REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
LAW
ON THE NATIONAL FLAG AND OTHER FLAGS
26 June 1991 No I-1497
Vilnius
(As last amended on 12 January 2018 – No XIII-1020)
CHAPTER ONE
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1. Purpose of the Law
1. This Law shall regulate the national flag of Lithuania, other flags, their descriptions, principles and procedure of official use in the Republic of Lithuania, liability for violations of the procedure for displaying flags or desecration of flags, flag manufacturing and maintenance.
2. The national flag of Lithuania, the historical (armorial) national flag of Lithuania, flags of foreign states, the flag of the European Union, flags of international public organisations, flags of other international organisations, the flag of the President of the Republic, flags of counties and municipalities, standards, other flags, table and car flags (hereinafter referred to as “flags”) may be officially used in the Republic of Lithuania.
3. The standard of the national flag of Lithuania may not be used as the heraldic basis for other flags. Other flags may not be identical to the national flag of Lithuania.
4. Except for the President of the Republic, state institutions may not have their own flags. The provisions of this Law shall apply to the flag of the President of the Republic to the extent that they are not subject to the regulation by other laws.
5. Flag standards, images may not contain the symbols or other signs which are related to the spread of national, racial, religious, social or any other discord, incitement of hatred, as well as come into conflict with morals or public policy, public morality standards.
Article 2. Definitions
1. “National flag of Lithuania” means an official emblem of the State of Lithuania, the national flag – a piece of cloth consisting of three equal horizontal coloured stripes: arranged with the yellow above, the green in the middle, and the red below.
2. “Historical national (armorial) flag of Lithuania” (hereinafter referred to as “the historical national flag of Lithuania”) means a historical symbol of the State of Lithuania, a piece of cloth featuring a red field with a white (silver) armoured knight on a white (silver) horse holding in his right hand a white (silver) sword above his head. A blue shield hangs on the left shoulder of the knight with a double yellow (gold) cross on it. The horse saddle, horsecloth, bridle, and belts are blue. The hilt of the sword, the curb bits of the bridle, the stirrup and the spur, the metal fastenings of the sheath and the trapping, as well as the horseshoes are yellow (gold).
3. “Flag of a foreign state” means a national flag of a foreign state, adopted or approved in the manner prescribed by the legal acts of that state.
4. “Flag of the European Union” means the flag of the European Union adopted or approved in the manner prescribed by the legal acts of the European Union.
5. “Flag of an international public organisation” means a flag of an international public organisation adopted or approved in the manner prescribed by the legal acts of the bodies of that organisation.
6. “Flag of a county” means an object of the insignia of a county approved by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania or an institution authorised by it after consultation with the Lithuanian Heraldry Commission.
7. “Flag of a municipality” means an object of the insignia of a municipality approved by the municipal council after consultation with the Lithuanian Heraldry Commission.
8. “Standard” means an object of the insignia of a statutory institution, military unit or municipal ward, approved, after consultation with the Lithuanian Heraldry Commission, in the manner prescribed by the legal acts regulating their activities.
9. “Other flags” means an object of the insignia of public and private legal persons, approved or adopted, after consultation with the Lithuanian Heraldry Commission, in the manner prescribed by the legal acts regulating their activities.
10. “Table flag” means a small national flag of Lithuania, a small flag of a foreign state, a small flag of the European Union or an international public organisation, conforming to the standard pattern of the colours and the proportions of the national flag, the flag of the European Union or the flag of international public organisation, and attached to the staff with a stand.
11. “Car flag” means a small national flag of Lithuania, a small flag of a foreign state, a small flag of the European Union or an international public organisation, conforming to the standard pattern of the colours and the proportions of the national flag, the flag of the European Union or the flag of international public organisation, and displayed from a staff mounted on the car.
12. “Manufacturer” means a natural person and a legal person or any other organisation of the Republic of Lithuania and a foreign state.
13. “National holidays” means the public holidays related to the statehood of Lithuania which are the dates of the events that had an exceptional significance for the establishment and independence of the State of Lithuania: February 16 – Day of Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania, March 11 – Day of Re-establishment of Lithuania's Independence, July 6 – Day of the State (Coronation of King Mindaugas).
Article 3. Colouring and Proportions of the Flags
1. The national flag of Lithuania, the historical national flag of Lithuania, other flags as well as images of the flags must always correspond to the standard image of the colours (in the Pantone Matching System) and the proportions of these flags.
2. The ratio of the width of the national flag of Lithuania and the historical national flag of Lithuania to the length of the said flags must be 3:5.
