Algirdas Brazauskas
Overview
 
Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas was the first President of a newly independent post-Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

 Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...

 from 1993 to 1998 and Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Lithuania
The Prime Minister of Lithuania is the head of the executive arm of Lithuania's government, and is chosen by the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas. The modern office of Prime Minister was established in 1990, although the official title was "Chairperson of the Council of Ministers" until 25...

 from 2001 to 2006.

He also served as head of the Lithuanian Communist Party that broke with Moscow, an act which arguably helped bring about the demise of the Soviet Union.
Brazauskas was born in Rokiškis, Lithuania. He finished Kaisiadoriai High School in 1952 and graduated from Kaunas Polytechnic Institute in 1956 with a degree in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...

.
Quotations

Kol kabės šitas skuduras, aš nekalbėsiu.

Translation: While this rag is hanging, I will not speak.

Į savarankiškos Lietuvos valstybės idėją aš žiuriu neigiamai. Aš manau, kad tai nerealu.

Translation: I look at the idea of an independent Lithuania negatively. I think that it is unreal.

Aš nesu Dievas, aš tik premjeras.

Translation: I am not God, I am only the Prime Minister.

 
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