LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, May 16, 2025
- Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
- Lithuanian PM to attend European Political Community Summit in Tirana
- Tibet support group to protest in Vilnius over political prisoners in China
- Kurauskas selected to lead Lithuania's Giraite ammo factory – sources
- NATO's Hague summit must pledge support for Ukraine's armed forces – Lithuanian FM
- Lithuanian FM visiting Estonia for foreign and security policy talks
- If Russia genuinely had wanted talks, Putin would have attended – Matulionis
- Kasciunas vows law on acting against Lithuanian after Vaitkus' Minsk visit
- Disinformation about Lithuania surged in Russian media ahead of May 9 – Debunk.org
- Lithuanian DefMin, army to expand number of counter-mobility parks to 50
- Lithuanian defmin expects faster training area expansion as drills show practical value
- 10 European countries agree to step up protection of underwater infrastructure
- Lithuania's 15min Group triples EBITDA to EUR 2.2 mln
- Low-level delegation signals Putin has no interest in peace talks – Lithuanian PM
- Vaitkus didn't act against Lithuania, only criticized government – lawyer
- Lithuanian PM meets Moldovan president, voices support for EU path
- Lithuania's ties with China must be based on respect for human rights – activist
- Lithuanian FM on Russia's willingness to negotiate peace: more like bid to stall for time
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, May 16, 2025
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Friday, May 16, 2025:
PRIME MINISTER Gintautas Paluckas to attend the European Political Community Summit in Tirana, Albania.
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Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have recorded no attempts to cross into the country from Belarus illegally in the past 24 hours, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Friday morning.
Latvia reported 67 illegal border crossing attempts on Thursday. Poland denied entry to 92 irregular migrants on Wednesday, according to the latest available information.
Some 712 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year. A total of 1,002 irregular migrants were denied entry in 2024.
The influx of irregular migrants into the EU's eastern member states from Belarus began in 2021 and is blamed by the West on the Minsk regime.
Lithuanian border guards have prevented a total of 23,600 people from crossing illegally from Belarus since the start of the migration crisis triggered by the neighboring country. The number includes repeated attempts by the same people to cross the border.
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Lithuanian PM to attend European Political Community Summit in Tirana
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas will take part in the European Political Community Summit in the Albanian capital Tirana on Friday.
The meeting will bring together more than 40 heads of European states and EU institutions, the Lithuanian government said.
The visit will also include bilateral talks with European leaders.
The European Political Community is a forum for European countries to coordinate policy. It was established after Russia's 2022 military invasion of Ukraine.
The format includes two summits each year – one in spring and another in fall – aimed at strengthening ties between EU member states and like-minded non-EU countries, fostering political dialogue and cooperation on issues of common interest and promoting security, stability and well-being across the continent.
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Tibet support group to protest in Vilnius over political prisoners in China
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – A Tibet support group is staging a protest outside the Chinese diplomatic mission in Vilnius on Friday to draw public and political attention to the situation of political prisoners in China and human rights abuses in Tibet, Hong Kong and East Turkestan.
Protesters will call for the release of the Panchen Lama, who was abducted by the Chinese authorities three decades ago, and his family members, Robertas Mazeika, a member of the group, said.
The protest will also highlight the March 25 detention of Rigzin Hungkar Dorje, a senior Tibetan religious leader who was arrested in Vietnam during a joint operation by Vietnamese police and Chinese security agents. A week later, his death was reported.
Protesters will demand that Chinese and Vietnamese authorities honor their international legal obligations, ensure a credible and impartial investigation into the circumstances of the prominent teacher's death and return Hungkar Dorje's remains to the Lungnon Monastery for burial according to Tibetan traditions.
The international community has repeatedly raised concerns about human rights violations in Tibet. Chinese authorities dismiss such criticism as interference in the country's internal affairs.
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Kurauskas selected to lead Lithuania's Giraite ammo factory – sources
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – Mindaugas Kurauskas, a former executive director of Grafobal Vilnius, the largest packaging producer in the Baltics, has been selected to lead the state-owned small-caliber ammunition manufacturer Giraites Ginkluotes Gamykla (Giraite Armament Factory, or GGG), whose role in Lithuania's defense industry is set to grow significantly, three independent sources confirmed to BNS.