3. Usually when displayed near, over or on the buildings the national flag of Lithuania shall be 1 meter in width and 1.7 meters in length, and the historic national flag of Lithuania shall be 1 meter in width and 1.7 meters in length.
Article 4. Principles of the Usage of Flags
2. Flags must meet the requirements laid down in Article 3 of this Law, must not be soiled or faded.
3. When displayed the national flag of Lithuania must take precedence over all other flags pursuant to the principles of heraldry.
4. When the national flag of Lithuania is hoisted vertically, the yellow stripe must be on the heraldic right, the green stripe – in the middle and the red stripe – on the left.
5. Flags may be displayed near the buildings (on flagpoles installed in front of the building), over or on the buildings, in squares, on ships, in conference halls, offices or places of official ceremonies, from a car.
6. If several flags are raised, they must be flown at the same height, of the same possible size, and in the following order of precedence:
Article 5. Places and Occasions for Hoisting the National Flag of Lithuania
1. The national flag of Lithuania shall be hoisted on a 24-hour basis near, over and on the following buildings:
10) border inspection posts – in the places established under a resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania in the international airports, seaports and river (inland waterway) ports open for international shipping, railway stations or by the roads, in which the inspection is carried on by the State Border Guard Service, customs offices or other state institutions authorised for this purpose.
Valid as of 30 April 2018:
1. The national flag of Lithuania shall be hoisted on a 24-hour basis near, over and on the following buildings:
6) the Prosecutor General’s Office and territorial prosecutor’s offices of the Republic of Lithuania;
12) border inspection posts – in the places established under a resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania in the international airports, seaports and river (inland waterway) ports open for international shipping, railway stations or by the roads, in which the inspection is carried on by the State Border Guard Service under the Ministry of the Interior, customs offices or other state institutions authorised for this purpose.
2. On national holidays the national flag of Lithuania shall be hoisted near, over or on the following buildings: by other state and municipal institutions and establishments, other establishments, enterprises and organisations irrespective of the forms of ownership thereof, as well as near residential buildings.
3. The national flag of Lithuania shall be also hoisted:
1) near, over or on diplomatic missions, consular posts of the Republic of Lithuania and the divisions of such missions and posts, as well as near, over or on buildings of the special missions located in foreign states – pursuant to international law provisions, diplomatic protocol requirements and traditions of a host country;
2) near, over or on buildings of state schools of higher education and post-secondary schools as well as state and municipal general education schools – usually the said flag shall be hoisted at the beginning of a school year and lowered at the end of the school year;
3) on the territories of independent military units – in accordance with the procedure established by the Minister of National Defence;
4. Natural and legal persons may also at their own discretion use (hoist, display) the national flag and (or) small flags of Lithuania (except for the cases provided for in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article) in pursuance of the principles of the use of flags and only in a manner not subjecting these flags to indignity.
5. The national flag of Lithuania may be hoisted:
1) in places of international public events with other flags – in compliance with international protocol requirements;
2) in sports arenas – during championships and competitions of the Republic of Lithuania, international sports tournaments in which the national teams of Lithuania take part, awarding ceremonies of the international tournament winners who represent sports teams of the Republic of Lithuania;
6. The national flag of Lithuania shall be displayed on a 24-hour basis in:
5) the offices of the Chairman of the Seimas and the Deputy Chairmen of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania;
6) the office of the residence of the President of the Republic as well as on other premises of the residence of the President of the Republic designated or used for officials ceremonies or events;
8) the offices of the President and the justices of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania;
9) the offices of the President of the Supreme Court and the chairmen of other courts of the Republic of Lithuania;
7. The national flag of Lithuania may be displayed on the premises when official events organised by state or municipal institutions or other official events attended by the Seimas Chairman, the President of the Republic or the Prime Minister are held there.
8. During a funeral procession or service for the President of the Republic, the signatory of the Act of Independence of Lithuania, a Seimas or Government member, any other person recognised in the manner prescribed by the Government as having merited to the Republic of Lithuania, as well as the person who perished when performing his official duties or saving lives, a coffin shall be covered with the national flag of Lithuania which shall be removed before interment and presented to the next of kin after being folded.
Article 6. Use of a Mark of Mourning
1. As a sign of mourning the national flag of Lithuania shall be flown one-third of the way down the flagpole. If the national flag of Lithuania is hoisted not on the flagpole, it shall be hoisted with a mark of mourning – a ten-centimetre-wide black ribbon shall be attached to the mast so that the ends of the ribbon shall reach the bottom of the flag.
