirdas Kaušpėdas
(1953–)
Lithuanian architect, founder of rock band AntisFor his work towards the independence of Lithuania
113 April 2013Tomas Venclova
(1937–)
Lithuanian poet[4] For publication of three books about Vilnius (a guide book in 2001, a biographical dictionary of famous Vilnians in 2006, and a history book through personal experiences in 2011)
128 July 2013Shimon Peres
(1923–2016)
Former President of Israel and winner of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize.[5] For his efforts in fostering the Israel–Lithuania relations
1321 April 2015Algirdas Brazauskas
(1932–2010)
Former President and Prime Minister of Lithuania[6]
143 February 2016Algimantas Nasvytis
(1928–2018)
Lithuanian architect.[7] For his architectural work in the city
1528 April 2017Samuel Bak
(1933 -)
American painter[8] For his artistic works. He gifted 125 paintings to Vilnius, where he lived until the end of World War II
1630 August 2018George W. Bush
(1946 -)
Former President of the United States[9] For his visit to Vilnius on 22 November 2002 right after the 2002 Prague summit and his support for the enlargement of NATO
17–189 January 2019Chemist, founder of the biotechnology company FermentasFor founding the MO Museum
1922 January 2020Julius Sasnauskas
(1959–)
Roman Catholic priest, anti-Soviet dissidentFor his books and articles about Vilnius
2017 February 2021Vytautas Landsbergis
(1932–)
Lithuanian politician, leader of pro-independence SąjūdisFor his work towards the independence of Lithuania
212 February 2022Valdas Adamkus
(1926–)
Former President of LithuaniaFor his impact on integration into the European Union and NATO
2222 February 2023Kristina Sabaliauskaitė
(1974–)
Lithuanian author[10] For her literary works about 16th-18th century Vilnius

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Vilniaus miesto garbės piliečiai . Vilnius City Municipality . lt . 7 March 2021 .
  2. Web site: Mstislavas Rostropovičius . Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra . lt . 7 March 2021 .
  3. Albert . Cizauskas . Profiles: a Noble Prize Winner's Views on Lithuania . 15 September 2001 . 10 February 2021 . Draugas . en-US.
  4. Web site: 3 April 2013 . Venclova became a honorary citizen of Vilnius. 10 February 2021 . . Delfi.pl . Justyna . Kaczmarek . en-US.
  5. Web site: . Vilnius municipality to consider honorary citizenship for Israel's president . 8 July 2013 . . 10 February 2021.
  6. Web site: . 16 April 2015 . Lithuania's late president Brazauskas named honorary citizen of Vilnius. 10 February 2021. The Lithuania Tribune. en-GB.
  7. Web site: . 3 February 2016 . Architect Nasvytis named honorary citizen of Vilnius. 10 February 2021. The Lithuania Tribune. en-GB.
  8. Web site: Vilnius City Council Names Samuel Bak Honorary Citizen . Lithuanian Jewish Community . 28 April 2017 . 10 February 2021.
  9. Web site: George W. Bush named honorary citizen of Vilnius . Maxime . Schlee . 30 August 2018 . . 10 February 2021.
  10. News: Vilnius Awards Honorary Citizen Title to Internationally Renowned Author Kristina Sabaliauskaitė . 31 May 2023 . Go Vilnius . 22 February 2023.