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Lithuania - Flag Legislation

Last modified: 2021-08-12 by zachary harden
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New Legislation

On 1st September, 2004 a new law concerning the flag has come into force. As a result of this, it has changed the measurements of the flag - they used to be 1:2, and since 1st September they are 3:5. Besides, the State flag has been legalized. The state flag is red and has a national emblem of Lithuania in the centre of it.
Timas Pelanis, 20 October 2004

There is a document on recent flag legislation coming from the Lithuanian parliament at <www3.lrs.lt>. But unfortunately only in Lithuanian and with no drawings. The headlines in English is:
Updated Legal Document I-1497 2004.07.08
2004.07.08 : Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
2004.07.08 Prepared by: Office of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania Information Technology Department  since 2004.09.01
Descriptors: amendment of a law, flag, national flag, public holiday".
Jan Oskar Engene and Željko Heimer, 22 October 2004

From <www3.lrs.lt>:
"3 straipsnis. Vëliavř spalvos ir matmenys
1. Lietuvos valstybës vëliava, Lietuvos valstybës istorinë vëliava, kitos vëliavos, taip pat vëliavř atvaizdai visada turi atitikti šiř vëliavř spalvř etaloniná atvaizdą (pagal Pantone sistemą) ir matmenis.
2. Lietuvos valstybës vëliavos ir Lietuvos valstybës istorinës vëliavos audeklo pločio ir ilgio santykis turi bűti 3:5.
3. Paprastai prie, virš ar ant pastatř keliamos Lietuvos valstybës vëliava yra 1 metro pločio ir 1,7 metro ilgio, Lietuvos valstybës istorinë vëliava – 1 metro pločio ir 1,7 metro ilgio.
4. Lietuvos valstybës vëliava ir Lietuvos valstybës istorinë vëliava gali bűti ir kitokiř Lietuvos Respublikos Vyriausybës nustatytř matmenř, tačiau šiř vëliavř audeklo pločio ir ilgio santykis visada turi atitikti šio straipsnio 2 dalyje nustatytą santyká."
Zachary Harden, 17 January 2005

I received this response to the question I had about the Lithuania flag ratio:  
"Dear Sir or Madam,  
Lithuanian flag was not changed. The ration of the flag is – 1:2.  
Sincerely yours,
Asta Kuckaite Prime Minister Office of Lithuania"
I seen the legal document, and I noticed the changes on several flag websites.  However, I do not think most of the country is taking notice, and I seriously think (my theory) is that the change is being done so the Lithuania flag can fit the ratios of the EU and the NATO flags.
Zachary Harden, 3 February 2005

Just a thought, but is the change (and I don't think that there is any doubt it has legally changed) not just as likely to be a compromise between the Communist era inspired ratio of 1:2, and the pre-war ratio of 2:3?
Lithuania has, after all, formally re-adopted her pre-war state flag (albeit the obverse only and in the new proportions).
Christopher Southworth, 4 February 2005

