The 1972 unrest in Kaunas, Lithuania—often referred to as Kaunas' Spring—was a critical act of resistance against Soviet rule. This uprising took place on May 18–19, 1972, sparked by the self-immolation of Romas Kalanta, a 19-year-old student, in protest against the Soviet regime. His act of protest and subsequent death triggered large-scale demonstrations, primarily composed of students and young workers.
On May 14, 1972, Kalanta set himself on fire near the Kaunas Musical Theatre, where Lithuania’s Sovietization had been declared in 1940. He left a note blaming the Soviet regime for his death. The authorities, concerned about the potential for unrest, moved his funeral forward by two hours on May 18 to prevent large gatherings. However, this only fueled public outrage, leading to spontaneous demonstrations that were brutally suppressed by KGB, militsiya (Soviet police), and Internal Troops.
During the protests, thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Kaunas, particularly Laisvės Alėja (Freedom Avenue). Protesters clashed with Soviet forces, resulting in injuries on both sides, with five militsiya officers injured and one motorcycle set on fire. The following day, approximately 3,000 people marched again, leading to mass arrests—402 individuals were detained. Many protesters were under 20 years old, and some belonged to the Communist Party’s youth branch.
To obscure the political nature of the protests, Soviet authorities charged the demonstrators with hooliganism. Of those arrested, 50 individuals faced civil charges, and ten faced criminal persecution, with eight receiving prison sentences of one to two years. Protests spread to other cities in Lithuania, with 108 people arrested in total.
The 1972 unrest in Kaunas triggered further acts of resistance across Lithuania. In the following months, thirteen additional self-immolations occurred in various towns. These included Juozapas Baracevičius in Šiauliai and V. Stonys in Varėna.
In response to these events, Soviet authorities tightened censorship and increased surveillance over youth movements and gatherings, blaming the unrest on what they called the "hippie movement." Anti-Soviet sentiment intensified throughout 1972–73, with the KGB recording a sharp rise in anti-Soviet activities.
The events also resonated internationally, with members of the Lithuanian diaspora in the United States organizing protests in solidarity. Lithuanian writer Vytautas Alantas dedicated a book to these events, titled Romas Kalanta: The Living Torches in the Nemunas Valley.