Kurauskas said he could not confirm the information but added that he took part in the selection process.
"No contract has been signed yet," the 48-year-old told BNS.
Kurauskas said he had not yet been informed of the management board's final decision on his selection.
"That's right, I haven't received anything. There’s still one more meeting planned," he said.
According to BNS sources, law enforcement is currently conducting a background check on Kurauskas.
He said he could not turn down the challenge associated with the upcoming construction of a Rheinmetall ammunition plant in Radviliskis District, a project in which GGG is involved as a minority shareholder.
On LinkedIn, Kurauskas states that he worked as Grafobal's commercial director from 2006 to 2019, then served as executive director until the end of 2023. He also sat on the company’s management board from October 2011 through 2023.
For the past year and a half, Kurauskas said he has dedicated his time to family and studies, completing the Executive Leadership Programme at the University of Oxford's Said Business School.
Since last October, Violeta Kasetiene has been serving as GGG's interim CEO. She replaced Aleksandras Nikonovas, who stepped down in October after having led the company since 2014.
Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius previously said that Lithuania's deal with Rheinmetall to build the new plant had "fundamentally changed" the company's role.
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NATO's Hague summit must pledge support for Ukraine's armed forces – Lithuanian FM
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – President Volodymyr Zelensky should be invited to NATO's June summit in The Hague and hear a strong commitment from the Alliance to support Ukraine's armed forces, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said.
"In The Hague, we must agree on 40 billion euros in military aid for Ukraine because its forces are the first line of defense. We must support them because it is an investment in the security of all Europe," Lithuania's top diplomat said during an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Turkey on Thursday.
Budrys also said he expects the summit to reaffirm what was agreed at previous gatherings — that Ukraine is on an irreversible path toward NATO membership, according to the Foreign Ministry's press release.
"The NATO membership is the best option to secure not only Ukraine but also Europe," he said.
The ministers in Turkey also discussed the urgent need to ramp up allied defense spending and ensure the Alliance has the capabilities it needs.
Among other topics, they held a discussion on the United States' call to increase defense spending to 5 percent of GDP over the next seven years.
Lithuania plans to significantly boost its defense budget between 2026 and 2030, aiming to allocate 5-6 percent of GDP.
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Lithuanian FM visiting Estonia for foreign and security policy talks
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys on Friday is on a working visit to Estonia, where he will attend an informal meeting of foreign ministers from the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) in the town of Vihula and speak at the Lennart Meri Conference in Tallinn.
At the CBSS Ministerial Session, Budrys and his counterparts from nine other countries, along with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, will discuss pressing foreign and security policy issues, the resilience of critical infrastructure, safe navigation in the Baltic Sea and directions for reforming the council, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said.
The ministers will also sign a joint memorandum on protecting critical underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea.
The document will call for stepping up cooperation to enhance the resilience of seabed cables and pipelines, secure supply chains, improve EU countries' underwater monitoring and rapid repair capabilities, and expand cooperation with the private sector.
In Tallinn, Budrys will also take part in the Lennart Meri Conference panel discussion titled "Baltic Sea Security: Shadow Fleet in Shallow Waters."
The Council of the Baltic Sea States is an informal forum established in Copenhagen in 1992. It brings together ten countries from the region: Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and Germany.
The EU foreign policy chief also takes part in CBSS meetings.
The council's foreign ministers traditionally meet each year in the country holding the rotating presidency to discuss key regional, security and global issues. Estonia currently holds the presidency.
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If Russia genuinely had wanted talks, Putin would have attended – Matulionis
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – Russian President Vladimir Putin would have attended the talks in Turkey if Russia had genuinely wanted to negotiate an end to the war with Ukraine, says Deividas Matulionis, senior national security advisor to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda.
"Whether we call it a proxy delegation or a third-rank delegation, if Russia had genuinely believed and wanted negotiations, it would have sent a more serious delegation, maybe even (Vladimir - BNS) Putin himself would have attended and would have negotiated directly with (Volodymyr - BNS) Zelensky," Matulionis told the public broadcaster LRT's The Topic of the Day program on Thursday.
"Zelensky said very clearly that I was ready to go to Turkey, he actually went and showed President (Donald - BNS) Trump that he can be trusted," he said, adding that"normal peace talks" always start with a ceasefire.
