The Republic of Užupis is a neighborhood of Vilnius separated from the Old Town by the Vilnia River and for this reason it is named Užupis that means “on the other side of the river” in Lithuanian language.
Užupis could be compared to Monmartre in Paris or Christiania in Copenhagen as is a “republic” of artists.
It has its own anthem, constitution, president, bishop, two churches, Bernardine Cemetery the oldest one in Vilnius, and a guardian (the bronze angel of Užupis). Indipendence Day is annually celebrated on April 1.
In 1995, a group of Lithuanian intellectuals and artists erected a statue of Frank Zappa in Vilnius. A couple of year later the bohemian quarter declared itself an independent Republic. Shortly afterwards, four national flags were designed (one for each season) and a constitution was written, which included the articles, ‘People have the right to be happy’ coupled with ‘People have the right to be unhappy’.
The constitution of the Republic of Užupis is displayed on a wall at the beginning of Paupio Street.
1. Everyone has the right to live by the River Vilnelė, and the River Vilnelė has the right to flow by everyone.
2. Everyone has the right to hot water, heating in winter and a tiled roof.
3. Everyone has the right to die, but this is not an obligation.
4. Everyone has the right to make mistakes.
5. Everyone has the right to be unique.
6. Everyone has the right to love.
7. Everyone has the right not to be loved, but not necessarily.
8. Everyone has the right to be undistinguished and unknown.
9. Everyone has the right to idle.
10. Everyone has the right to love and take care of the cat.
11. Everyone has the right to look after the dog until one of them dies.
12. A dog has the right to be a dog.
13. A cat is not obliged to love its owner, but must help in time of need.
14. Sometimes everyone has the right to be unaware of their duties.
15. Everyone has the right to be in doubt, but this is not an obligation.
16. Everyone has the right to be happy.
17. Everyone has the right to be unhappy.
18. Everyone has the right to be silent.
19. Everyone has the right to have faith.
20. No one has the right to violence.
21. Everyone has the right to appreciate their unimportance. [In Lithuanian this reads Everyone has the right to realize his negligibility and magnificence.]
22. No one has the right to have a design on eternity.
23. Everyone has the right to understand.
24. Everyone has the right to understand nothing.
25. Everyone has the right to be of any nationality.
26. Everyone has the right to celebrate or not celebrate their birthday.
27. Everyone shall remember their name.
28. Everyone may share what they possess.
29. No one can share what they do not possess.
30. Everyone has the right to have brothers, sisters and parents.
31. Everyone may be independent.
32. Everyone is responsible for their freedom.
33. Everyone has the right to cry.
34. Everyone has the right to be misunderstood.
35. No one has the right to make another person guilty.
36. Everyone has the right to be individual.
37. Everyone has the right to have no rights.
38. Everyone has the right to not to be afraid.
39. Do not defeat.
40. Do not fight back.
41. Do not surrender.
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