Article 7. Use of an Image of the National Flag of Lithuania
1. The national flag of Lithuania shall be painted on the aircrafts registered in the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 8. Use of Car Flags and Table Flags
1. A car flag shall be used when the car carries:
1) the Chairman of the Seimas, the Prime Minister or the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania who accompanies an official guest of the Republic of Lithuania;
2) the President of the Republic, the Chairman of the Seimas, the Prime Minister or the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania during their official visits abroad - pursuant to international law provisions, diplomatic protocol requirements and traditions of a country of visit;
2. A table flag may be displayed on the premises when official events attended by official persons of the State of Lithuania, foreign states – heads of state or municipal institutions or persons authorised by them, heads of the European Union or international public organisations or persons authorised by them are held there; a table flag may also be displayed during international conferences.
Article 9. Liability for Violations of the Procedure for Hoisting Flags or Desecration of Flags
1. Persons who have violated the procedure for hoisting the national flag of Lithuania, a flag of a foreign state, the flag of the European Union or a flag of an international public organisation shall be held liable in accordance with the procedure established by law.
Article 10. Places and Occasions of Hoisting of the Historical National Flag of Lithuania
1. The historical national flag of Lithuania shall be hoisted:
2. The historical national flag of Lithuania shall also be hoisted on:
1) February 16 – the Day of Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania – near (on or over) the building of the House of the Signatories in Pilies Street, Vilnius;
2) March 11 – the Day of Re-establishment of Lithuania's Independence – near the building of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania;
3) May 15 – the Day of Convening of the Constituent Seimas - near the building of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania;
4) July 6 – the Day of the State (Coronation of King Mindaugas) – near the residence of the President of the Republic;
5) July 15 – the Day of the Battle of Grünwald – near the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania;
Valid as of 30 April 2018:
Article 10. Places and Occasions of Hoisting of the Historical National Flag of Lithuania
1. The historical national flag of Lithuania shall be hoisted near, over and on the following buildings:
6) the Prosecutor General’s Office and territorial prosecutor’s offices of the Republic of Lithuania;
2. The historical national flag of Lithuania shall be hoisted on a 24-hour basis in the following places:
3. The historical national flag of Lithuania may be hoisted near, over and on other castles and objects related to the statehood of Lithuania and the defence of the State of Lithuania.
4. On national holidays the historical national flag of Lithuania shall be hoisted near, over or on the buildings of state and municipal institutions and establishments other than the buildings specified in paragraph 1 of this Article.
5. The historical national flag of Lithuania shall, by the decision of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, be hoisted near, over or on diplomatic missions, consular posts of the Republic of Lithuania and the divisions of such missions and posts, as well as near, over or on buildings of the special missions located in foreign states pursuant to international law provisions, diplomatic protocol requirements and traditions of a host country.
6. The historical national flag of Lithuania shall also be hoisted near, over or on the buildings of state and municipal institutions and establishments other than the buildings specified in paragraph 1 of this Article:
Article 101. Approval of the Design and Standard of the Historical National Flag of Lithuania
1. The Lithuanian Heraldry Commission shall prepare and submit to the President of the Republic a heraldry design of the historical national flag of Lithuania.
Article 11. Principles of the Use of Flags of Foreign States, the European Union and International Public Organisations
1. When flown with the national flag of Lithuania, the flags of foreign states, the European Union and international public organisations must correspond to the proportions of the national flag of Lithuania.
2. During the visits of official guests of the Republic of Lithuania, the flag of the state, European Union (its institution) or international public organisation they represent may be accorded the most honourable position pursuant to the heraldic principles.
3. If the flags of several foreign states or several international public organisations are hoisted together, the order of precedence shall be established according to the names of such states or organisations in the Lithuanian language, the working language of an event or the official language of an appropriate international public organisation.
Article 12. Places and Occasions of the Use of Flags of Foreign States, the European Union and International Public Organisations
1. Flags of foreign states, the European Union and international public organisations may be displayed on a 24-hour basis only near, over or on diplomatic missions, consular posts of foreign states and the buildings of the residences of their heads, offices of the institutions of the European Union, international public organisations as well as the buildings of the residences of their heads, other state establishments of foreign states legally established in the Republic of Lithuania, buildings of the institutions of the European Union and international institutions, unless otherwise provided for in international agreements of the Republic of Lithuania.