"Now the war continues, (...) this is an attempt to twist it around the finger, we do not see any prospect yet that this meeting can lead to a positive outcome of the negotiations," the presidential advisor said.
Over the weekend, Zelensky and the leaders of France, the UK, Germany and Poland urged Russia to agree to a 30-day unconditional ceasefire from Monday as a precondition for direct talks.
However, Russia did not respond and Putin offered Ukraine to meet for direct talks in Istanbul on May 15.
"European leaders' last week's meeting with Zelensky in Kyiv and the conversation with Trump showed that there is a certain level of unity in the West, and apparently this has raised some questions for Putin who tried to take the initiative over. But sooner or later, I think Trump will realize who he is dealing with," Matulionis said.
In his words, Russia remains interested in continuing the war in Ukraine.
"It's an instrument for them to consolidate their domestic policy and at the same time an opportunity to continue to occupy Ukrainian territory. (...) The more we go on, the more we see that Putin is playing with time and showing that he seems to be interested in negotiations, but in reality absolutely nothing is happening," he said.
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Kasciunas vows law on acting against Lithuanian after Vaitkus' Minsk visit
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – MP Laurynas Kasciunas, of the opposition conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, has vowed to table a law on preventing actions against Lithuania and amendments to the Criminal Code after the country's police launched a probe into the recent visit to Minsk by Eduardas Vaitkus, a former presidential candidate.
"I will say right away that we are preparing a bill called the Law on the Prevention of Acting against Lithuania," the politician told the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Friday.
"It will be linked to the proposed amendments to Article 118 of the Criminal Code, namely the prevention of acts against the state, which has been in place for a long time, apparently it was adequate for the previous realities, but we clearly need solutions (...) so that our legal system is more prepared to fight against elements that are openly hostile to the state," Kasciunas noted.
In his words, the new bill would be presented in June as consultations with lawyers are ongoing, and Kasciunas also expects not only a good debate, but also "firm decisions".
As BNS reported earlier, Lithuanian police on Thursday opened a pre-trial investigation into helping another country to act against Lithuania following Vaitkus' recent visit to Belarus. Vaitkus has refrained to provide any comment.
While in Minsk, Vaitkus stated that there's no legitimately elected president in Lithuania and that Lithuania is on the path of destruction of the Lithuanian nation and statehood.
The Belarusian news agency BelTA and several news websites reported on Tuesday on the politician's meetings and statements made in Minsk where Vaitkus met with the leader of the Belaya Rus party and held a press conference.
Vaitkus received 7.31 percent of the vote in last year's presidential election and came in fifth in the first round of voting.
During the last general election, the list of candidates of the Lithuanian People's Party he led failed to break the 5 percent election threshold as it received 2.64 percent of the vote.
The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry strongly recommends that Lithuanian citizens do not travel to Belarus and those currently in this country should leave immediately.
By Dominykas Biržietis
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Disinformation about Lithuania surged in Russian media ahead of May 9 – Debunk.org
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – In the two weeks leading up to Russia's Victory Day, the number of misleading messages about Lithuania in Kremlin-friendly media increased more than six-fold, Debunk.org reported on Friday.
Between April 27 and May 10, pro-Russian media outlets published 461 pieces of content containing misleading information about Lithuania in the context of Victory Day, according to the non-governmental disinformation analysis center.
That marks a six-and-a-half-fold increase from the same period last year, when just 71 such items were recorded.
Debunk.org attributes the increase in disinformation to the 80th anniversary of the end of the war and the direct dialogue between the United States and Russia.
According to the center, nearly all major Kremlin-friendly websites responded to the political stance taken by Lithuania and its neighbors, who refused to allow the leaders of Slovakia and Serbia to fly through their airspace en route to Moscow.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico were the only European leaders to attend the May 9 parade in the Russian capital. The latter defied warnings from Brussels not to go.
The heightened attention may also have been fueled by intensified attacks by Ukraine's armed forces on strategic Russian infrastructure, which disrupted transport, internet access and other communication services.
The most frequently repeated narrative claimed that Lithuania and the other Baltic states are politically and militarily weak but aggressive, exploiting European Union institutions for their own interests.
Another recurring claim was that Nazism is resurging across Europe, with major political players allegedly supporting and encouraging signs of Nazism and "Russophobia" in the Baltic states.