The revised Lithuanian flag legislation is now finally available in official translation into English online from the web site of the Lithuanian Parliamentat <www3.lrs.lt>. The revised legislation is a remarkably detailed law that regulates details down to table flags and the right to manufacture flags. In a more familiar vein, vexillologists will note details such as the official prescription of 3:5 for all Lithuanian flags as well as the details concerning the official recognition of the historical national flag (Article 2, section 2) and its use (Article 10).   The full text of the revised law is as follows:
REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA
LAW AMENDING THE LAW ON THE LITHUANIAN STATE FLAG  
26 June 1991 No. I-1497 Vilnius (New edition by 8 July 2004  No. IX-2331)  
Article 1. Revised Version of the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Lithuanian State Flag The Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Lithuanian State Flag shall be amended and set forth to read as follows:  
"REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA LAW ON THE NATIONAL FLAG AND OTHER FLAGS  
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 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 to hatred, as well as come into conflict with morals or public order, …   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 flag of Lithuania” means a historical symbol of the State of Lithuania, a piece of cloth featuring a red field with an silver armoured knight on a white horse holding a silver sword in his right hand above his head. A blue shield hangs on the left shoulder of the knight with a double 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 are 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 administration of the governor of the county 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 legal person, a natural and a legal person of a foreign state, a branch of a legal person of a foreign state, having the right to manufacture flags and  registered in the manner prescribed by laws and other legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania.  
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.
4. The national flag of Lithuania and the historical national flag of Lithuania may be of other proportions set by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, however, the ration of the width to the length of these flags must always correspond to the ratio established in paragraph 2 of this Article.  
Article 4. Principles of the Usage of Flags
1. The citizens of the Republic of Lithuania, other persons must show respect to the 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: 1) the national flag of Lithuania; 2) the historical national flag of Lithuania; 3) flags of foreign states; 4) the flag of the European Union; 5) flags of international public organisations; 6) the flag of the President of the Republic; 7) standards; 8) flags of counties; 9) flags of municipalities; 10) other flags.
7. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall set the time for hoisting flags.  
CHAPTER TWO
NATIONAL FLAG OF LITHUANIA  
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: 1) the  Seimas of the  Republic  of Lithuania; 2) the residence of the President of the Republic; 3) the Government, the ministries and the administrations of the governors of the counties of  the  Republic  of  Lithuania; 4) the Constitutional Court and other courts of the Republic of Lithuania; 5) the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Lithuania; 6) the Bank of Lithuania; 7) the Central Electoral Committee of the Republic of Lithuania; 8) the Tower of  the Gediminas' Castle in Vilnius; 9) municipal councils; 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.
2. On state holidays the national flag of Lithuania shall be hoisted near, over or on the following buildings: by other state and municipal institutions and agencies, other agencies, 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) on ships registered in the Republic of Lithuania; 5) on ships which have entered the territorial waters, ports of the Republic of Lithuania; 6) near, over or on the buildings in which voting is carried out on the day of elections to the Seimas, municipal councils of the Republic of Lithuania or the European Parliament and the Office of the President of the Republic, as well as on the day of voting in a referendum.
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; 3) on remembrance days or the occasion of public events – in the manner prescribed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania or an institution authorised by it.
6. The national flag of Lithuania shall be displayed on a 24-hour basis in: 1) the chamber of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania; 2) the meeting hall of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania; 3) the sitting hall of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Lithuania; 4) the sitting halls of the Supreme Court and other courts of the Republic of Lithuania; 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; 7) the offices of the Prime Minister and the ministers of the Republic of Lithuania; 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; 10) the offices of the Prosecutor General, chief prosecutors of the Republic of Lithuania; 11) the office of the Chairman of the Central Electoral Committee of the Republic of Lithuania; 12) the offices of the commanders of military units of the Army of the Republic of Lithuania; 13) the offices of the heads of diplomatic missions, consular posts, special missions of the Republic of Lithuania located in foreign states.
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.
2. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall announce the mourning as well as the places and time of hoisting flags.
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.
2. An image of the national flag of Lithuania may be used for decorative purposes as an official symbol of the state in such a way that no disrespect would be shown to the national flag of Lithuania or the principles of the use of flags would not be otherwise violated.  
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; 3) heads of diplomatic missions, consular posts or special missions of the Republic of Lithuania accredited in foreign states - pursuant to international law provisions, diplomatic protocol requirements and traditions of a host country.
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.
2. Persons who have desecrated 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 punished in accordance with the procedure established by law.
CHAPTER THREE
HISTORICAL NATIONAL FLAG OF LITHUANIA  
Article 10. Places and Occasions of Hoisting of the Historical National Flag of Lithuania
1. The historical national flag of Lithuania shall be hoisted: 1) over the Royal Palace of Lithuania in Vilnius; 2) in Trakai Castle; 3) in the square of the War Museum in Kaunas.
