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Juozas BulavasLithuanian lawyer, statesman and public figure
Date of Birth: 12.01.1909
Country:  Lithuania |
Content:
- Jonas Bulavas: Lithuanian Jurist, Statesman, and Public Figure
- Political Activism and Communist Party Membership
- Academic and Professional Career
- Rectorship of Vilnius University and Resistance to Russification
- Later Career and Political Involvement
- Recognition and Legacy
Jonas Bulavas: Lithuanian Jurist, Statesman, and Public Figure
Early Life and EducationJonas Bulavas was born into a prominent Lithuanian family in 1906. His brother, Jonas, was an agricultural scientist, and his son, Vladas, became the Director of the Martynas Mazvydas National Library of Lithuania. Bulavas graduated from Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas with degrees in law (1931) and economics (1932).
Political Activism and Communist Party Membership
Dissatisfied with the authoritarian rule of the Tautininkas party, Bulavas joined the Lithuanian Communist Party in 1931 and became involved in underground communist press activities. He later pursued further studies at the University of Berlin from 1932 to 1934. His disagreements with the dogmatic directives of the party led to his expulsion in 1938.
Academic and Professional Career
Upon his return to Lithuania, Bulavas served as Vice-Rector of Vilnius University from 1940 to 1941. During the German occupation (1942-1943), he taught in high schools in Utena and Rokiškis. After the war, he held various positions, including Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Committee of the Lithuanian SSR (1944-1945), Secretary-General of the Organizational Committee of the Academy of Sciences of the Lithuanian SSR (1945-1946), and Director of the Institute of Law (1946-1952).
Rectorship of Vilnius University and Resistance to Russification
In 1956, Bulavas was appointed Rector of Vilnius University. Under his leadership, he successfully resisted efforts to Russify the university and significantly increased the proportion of Lithuanian professors and staff. However, these actions were met with accusations of nationalism, and he was dismissed from his post in 1958 and expelled from the Communist Party in 1959.
Later Career and Political Involvement
Bulavas continued his scholarly work as Head of the Law Sector at the Institute of History from 1969 to 1973. He also participated in the Sąjūdis movement from 1988 to 1990 and contributed to drafting the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania. In 1989, he was appointed Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Lithuania, a role he held until 1991. He served as a member of the Seimas (parliament) from 1992 to 1995 as part of the Democratic Labour Party of Lithuania.
Recognition and Legacy
Bulavas was honored with the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas in 1994. He authored numerous monographs, primarily in state law, adhering to the ideological principles required by Soviet social sciences. Bulavas passed away in 1997, leaving behind a significant intellectual and political legacy as a prominent Lithuanian jurist, statesman, and public figure.
