LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, May 27, 2025
- Lithuania turns away 11 irregular migrant on border with Belarus
- Bucharest Nine, Nordic transport ministers to visit Vilnius
- Lithuanian defmin heads to Japan, Singapore to discuss Indo-Pacific security
- Israel violating rights in Gaza, but criticism must come through engagement – Nauseda
- Lithuanian president hopes next EU sanctions package will be 'Molotov cocktail' for Russia
- Lithuanian PM on Russian-funded lawyers: law enforcement has information
- No site named for Lithuanian training area, but east or south seen as best – military
- Auditors won't assess LRT's neutrality, carry out normal performance audit – top auditor
- This year's Zapad drills won't be bigger or more threatening – Lithuanian military
- Lithuania takes delivery of part of purchased Bolide missiles, worth EUR 2 mln
- Lithuania needs to up its cybernetics game to catch up with NATO members – army rep
- Baltics to seek more EU funding for Rail Baltica project (expands)
- Lithuanian FM meets with EU ambassadors, calls for new sanctions against Russia
- Prosecutors to probe why Lithuania mishandled EUR 235 mln in EU funds
- Lithuanian president strips Vaitkus of state award
- Lithuania hands protest note to Russia over attacks on Ukrainian civilians
- We have people in Lithuania, acting against state, they have no influence – PM
- Lithuania hands protest note to Russia over attacks on Ukrainian civilians (expands)
- Lithuania will be able to borrow 'substantial amounts' from EU defense fund – Kubilius
- Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, May 27, 2025
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Tuesday, May 27, 2025:
PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to meet with PRIME MINISTER Gintautas Paluckas at 2 p.m.
PRIME MINISTER Gintautas Paluckas to meet with EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner at 11 a.m.; to meet with Microsoft representatives at 1 p.m.
DEFENSE MINISTER Dovile Sakaliene to pay a visit to japan.
JUSTICE MINISTER Rimantas Mockus to pay a visit to Athens and meet with his Greek counterpart Georgios Floridis.
FOREIGN MINISTER Kestutis Budrys to meet with EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner.
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Lithuania turns away 11 irregular migrant on border with Belarus
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have turned away eleven migrant attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally over the past 24 hours, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Tuesday morning.
Latvia reported 32 illegal border crossing attempts on Monday. Poland denied entry to 158 irregular migrants on Sunday, according to the latest available information.
Lithuania has barred 756 irregular migrants from entering from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year. It denied entry to 1,002 irregular migrants 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 blocked around 23,600 attempts by foreign nationals to cross into the country illegally from Belarus since the start of the migration crisis.
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Bucharest Nine, Nordic transport ministers to visit Vilnius
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Vilnius is hosting on Tuesday transport ministers from the Bucharest Nine (B9) and Nordic countries, along with European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius and other senior EU and NATO officials.
"The meeting will focus on the strategic infrastructure projects that support defense and deterrence, EU investment priorities and NATO mobility needs, resilience against hybrid threats of jamming, spoofing, and other disruptions, as well as key areas of regional cooperation," the Lithuanian Transport Ministry said in a press release.
"Particular attention will also be devoted to closing funding gaps and aligning NATO requirements with EU regulations and financial mechanisms, in order to ensure the smoothest possible movement of Allied forces throughout the member states of the Eastern and North-Eastern flanks of the Euro-Atlantic area," it said.
Lithuanian Transport Minister Eugenijus Sabutis and his counterparts from Latvia, Estonia and Poland will also visit the Rail Baltica construction site in Jonava District on Tuesday.
"In pursuit of enhanced regional connectivity and additional EU financial support, the three Baltic ministers intend to sign a joint statement in Vilnius," the ministry said.
"For the first time, this year's B9 transport ministers' meeting in Vilnius will also include the participation of senior representatives from the transport ministries of the Nordic countries, the European Union and NATO," it noted.
The Bucharest Nine is a political cooperation platform of nine countries – Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary – aimed at strengthening Euro-Atlantic security.
The format was launched at a 2015 summit in Bucharest in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.
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Lithuanian defmin heads to Japan, Singapore to discuss Indo-Pacific security
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene will travel to Japan on Tuesday and will later visit Singapore.
As part of her visit to Japan from Tuesday through Thursday, Sakaliene is set to meet with Defense Minister Gen Nakatani; Takashi Endo, chairman of the House of Representatives' Committee on National Security; National Security Advisor Masataka Okano; and former Defense Minister Minoru Kihara.
The Lithuanian Defense Ministry said in a press release that the meetings will focus on security in the Indo-Pacific region, bilateral defense cooperation initiatives, the defense industry, cybersecurity, support for Ukraine and other issues.
Sakaliene will also join a debate with representatives of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, a think tank, on the Indo-Pacific region and relations with the United States.
She is also scheduled to visit a regional command center that oversees sanctions enforcement against North Korea, known as the Enforcement Coordination Cell (ECC).
This will be the first visit to Japan by a Lithuanian defense minister since 2014.
Sakaliene will then head to Singapore to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum from May 30 to June 1. On the sidelines of the forum, she is scheduled to meet with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles, Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and Singaporean officials.
Discussions will focus on bilateral ties, Indo-Pacific security and continued support for Ukraine.
The minister also plans to meet with Bastian Giegerich, director general of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
The Shangri-La Dialogue forum, held annually in Singapore, "is the top-level platform for defense debate in Asia, where decision-makers from Asia, Europe, the US, and other regions worldwide address the most relevant topics of regional security," according to the press release.