2. The historical national flag of Lithuania shall also be hoisted on: 1) February 16 - 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 - Day of Re-establishment of Lithuania's Independence – near the building of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania; 3) July 6 - Day of the State (Coronation of King Mindaugas) – near the residence of the President of the Republic; 4) July 15 – Day of the Battle of Grünwald – near the Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania; 5) October 25 – the Day of the Constitution – near the building of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the residence of the President of the Republic and the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.  
CHAPTER FOUR
FLAGS OF FOREIGN STATES, THE EUROPEAN UNION AND INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC ORGANISATIONS 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 agencies 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 agencies 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 agencies, 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: 1) on May 9 – in the places and in the manner laid down in paragraph 1 of Article 5 of this Law; 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; 3) in the places and in the manner referred to in subparagraph 1 of paragraph 3 of Article 5 of this Law.
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.
7. Table flags and car flags of foreign states, the European Union and international public organisations shall be used in the cases laid down by this Law in accordance with the procedure established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
CHAPTER FIVE
STANDARDS, FLAGS OF COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES  
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.
3. A municipal flag shall be hoisted in the manner prescribed by a municipal council.  
CHAPTER SIX
THE RIGHT TO ENGAGE IN MANUFACTURING OF FLAGS AND THE CONTROL THEREOF  
Article 14. The Right to Manufacture Flags
1. The right to manufacture flags specified in Article 2 of this Law, except those indicated in paragraph 9 thereof, as well as the flag of the President of the Republic shall be enjoyed by the legal persons, natural and legal persons of a foreign state, branches of legal persons of a foreign state having the right to manufacture flags and registered in the manner prescribed by laws and other legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania.
2. An institution authorised by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania shall, in the manner prescribed by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, issue licences to manufacture flags, suspend their validity or revoke them.
3. Rules of licensing of flag manufacturing shall be approved by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
4. State fees shall be levied for the issuing of licences. The rate of such fees shall be set by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
5. Within 60 days of the receipt of the documents necessary for the issuing of a licence to manufacture flags, it shall be issued to or a written reasoned refusal to issue a licence shall be submitted to a legal person or a natural and a legal person of a foreign state, a branch of a legal persons of a foreign state registered in the manner prescribed by laws and other legal acts of the Republic of Lithuania.
6. Refusal to issue a licence, to suspend its validity or to revoke it may be appealed against in the manner prescribed by law.
Article 15. Permit to Commission to Manufacture Flags
1. State institutions, agencies or persons, who have the right to use the historical national flag of Lithuania, the flag of the President of the Republic, may commission to manufacture these flags only upon the receipt of a permit issued by an institution authorised by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
2. Rules of the issuing of permits to commission to manufacture the historical national flag of Lithuania and the flag of the President of the Republic shall be laid down by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania or an institution authorised by it.
Article 16. Duties of Manufacturers
1. 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 legal acts.
2. At the request of the state institutions which within their competence exercise control over flag manufacturing the manufacturers must, in the manner prescribed by an institution authorised by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, furnish requested information concerning the activities subject to licensing or the conditions determining the issuing of a licence.  
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 the actions of natural and legal persons relating to flag manufacturing with the effective legal provisions.
2. Public servants of the state institutions exercising control over flag manufacturing and trade shall be entitled: 1) to monitor compliance with the effective legal acts regulating flag manufacturing and trade; 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; 3) to receive from manufacturers or any other controlling institution the information concerning flag manufacturing activities subject to licensing or the conditions determining the issuing of a licence; 4) within their competence to give instructions to flag manufacturers, persons selling flags to be followed and to obligate to eliminate the established violations; 5) upon having established the violations carried out by the flag manufacturers, trade outlets and persons engaged in flag trade, to propose to the institution which has issued the licence to suspend the validity thereof or to revoke it.  
CHAPTER SEVEN
FINAL PROVISIONS  
Article 18. Supervision of the Implementation of the Law
1. 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 institutions shall lie with the following heads of the state agencies ensuring the activities of these institutions: 1) in the Seimas in the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania - the Chancellor; 2) in the Office of the President of the Republic - the Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic; 3) in the Office of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania - the Permanent Secretary of the Government; 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 agencies, 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 are manufactured, proportions of flags, flag trade outlets.
4. Flag manufacturing shall be controlled by institutions authorised by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania in pursuance of this Law and other legal acts."
Article 2. Entry into Force of the Law This Law shall enter into force on 1 September 2004.  
Article 3. Implementation of the Law
1. Flags manufactured and purchased prior to the entry into force of this Law may be used as long as they are fit for use.
2. The Government of the Republic of Lithuania, institutions authorised by it shall pass legal acts necessary for the implementation of this Law.  
I promulgate this Law passed by the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania.      
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC VALDAS ADAMKUS