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Lithuanian DefMin, army to expand number of counter-mobility parks to 50
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – Lithuania's Defense Ministry and in cooperation with the country's army will expand the number of 27 counter-mobility engineering parks, currently being completed, to 50.
In its statement on Friday, the ministry said that it would also increase the number of engineering equipment in all parks, adapting the fortification systems to the specific areas identified in line with the requirements of the country's defense plans.
The parks being set up near the borders with Russia and Belarus include dragon's teeth, hedgehogs, Spanish riders, concrete roadblocks, razor wire, road blocks, and sea containers.
Lithuania plans to spend 9 million euros for the civil protection reinforcement and counter-mobility enhancement project until 2030.
The Board of Commandant's Offices has assessed the means that municipalities need to have in place in order to fulfill the tasks of military commandants in wartime, which include a fleet of 11,600 pieces of dragon's teeth, 4,500 pieces of hedgehogs and 720 km of concertina.
As BNS reported earlier, the expansion of the country's existing counter-mobility arsenal is expected to cost around 1.1 billion over the next ten years. According to the ministry, the main focus and the largest share of funds – more than 800 million euros – will be spent on the acquisition of anti-tank mines and their systems.
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Lithuanian defmin expects faster training area expansion as drills show practical value
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene expects the development of new military training areas in Lithuania to accelerate as their practical value becomes more apparent.
"These exercises are among many that once again show how synchronized operations require joint efforts and training," Sakaliene told reporters on Friday during visitors' day at the Gaiziunai training area in Jonava District, where the Iron Wolf 2025-I and Rapid Response 2025 drills are underway.
"I hope the development of new training areas at the national level will also speed up, now that we see how necessary they are and what practical significance they have," she added.
According to the defense minister, the exercises show that preparations are "in full swing" and that command chains, joint actions and synchronized execution of plans demonstrate how collective defense functions.
The two drills are part of Griffin Lightning, a major multinational exercise aimed at strengthening allied capabilities along NATO's eastern flank.
The national defense system is searching for a location for a new brigade-sized military training area amid the growing presence of allied troops in Lithuania, a rising number of conscripts and reservists, and ongoing military equipment purchases.
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10 European countries agree to step up protection of underwater infrastructure
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS - Ten European countries have agreed to step up the protection of critical underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea as Russia uses its shadow fleet as a weapon against EU and NATO countries.
On Friday, the foreign ministers of Lithuania, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Poland, Norway, Sweden and Germany signed a memorandum in Tallinn. It provides for enhanced cooperation to improve the resilience of cables and pipelines on the seabed, to ensure the security of supply chains, to carry out underwater monitoring, and to expand rapid repair capabilities.
The document also includes provisions on information protection, possible joint sources of funding and coordination of actions.
"The document marks a strong political will to work together to ensure energy, economic and digital security throughout the region," the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday.
In Tallinn, the ministers also discussed the latest incident that took place a few days ago in Estonia's exclusive economic zone when the sanctioned shadow tanker Jaguar refused to comply with Estonia's legitimate demands and the Russian military plane guarding it violated Estonia's airspace.
"Russia is using its shadow fleet as a weapon against us. This was clearly demonstrated by the incident involving the sanctioned tanker Jaguar when Russia used its air force to defend it," Lithuania's top diplomat Kestutis Budrys said.
In his words, it’s vital to continue the strict sanctions against shadow fleet vessels as individual vessels are currently sanctioned differently by the US, the UK and the European Union.
Under Lithuania's proposal, another 200 Russian ships that are part of the shadow fleet have been sanctioned in the EU's latest 17th sanction package.
Another important step, Budrys said, is the increase of NATO's military presence in the Baltic Sea, the extension of the mandate of NATO's Baltic Sentry mission and the revision of national response rules, with the involvement of naval forces even in peacetime.
A number of breaches of underwater infrastructure have been recorded in the Baltic Sea in recent years. In response to these incidents, NATO launched its new Baltic Sentry surveillance mission in the Baltic Sea in January to prevent attempts to attack underwater infrastructure in the region.
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Lithuania's 15min Group triples EBITDA to EUR 2.2 mln
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – Lithuania's 15min Group reported EBITDA of 2.2 million euros in its latest financial year, which ran from May 1, 2024 to the end of the year.
