Užupio res publika

Užupis is a city quarter of Vilnius, Lithuania located in the east of the city center and surrounded by the river Vilnia (Užupis means ‘behind the river’). It was the place were the Jewish community was living that was extinguished during Holocaust. In the 1990s it became the place where many artists live and it was often compared to Montmartre at Paris, France.

As an art project the republic of Užupis (Užupio res publika) was founded in 1997 and has a parliament (in a coffee bar), a president, a constitution and a flag. The army (consisting of 12 men) was given up as the republic wants to be free of violence. The constitution can be found in 23 languages documented on a wall in Paupio Gatve street:

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 idle.
Everyone has the right to love and take care of the 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.

– Constitution of Užupio res publika

The republic has 200 embassadors and honorary citizens around the world like the Dalai Lama who visited the republic in 2013. In the year 2018 even the pope blessed the constitution. Independence day is the 1st of April and on this day only border controls exist and an own currency is used. A nice project!

Užupio res publika
Republic of Užupis
Vilnius
Lithuania