In a recent televised discussion on Rūta Janutienė's 'OpTV', Lithuanian politician R. Zemaitaitis made controversial remarks labeling the signatories of the March 11 independence act as participants in a 'coup' rather than recognizing them as legitimate signers of Lithuania’s declaration of independence. Zemaitaitis's statements, coinciding with the eve of Lithuania's Independence Day, stirred up a significant political debate, questioning the historical narrative surrounding the events of 1990.

Zemaitaitis insisted that the movement should be referred to as an uprising or a coup, asserting that the individuals involved were major players in this upheaval against the Soviet Union. His remarks were met with pushback during the live discussion, as host Janutienė sought to clarify that the independence act was signed legally and democratically. Nevertheless, Zemaitaitis persisted in framing the events within a context of revolt, further complicating the understanding of Lithuania's path to independence.

The backlash to Zemaitaitis's comments came swiftly from various political figures, including the original signers themselves, opposition leaders, and the Speaker of the Seimas, Juozas Olekas. This incident underscores ongoing tensions in Lithuania regarding the interpretation of its independence history and the political narratives surrounding it, highlighting how historical perspectives can still significantly influence current political discourse in the country.