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.
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.