Final answer:
Lithuania gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1990, transitioning away from Soviet influence towards a market economy and democratic governance, eventually joining NATO and the EU in 2004.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lithuania gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. After declaring independence, Lithuania, along with its Baltic neighbors Latvia and Estonia, shifted away from its Soviet past and looked toward Western Europe for trade and development.
These nations moved rapidly to market economies with democratic governments. Despite having been a part of the USSR since being incorporated under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact in 1939, they made significant strides after regaining sovereignty.
In 1991, the Soviet Union eventually collapsed, leading to the independence of its internal republics, such as Lithuania. Following independence, the Baltic states were admitted into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) in 2004, further solidifying their departure from Russian influence.