[citation needed] In order to save face, the Soviet Union attempted to cover its annexation of the Baltic States with a cloak of legality.

Therefore, Moscow ordered the Paleckis government to carry out elections for a "People's Seimas" on 14–15 July.

Since regaining independence in 1990, Lithuania has maintained that since Smetona never resigned, Merkys and Paleckis had no legitimate claim to the presidency, rendering all acts leading up to the Soviet annexation ipso facto void.

[citation needed] Paleckis remained as head of state, a post which was named Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR, until 1967.

As a head of state, Paleckis personally signed orders authorizing the mass deportation of several figures[further explanation needed] from independent Lithuania.

With his agreement, Merkys and Minister of Foreign Affairs Juozas Urbšys were deported to the Russian SFSR.

During 1940–1953, some 132,000 Lithuanians were deported to remote areas of the USSR: Siberia, the Arctic Circle zone and Central Asia.