Jan Oskar Engene, 23 February 2005


Legislation

The website of the Lithuanian Parliament <www.lrs.lt> has a search engine, using which I downloaded the full text of the law on the Lithuanian State flag. URL for the search engine is <www3.lrs.lt/n/eng/DPaieska.html>.

Synopsis of the law:
Art. 1. Colours of the flag and their arrangement in horizontal and vertical hosting.
Art. 2. Proportion of the flag and dimension of the flagstaff.
Art. 3. Places where the flag shall be displayed.
Art. 4. Hours of display of the flag.
Art. 5. Use of historical, local anf foreign flags.
Art. 6. Precedence among flags.
?rt. 7. Mourning days.
Art. 8. Private use of the flag.
Art. 9. Use on the flag on building facades.
Art. 10. Use of the flag likeliness on airplanes.
Art. 11. Use of the flag likeliness as decoration.
Art. 12. Implementation of the law.
Art. 13. Supervision of the implementation of the law.
Art. 14. Manufacture of the flag.
Art. 15. Respect and outrage to the flag.

Full text of the law:

REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA - LAW ON THE LITHUANIAN STATE FLAG
Article 1.
The Lithuanian State Flag shall be the national flag-cloth, consisting of three equal horizontal coloured stripes, arranged with the yellow above, the green in the middle, and the red below. When the Lithuanian State Flag is displayed vertically, the yellow stripe must be on the left side, the green stripe in the middle, and the red stripe on the right side.
Article 2.
The Lithuanian State Flag must be 1 metre in width and 2 metres in length, and a flagstaff must be 3.4 metres in length. The flag and its likeness may be of other dimensions but the width of the flag in proportion to its length must always be 1:2, and the length of the flag in proportion to the length of the staff must be 1:1.7. The flag and its likeness must always correspond with the standard likeness of the colours of the Lithuanian State Flag.
Article 3.
The Lithuanian State Flag shall be displayed:
1) daily near the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, the buildings of the councils of local governments, and, also, on the Tower of the Gediminas' Castle in Vilnius and on the buildings, specified by the councils of local governments. Only the Lithuanian State Flag shall be displayed daily near the governmental institutions of the Republic of Lithuania. The display of the flags of other states near and inside the governmental institutions of the Republic of Lithuania shall be prohibited with the exception of cases specified in Article 5 of this Law.
2) near the buildings of the state power and governmental bodies, enterprises, institutions and organizations, dwelling houses on February 16 and on such other days under the decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania;
3) near the diplomatic and trade missions, the buildings of consular institutions in accordance with the requirements of the protocol;
4) on ships and other means of transportation where the President of the Republic of Lithuania, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Lithuania, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania and other persons, officially representing the Republic of Lithuania are staying, under the agreement of the indicated persons;
5) on ships, registered in the Republic of Lithuania;
6) on ships, entering territorial waters, ports of the Republic of Lithuania;
7) near polling places on the days of election of the deputies of the councils of local governments, referendum, plebiscite;
8) near the buildings, where sessions of the councils of local governments take place - on the days when the council is in session;
9) on sports grounds during championships and tournaments of the Republic of Lithuania, international sports competitions in which national teams take part and during award ceremonies of the winners, representing the sports teams of the Republic of Lithuania, of international competitions;
10) in national defence units pursuant to the statutes of the national defence service.
Article 4.
In cases specified in Paragraph 2 of Article 3 of this Law, the Lithuanian State Flag shall be hoisted at 7 o'clock and lowered at 22 o'clock, and in cases specified in Paragraph 7 of Article 3 - during the time of voting.
Article 5.
The order of approval and use of historical or new sample flags of towns and districts shall be established by laws. The flags of foreign states may be displayed near governmental institutions of the Republic of Lithuania only during official visits, official ceremonies and international events according to the order established by the diplomatic protocol and international documents. The flags of foreign states may be displayed only near the institutions of foreign states, which are legally established in the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 6.
When the Lithuanian State Flag is displayed together with the flag of another state, the Lithuanian State Flag must be displayed, when facing the facade of a building, on the right side and the flag of another state - on the left side. If the flags of several states are displayed together with the Lithuanian State Flag, they shall be displayed to the left and to the right from the Lithuanian State Flag. If the number of the flags of other states displayed together with the Lithuanian State Flag is even, they shall be alphabetically displayed in equal number on both sides of the Lithuanian State Flag. The Lithuanian State Flag must be displayed on the same level with the flags of other states. When the Lithuanian State Flag is displayed on a means of transportation (except ships), it shall be clamped to the left fender and the flag of another state shall be clamped to the right fender.
Article 7.
On the days of mourning, in accordance with the resolution of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Lithuania the Lithuanian State Flag may be displayed with a mark of mourning, that is attaching a 10 centimetres wide black ribbon to the staff or pole, so that the ends of the ribbon shall reach the bottom of the flag. If on the days of mourning the Lithuanian State Flag is displayed from the pole, the flag shall be lowered to one-third of the length of the pole.
Article 8.
The Lithuanian State Flag may be displayed on other holidays and memorable days, as well as on the occasion of public events. The citizens of Lithuania may display the Lithuanian State Flag near their place of residence during the personal celebrations, and the citizens of foreign states residing in Lithuania may display the flags of their states.
Article 9.
The displayed Lithuanian State Flags must be in good shape and not faded. When the flags are displayed near buildings, the flags shall be set into the holders which are fixed on the facade of a building so that an angle between the staff of the flag and the facade shall not be greater than 45 degrees. The lower part of the holders shall be fixed on the facade not higher than 2 metres from the ground. The Lithuanian State Flags may be displayed on the poles established in front of the facade of a building.
Article 10.
The likeness of the Lithuanian State Flag shall be on airplanes registered in the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 11.
The likeness of the Lithuanian State Flag may be used as the state and national symbol for decoration in general so that no disrespect shall be shown to the Lithuanian State Flag.
Article 12.
The responsibility for the implementation of these regulations while displaying the Lithuanian State Flag near the buildings of the state power and governmental bodies, enterprises, institutions and organizations, shall fall with their administrative heads, and while displaying the flag near dwelling houses, the responsibility for the implementation of these regulations shall fall with their owners and officials, who are charged with the organizing of the exploitation of dwelling houses.
Article 13.
The boards of local governments shall be charged with the supervision of accurate implementation of this Law. Charged with the supervision of accurate implementation of this Law in national defence units shall be the Department of National Defence, in self-propelled ships - captains, in non self-propelled ships - skippers, in harbours and wharfs of the Republic of Lithuania - harbour-masters, in diplomatic and trade missions, as well as in consular institutions - their heads.
Article 14.
The manufacture and sale of the Lithuanian State Flag shall be carried out in accordance with procedure established by the Government of the Republic of Lithuania.
Article 15.
The citizens of the Republic of Lithuania as well as other persons who are staying in Lithuania, must respect the Lithuanian State Flag. The outrage upon the Lithuanian State Flag shall be punishable in accordance with the procedure established by laws of the Republic of Lithuania.

