Seimas Building, formerly Supreme Council. Gedimino Avenue 53

On January 8, a Communist Party-backed organisation, Yedinstvo (Unity), organised a rally outside the Supreme Council in protest against the announced rise in food prices.

The crowd stormed the central entrance to the building, but could not penetrate inside. Vytautas Landsbergis, the chairman of the Supreme Council, addressed the public on national radio and television, the LRT, inviting people to come to the building and defend their government.

After the events near the TV tower and the Radio and Television Committee, huge crowds gathered to defend the Supreme Council. People were coming from across the country, including children.

Hundreds of volunteers were bringing food and warm clothes, blankets. Bonfires were set alight, people were singing and praying.

Everyone was certain that, after the storming of the TV tower, the parliament would be next. Foreign journalists were also waiting to report. Soviet military vehicles approached the Supreme Council several times, but did not dare attack the crowd.