This is roughly triple the 700,000 euros the media group posted in the previous full financial year, from May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024.
The group said on Friday it recorded a net loss of 1.02 million euros for the eight months of 2024, up 59.9 percent compared to the previous full financial year, on 11.2 million euros in revenue, a 7.7 percent increase.
Tomas Balzekas, the group's majority shareholder and CEO of 15min, the company that operates the 15min news website, attributed the net loss to one-off acquisition, goodwill amortization and financing costs.
"These losses are the cost of growth – we invested in new operations, our team, brands and technology," he said in a press release.
Balzekas said the group "laid a strong foundation for future growth" in 2024.
"We strengthened our position in digital media and made a confident move into the radio market. Growth is reflected not only in the financial results but also in the strategic acquisitions we completed," he said.
Last year, 15min Group acquired the companies behind the radio stations M-1, M-1 Plius, Lietus, M-1 Dance and Laluna, the advertising sales firm Reklamos Ekspertai, and the film subscription platform Zmones Cinema.
The expansion was financed through a bond issue and bank loans.
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Low-level delegation signals Putin has no interest in peace talks – Lithuanian PM
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – Vladimir Putin's decision to send a lower-level Russian delegation to the talks with Ukraine that began Friday clearly shows he has no intention of engaging in any peace process.
"When Mr. Putin sends a delegation of that low political level, it's obvious that he is not keen on going into any kind of negotiations," Paluckas told reporters Friday on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in the Albanian capital Tirana.
"Well, I guess – and I hope – that the new administration of the United States will get into reality and find out that Russia and Putin are not going into any kind of negotiation unless we match them in power on the frontline," he said.
The first negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in three years began in Istanbul on Friday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Turkey on Thursday but will not take part in the talks, as Putin rejected his call for a face-to-face meeting.
The Kremlin leader was the first to propose direct talks, but Russia ended up sending a low-ranking delegation to Turkey.
In Tirana, Paluckas is expected to discuss European security and democratic resilience with leaders from more than 40 European countries and EU bodies.
Bilateral meetings with European leaders are also scheduled during the visit.
The European Political Community is a forum for coordinating policy among European countries, established after Russia's 2022 military invasion of Ukraine.
By Paulius Perminas
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Vaitkus didn't act against Lithuania, only criticized government – lawyer
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – Eduardas Vaitkus, a former presidential candidate, did not act against Lithuania when he made his recent statements in Minsk but only criticized the Lithuanian government, his lawyer Mazvydas Misiunas says, adding the law enforcement investigation launched against his client is setting a precedent for limiting opinions.
According to Misiunas, the law enforcement investigation into Vaitkus' actions under Article 118 of the Criminal Code on aiding another state to act against Lithuania is "absurd, dangerous, and incompatible with the democratic order".
"Article 118 is an extreme legal norm aimed at espionage, treason, deliberate undermining of the state. But did Eduardas Vaitkus do all this? No. He just spoke, and today he is accused of acting against the state for speaking. Vaitkusis not the danger, the danger is when speech becomes a crime," Misiunas told a press conference at the Seimas on Friday, adding that when the government is criticized, the state is being protected, not attacked.
Prosecutor General Nida Grunskiene on Thursday tasked the police to launch a pre-trial investigation into aiding another state to act against Lithuania after Vaitkus' statements in Minsk.
"If someone in Lithuania today says that Vaitkus committed a crime when answering questions and expressing his position, it means that we ourselves are setting a precedent we all can be subjected to tomorrow," Misiunas said.
Vaitkus says he has not received any information about the pre-trial investigation and has not been questioned yet.
"I have not seen it, I have not been questioned, and only know from media reports that here's an ongoing pre-trial investigation into my actions," the former presidential candidate said at the Seimas on Friday.
As BNS reported earlier, while in Minsk at the beginning of this week, Vaitkus stated that there's no legitimately elected president in Lithuania and that Lithuania is on the path of destruction of the Lithuanian nation and statehood.
The Belarusian news agency BelTA and several news websites widely reported on the politician's meetings and statements made in Minsk where Vaitkus met with the leader of the Belaya Rus party and held a press conference.