Bronius Kuzmickas , Vice President
Supreme Council Republic of Lithuania
Vilnius 26 June 1991
No.I-1497
Ivan Sache, 22 November 2001

I don't quite follow this - are the black-ribonning and half-masting two mutually excludable procedures one may employ for expressing mourning, or are they both done in the same time - i.e. are the half- masted (actually 2/3-masted) flags also ribboned?
I'd say that one would be proceidure for "indoor" flags and the other for masted flags, but I don't quite read it that way from the text.
Željko Heimer, 23 November 2001

The website of the Lithuanian Parliament include a number of EU and Lithuanian laws and regulations in Eniglish with flag related content. I locetaed a few:.  
Regulations On the Flag of the Baltic Assembly
Decision on Amendments to the Regulations on the Flag of the Baltic Assembly
The Republic of Lithuania Maritime Shipping Law
Law on the Lithuanian State Flag now be the one that is amended This law may recently.  
The artice 7 is especially interesting: " Article 7. On the  days of  mourning, in accordance with the resolution of the  Presidium of  the Supreme  Council  of  the  Republic  of Lithuania the  Lithuanian State Flag may be displayed with a mark of mourning, that is attaching a 10 centimetres wide black ribbon to the  staff or pole, so that the ends of the ribbon shall reach the bottom of the flag.      If on  the days  of mourning  the Lithuanian  State Flag  is displayed from  the pole,  the flag shall be lowered to one-third of the length of the pole."
Željko Heimer, 22 October 2004

The 'Law on the Lithuanian State Flag of 26 June 1991 (aside from Article 15 of the Constitution dated 25 October 1992 of course) is, as far as I can find out, the last piece of flag legislation passed by Lithuania before the new law.  
Christopher Southworth, 22 October 2004


Banned Symbols

Today, the Parliament (Seimas) of Lithuania passed the toughest law in Europe prohibiting the display of all Nazi and Soviet symbols, including flags of the Third Reich, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, their arms, uniforms and anthems.
Prohibition includes also any variant of the swastika, hammer and sickle and five-pointed red star and public display of the images of the leaders of the NSDAP and the Communist parties of the USSR and LSSR.
During the discussion, radical deputy Petras Grazulis (Union of the Fatherland) wanted to include the symbols of the Polish Home Army (AK-Armia Krajowa) into the law, but this was rejected by the Parliament.
Russian media told their readers and viewers that the anthems of the Russian Federation and Federal Republic of Germany won't be performed in Lithuania anymore as identical to those of Nazi Germany and Soviet Union. However, the Lithuanian Parliament made it clear that the prohibition concerns only the old words of both anthems.
Source: Gazeta Wyborcza, Warsaw, June 17, 2008.
Chrystian Kretowicz, 18 June 2008