ɪn noʊvˈɛmbɚ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪtiːn, ɹᵻspˈɑːndɪŋ tə sˈʌtʃ sˌɪtʃuːˈeɪʃən ðə lˈoʊkəlz ɪstˈæblɪʃt ɐ sˈɛlfɡˈʌvɚnɪŋ pˈæɹɪʃ kəmˈɪɾi, ˈɔfən kˈɔːld ðə ɹᵻpˈʌblɪk ʌv pɜːlˈoʊdʒə pɜːlˈoʊdʒoʊz ɹᵻspˈʌblɪkə, tʃˈɛɹd baɪ dʒˈoʊnəz tʃˌɛsnuːlɪvˈɪtʃɪəs, vˈɛɾɚɹən ʌvðɪ ɪmpˈɪɹiəl ɹˈʌʃən ˈɑːɹmi.
In November 1918, responding to such situation the locals established a self-governing parish committee, often called the Republic of Perloja (Perlojos respublika), chaired by Jonas Česnulevičius, veteran of the Imperial Russian Army.