Vaitkus also said on Friday he repeated his claims about the alleged illegitimacy of the Lithuanian president in a letter to the ambassadors of unnamed countries.
Earlier in the day, MP Laurynas Kasciunas, of the opposition conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, vowed to table a law on preventing actions against Lithuania and amendments to the Criminal Code to make "our legal system is more prepared to fight against elements that are openly hostile to the state".
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Lithuanian PM meets Moldovan president, voices support for EU path
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas met with Moldovan President Maia Sandu on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in Tirana, Albania, on Friday and voiced Lithuania's support for Moldova's path to the European Union.
"Pleasure to meet with Maia Sandu on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit. Lithuania's support for Moldova's EU path, implementation of the reform agenda, and resilience building is steadfast and unwavering. Looking forward to deeper discussions on the strengthening of our partnership in Chisinau soon!," the premier posted on X.
Sandu submitted Moldova's application for EU membership just after Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In June, Moldova formally started its EU accession negotiations.
Last year's referendum saw 50.46 percent of voters support Moldova's accession bid, but the Moldovan authorities have also reported numerous attempts to destabilize elections in the country, including the spread of disinformation, vote-buying, death threats, cyber-attacks and the organized transportation of voters to cast their ballots.
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Lithuania's ties with China must be based on respect for human rights – activist
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS – Diplomatic relations between Vilnius and Beijing are possible but they must be based on respect for human rights, Robertas Mazeika, a member of the Tibet Support Group, said as the group held a protest in Vilnius over the plight of political prisoners in China.
"We must base all our relations on how China respects international law and human rights," Mazeika told BNS.
"We have to treat China the same way we treat Russia. Why do we have the courage to have the kind of relations with Russia that we have now? Because China is an enabler of the war in Ukraine. This isn't just about Tibetans – it's a global issue, a question of peace around the world," he said.
Mazeika said that while diplomatic ties are possible, economic interests should not be the driving force.
"Nobody is saying there shouldn't be diplomatic relations with China. Unfortunately, it is now China's decision to have no ambassador and to expel Lithuania's ambassador," the activist said.
"But we shouldn't look at this just through the lens of economic or other global interests. The foundation must be human rights and China's compliance with its commitments. Economic matters, yes, they are important, but they certainly can't dominate," he added.
Relations between Vilnius and Beijing soured in 2021 after the island opened its representative office in the Lithuanian capital.
The Vilnius office is called "Taiwanese" in Lithuanian and English, but its Chinese name uses the word "Taiwan."
Beijing sees this as an attempt by Taiwan to act as an independent state. In other countries, such offices operate under the name "Taipei."
China is calling for the name to be changed to normalize relations. Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas has said Lithuania is ready to normalize ties with Beijing.
The Tibet Support Group staged the protest outside Beijing's embassy in Vilnius to demand the release of the Panchen Lama, who was abducted by Chinese authorities three decades ago, and other political prisoners.
By Karolina Ambrazaitytė
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Lithuanian FM on Russia's willingness to negotiate peace: more like bid to stall for time
VILNIUS, May 16, BNS - The Russian delegation did not come to Istanbul with the aim of reaching a real agreement, but it rather wanted to stall for time, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys says as direct talks between Russia and Ukraine on ending the war ended in Turkey.
"The key question is probably whether these are real negotiations or an imitation of it and a id to stall a certain process. Judging from the way the preparations were made and the way the Russian side was chosen, it looks more like an effort to tall for time, rather than to sit down and negotiate," Lithuania's top diplomat told the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Friday.
"As neither their mandate was clear, nor was there a timeframe set in advance as to how things would continue," he added.
According to Budrys, by mimicking the negotiation process, Moscow is trying to avoid serious sanctions, which the European Union and the US have vowed to impose if Moscow does not agree to the ceasefire proposal.
The new sanction package, he said, should include all Russian financial institutions, an expanded list of products subject to higher tariffs, as well as energy companies.
"The Russian budget's main revenues come from exports of liquefied natural gas and oil," Budrys said, adding that the West can no longer allow itself to be "gulled by Russia".
"First of all, there has to be a ceasefire, Russia has to stop military actions in all military domains - land, sea, air, and they must stop attacking civilian infrastructure, agree on a format for negotiations and move forward," Budrys underlined.
By Jūratė Skėrytė
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