Ringaudas Songaila, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Ringaudas Songaila

Soviet Lithuanian politician

Date of Birth: 20-Apr-1929

Place of Birth: Klaipėda, Klaipėda County, Lithuania

Date of Death: 25-Jun-2019

Profession: politician

Nationality: Lithuania

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Ringaudas Bronislovas Songaila (20 April 1929 – 25 June 2019) was an official of the Lithuanian SSR nomenclatura. Songaila was born in Klaipeda.
He graduated from a veterinary school and within five years became a deputy of the Minister of Agriculture.
In 1962, at the age of 33, he became Minister of Production of Agricultural Products and Resources.
Songaila was a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Lithuania (1962–1981), Chairman of the Council of Ministers (1981–1985; equivalent to Prime Minister), Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR (1985–1987; de jure head of state), and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Lithuania (December 1987 – October 1988; de facto head of state).
He was described as a "bland" and indecisive but loyal communist who stayed away from political intrigues and showed interest only in agricultural matters.
When Songaila ordered KGB to forcibly disperse a rally of the radical pro-independence Lithuanian Liberty League on 28 September 1988, he was forced to resign.
He was replaced by Algirdas Brazauskas, who supported Sajudis movement and Lithuania's declaration of independence in March 1990.
After the resignation, Songaila retired from public life and died on 25 June 2019 at the age of 90.
He was buried in the Antakalnis Cemetery in Vilnius.