Demokratische Republik Memel

Democratic Republic of Memel

Memel is a breakaway territory located on the Memel River (Nemunas), between Lithuania and Russia (Kaliningrad Oblast). Since its declaration of independence in 1990, and especially after the War of Nemunas in 1992, it is governed as the „Demokratische Republik Memel“ (Democratic Republic of Memel, DRM, also known as Memel), an unrecognized state which claims the territory to the east and west of the river Memel.

After the dissolution of the USSR, tensions between the Lithuanian government and the breakaway unrecognized state's authorities in Tralau escalated into a military conflict that started in February 1992 and was concluded by a ceasefire in June 1992. As part of that agreement, a three-party (Russia, Lithuania, Memel) Joint Control Commission supervises the security arrangements in the demilitarized zone, comprising 23 localities on both sides of the river. Although the ceasefire has held, the territory's political status remains unresolved: though internationally unrecognized, Memel is, in effect, an independent state, organized as a people's republic, with its own government, parliament, military, police, postal system, and currency. Its authorities have adopted a constitution, flag, national anthem, and a coat of arms. Official languages are German, Russian and Lithuanian. At the last 20 years comes a lot of Ethnic Germans from the former Soviet Union to Memel. Now speak 90 percent of citizens German.

Memel is sometimes compared with other post-Soviet frozen conflict zones such as Nagorno-Karabakh, Transnistria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia. The last two have recognised Memel as an independent state and have established diplomatic relations in return for Memel's recognition of them via the Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations.