Fact check: Did Gorbachev send tanks to Lithuania?

1. Summary of the results

1. Summary of the results:

Soviet tanks did enter Lithuania in two major waves - first in March 1990 (approximately 100 tanks and 1,500 soldiers) and then again in January 1991, when 14 civilians were killed and hundreds were injured. While Gorbachev was the Soviet Union's leader and supreme commander of armed forces during these events, historical records do not conclusively show whether he personally issued the orders for military action.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints:

• The original question oversimplifies a complex historical event that involved multiple stages of escalation
• Gorbachev initially attempted economic pressure through blockades before military action occurred
• Some historians argue Gorbachev was constrained by "reactionaries" within the Soviet system who pushed for military intervention
• Western leaders at the time were notably cautious about criticizing Gorbachev, as they saw him as crucial for managing the USSR's peaceful dissolution
• Lithuanian officials like Česlovas Juršėnas argue that even if Gorbachev didn't directly order the action, he bears responsibility for not preventing or stopping it

3. Potential misinformation/bias:

The question's framing suggests a simple yes/no answer to what was actually a complex chain of events involving multiple decision-makers within the Soviet system. This oversimplification benefits both:

• Those who want to portray Gorbachev as a straightforward villain (particularly current Lithuanian government officials who have called him "a criminal")
• Those who want to absolve Gorbachev of responsibility by focusing solely on whether he personally gave the order (benefiting those who want to preserve his legacy as a reformer)