Lithuanian book smugglers

Opposing imperial Russian authorities' efforts to replace the traditional Latin orthography with Cyrillic, and transporting printed matter from as far away as the United States to do so, the book smugglers became a symbol of Lithuanians' resistance to Russification.

After the Polish-Lithuanian insurrection of 1863, the Russian Imperial government intensified its efforts to Russify the Lithuanian population and alienate it from its historic roots, including the Roman Catholic faith, which had become widespread during the years of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

When caught, the book smugglers were punished by fines, banishment, and exile, including deportation to Siberia.

[citation needed] In 1867, Motiejus Valančius, the Bishop of Samogitia, began to covertly organize and finance this printing abroad and sponsored the distribution of Lithuanian-language books within Lithuania.

[1] In 1870, his organization was uncovered with the help of Prussian authorities, and five priests and two book smugglers were exiled to remote areas of Russia.

A number of secret organizations distributed the books throughout Lithuania, including Sietynas [lt], Atgaja, Teisybė, Prievarta, Aušrinė, Atžala, Lizdas, Akstinas, Spindulys, Svirplys, Žiburėlis, Žvaigždė, and Kūdikis.

In 1905, soon after the ban was lifted, one of the book smugglers, Juozas Masiulis [lt], opened his own bookstore in Panevėžys.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, book smugglers were honored in Lithuania with museums, monuments, and street names.