The Republic of Užupis & Its Strange Constitution

This blog post was updated on May 15, 2020.

 

Oddball? Poignant? An uniquely Lithuanian blend of both? The Constitution of the Republic of Užupis, listed in its entirety below, has got to be one of the quirkiest founding documents to ever be penned. The Republic of whatzit? Yeah, I had never heard of it either until recently. But Užupis is a district of Vilnius, Lithuania that, back in the 90s was declared by a group of resident artists, musicians and activists (however unofficially) as its own independent republic.

Plenty of folks might agree in principle that everyone has the right to hot water and heating in winter, but what about right to not be distinguished and famous? And is everyone entitled to love and take care of a cat? When you’re in Vilnius be sure to look for Constitution Wall in Užupis where the constitution is displayed in eight languages for all to read. Until then have a read of the constitution here:

·      Everyone has the right to live by the River Vilnelė, and the River Vilnelė has the right to flow by everyone.

·      Everyone has the right to hot water, heating in winter and a tiled roof.

·      Everyone has the right to die, but this is not an obligation.

·      Everyone has the right to make mistakes.

·      Everyone has the right to be unique.

·      Everyone has the right to love.

·      Everyone has the right not to be loved, but not necessarily.

·      Everyone has the right to be undistinguished and unknown.

·      Everyone has the right to be idle.

·      Everyone has the right to love and take care of a cat.

·      Everyone has the right to look after the dog until one of them dies.

·      A dog has the right to be a dog.

·      A cat is not obliged to love its owner, but must help in time of need.

·      Sometimes everyone has the right to be unaware of their duties.

·      Everyone has the right to be in doubt, but this is not an obligation.

·      Everyone has the right to be happy.

·      Everyone has the right to be unhappy.

·      Everyone has the right to be silent.

·      Everyone has the right to have faith.

·      No one has the right to violence.

·      Everyone has the right to appreciate their unimportance.

·      No one has the right to have a design on eternity.

·      Everyone has the right to understand.

·      Everyone has the right to understand nothing.

·      Everyone has the right to be of any nationality.

·      Everyone has the right to celebrate or not celebrate their birthday.

·      Everyone shall remember their name.

·      Everyone may share what they possess.

·      No one can share what they do not possess.

·      Everyone has the right to have brothers, sisters and parents.

·      Everyone may be independent.

·      Everyone is responsible for their freedom.

·      Everyone has the right to cry.

·      Everyone has the right to be misunderstood.

·      No one has the right to make another person guilty.

·      Everyone has the right to be individual.

·      Everyone has the right to have no rights.

·      Everyone has the right to not to be afraid.

·      Do not defeat.

·      Do not fight back.

·      Do not surrender.

 

 

Want to check out The Republic of Užupis and the rest of Vilnius? Book with Scandinavian Airlines by March 9th and fly at discounted rates!