2. Flags of foreign states, the European Union and international public organisations may be displayed near, over or on the buildings of state or municipal institutions and establishments of the Republic of Lithuania only when official guests of the Republic of Lithuania and representatives of special missions visit them, as well as on the occasion of remembrance days or official international events held in these institutions and establishments, in other cases laid down by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania in accordance with the diplomatic protocol requirements.
3. The national flag of Lithuania shall be hoisted together with the flags of the Republic of Estonia and the Republic of Latvia near the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on February 16 - Day of Re-establishment of the State of Lithuania, March 11 - Day of Re-establishment of Lithuania's Independence, February 24 – Day of Estonia’s Independence and November 18 – Day of Latvia’s Independence.
4. The flag of the European Union shall be displayed on a 24-hour basis in the inspection posts of the external border of the European Union.
5. The flag of the European Union shall be hoisted together with the national flag of Lithuania:
2) near, over or on the buildings where the voting is held on the day of elections to the European Parliament or on the days when referendums on the issues pertaining to the European Union are held in Lithuania;
6. Legal and natural persons may, at their own discretion, use (hoist, display) national flags and (or) small flags of foreign states, the flag and (or) small flag of the European Union or flags and (or) small flags of international public organisations in pursuance of the principles of the use of flags and only in such a way that no disrespect would be shown to these flags.
Article 13. Use of Standards, Flags of Counties and Municipalities
1. The procedure for using standards shall be laid down by legal acts regulating activities of statutory institutions or military units.
2. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall lay down the procedure for using flags of counties.
CHAPTER SIX
MANUFACTURE OF FLAGS
AND CONTROL THEREOF
Article 14. Repealed on 13 October 2011.
Article 15. Repealed on 13 October 2011.
Article 16. Duties of Manufacturers
Flags may be manufactured only from the materials defined by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania and must meet the requirements set out by laws and other regulations.
Article 17. Rights of State Institutions, which within Their Competence Exercise Control over Flag Manufacturing and Trade
1. State institutions shall, within their competence, monitor compliance of flag-manufacturing-related actions of natural and legal persons and other organisations with the effective legal acts.
2. Public servants of the state institutions exercising control over flag manufacturing and trade shall be entitled:
2) in the manner prescribed by law to enter the territories and the premises in which flags are manufactured, sold and to carry out checks there;
4) within their competence to give instructions to flag manufacturers, persons selling flags to be followed and to obligate to eliminate the established violations;
Article 18. Supervision of the Implementation of the Law
1. The responsibility for the use of the national flag of Lithuania, the historical national flag of Lithuania, the flag of the President of the Republic, flags of foreign states, the flag of the European Union and flags of international public organisations, as well as table flags and car flags in state and municipal institutions shall lie with the following heads of the establishments ensuring the activities of these institutions:
2) in the Office of the President of the Republic - the Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic;
4) in the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania, the Supreme Court of Lithuania, the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania – the Court Chancellor; in other courts – the court chairman;
5) in other state establishments, diplomatic missions, consular posts and special missions of the Republic of Lithuania - their heads;
2. The implementation of this Law shall be supervised by the Lithuanian Heraldry Commission, the administrations of municipalities, in military units of the national defence system – by the Minister of National Defence or a person authorised by him, on self-propelled ships - by captains, on non-self-propelled ships – by skippers, in ports and wharfs of the Republic of Lithuania – by their heads.
3. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall specify the materials from which flags may be manufactured and indicate flag trade outlets.
Valid as of 30 April 2018:
Article 18. Supervision of the Implementation of the Law
1. The responsibility for the use of the national flag of Lithuania, the historical national flag of Lithuania, the flag of the President of the Republic, flags of foreign states, the flag of the European Union and flags of international public organisations, as well as table flags and car flags in state and municipal institutions shall lie with the following heads of the establishments ensuring the activities of these institutions:
2) in the Office of the President of the Republic - the Chancellor of the Office of the President of the Republic;
4) in the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania, the Supreme Court of Lithuania, the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania – the Court Chancellor; in other courts – the court chairman;
5) in other state establishments, diplomatic missions, consular posts and special missions of the Republic of Lithuania - their heads;
2. Managers of buildings and places or persons authorised by them shall also be responsible for the use of the historical national flag of Lithuania.
3. The implementation of this Law shall be supervised by the Lithuanian Heraldry Commission, the administrations of municipalities, in military units of the national defence system – by the Minister of National Defence or a person authorised by him, on self-propelled ships - by captains, on non-self-propelled ships – by skippers, in ports and wharfs of the Republic of Lithuania – by their heads.
4. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall specify the materials from which flags may be manufactured and indicate flag trade outlets.