Freedom Defenders Day is observed in Lithuania on January 13. This day commemorates the events of January 13, 1991, when Soviet troops attacked the Vilnius TV Tower, resulting in the deaths of 14 civilians and injuries to 600 others as Lithuania sought to assert its independence from the Soviet Union, declared on March 11, 1990. In remembrance, candles are lit at schools across the country, and various ceremonies take place, including a running event called “Road of Life and Death.” This event starts at the Antakalnis cemetery, where participants lay wreaths on the graves of the Defenders of Freedom, and culminates at the Vilnius TV Tower, marked by a simultaneous discharge of missiles. The investigation into the attack remains unresolved, with six individuals condemned and 23 still under suspicion.