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Israel violating rights in Gaza, but criticism must come through engagement – Nauseda
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip violate humanitarian law, but stresses that criticism of the Jewish state can only be effective through cooperation, not isolation.
"I believe we must cooperate, because if we don't, all our remarks toward Israel will be pointless, because we would simply have no relationship with Israel," Nauseda told journalists on an LRT TV program on Monday.
"Sometimes the truth is bitter. It must be spoken, but shutting ourselves off and closing the door in every case might be easy, yet if Lithuania were to act like that, it would likely isolate itself," he added.
European Union member countries remain divided over criticism of Israel's actions and have failed to adopt a common position.
While Lithuania has taken a moderate stance, Nauseda said "you'd have to be completely blind" not to see that humanitarian law is being violated in Gaza.
"These violations exist; it's impossible not to see them," he said.
The president pointed to last week's incident in which Israeli forces fired warning shots at foreign diplomats, including the head of Lithuania's office in Palestine.
Israel has recently intensified its operations in the Gaza Strip, describing them as renewed efforts to destroy the Islamist group Hamas.
However, the international community has condemned these actions as Israel has been blocking humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza for nearly three months.
"There are plenty of violations that have drawn legitimate criticism around the world – and harsh criticism, too. Many are outraged that, once again, as always, innocent people are suffering. People in Gaza who aren't involved in the hostilities, children who are being denied the most basic human rights: access to food and clean water. And that's terrible," the president said.
"This has to be said – and it is being said – but unfortunately, the impact so far has been minimal," he added.
The International Criminal Court last year issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, including Hamas military commander Mohammed Deif, over the war in Gaza.
Israel launched its major military campaign following Hamas's October 2023 attack on the Jewish state.
That assault killed 1,218 people, most of them civilians. The militants also took 251 hostages. Fifty-seven remain in Gaza, including 34 the Israeli military believes are dead.
Gaza's health ministry estimates that the war has killed around 54,000 people, the majority of them civilians.
By Augustas Stankevičius
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Lithuanian president hopes next EU sanctions package will be 'Molotov cocktail' for Russia
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says he hopes the European Union's next sanctions package will deal a serious blow to the Kremlin's economy.
"(Vladimir) Putin is turning the entire world against him and truly deserves much tougher sanctions than those currently in place," Nauseda told journalists on an LRT TV program on Monday.
"I really hope our colleagues in the European Union will understand that the 17th sanctions package was just a warm-up; we have to prepare an 18th package that will hit like a real Molotov cocktail," the president said.
He made the remarks as Russia continues to intensify its drone attacks on Ukraine, including on the capital Kyiv.
Responding to the strikes and stalled peace talks, US President Donald Trump said that the Kremlin leader "has gone absolutely CRAZY."
"These are strong words and a completely adequate statement, because for us this has been clear for quite some time," Nauseda said.
As the Kremlin's war on Ukraine continues, the EU last week adopted its 17th sanctions package against the Kremlin, but some member states are already calling for an 18th.
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Lithuanian PM on Russian-funded lawyers: law enforcement has information
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuania's law enforcement authorities already had information about Lithuanian lawyers funded by a Russian foundation and their actions will follow shortly, Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas says after the country's public broadcaster LRT reported last week that a Russian-controlled foundation had financed lawyers working in Lithuania, as well as pro-Russian individuals.
"The wheels of law enforcement are turning slowly but surely, so I am sure we will also receive some news about these facts shortly," the prime minister told the LRT's The Topic of the Day on Monday.
"Both the State Security Department and the other services had and have the information you mentioned a little earlier and, as I said, we need to wait a little longer for legal action and the assessment."
The Russian-controlled Foundation for Supporting and Protecting the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad (Pravfond) financed lawyers in Lithuania, working on the high-profile January 13th case on crimes against humanity, and has given money to pro-Russian individuals, the LRT reported last week.
At least three lawyers practicing law in Lithuania have opened accounts with Sberbank, a Russian bank that is also subject to sanctions from 2022, in order to receive payment for their work from the Russian-controlled Foundation for Supporting and Protecting the Rights of Compatriots Living Abroad (Pravfond).
Rysardas Burda, the defense lawyer of the Lithuanian citizens convicted of crimes against humanity in the January 13th case, has requested at least 60,000 euros from the foundation since 2018. Lawyer Julija Asovskaja has presented a bill of 15,000 euros to Pravfond for the representation of Gennady Ivanov at the European Court of Human Rights, and lawyer Nikolaj Voinov has also requested 15,000 euros for the defense of Albertas Galinaitis at the ECHR, the public broadcaster reports.
According to the LRT, among the people who have received from or applied for funds from Pravfond are Stanislovas Tomas, who fled Lithuania to avoid prosecution, Edikas Jagelavicius, an associate of Algirdas Paleckis, who is imprisoned in Lithuania for spying for Russia, and Viaceslav Titov, a former councilor in Klaipeda.
The foundation also gave money for Paleckis' defense. Meanwhile, Kazimieras Juraitis has asked the fund for money for the legal proceedings against Erika Svencioniene.
"This is absolutely unacceptable and goes beyond the basic activity of having a different opinion. Well, taking money from the institutions of hostile states and using that money to organize an agency network, that already constitutes unlawful influence, an attempt to form the fifth column, which, thank God, we don't have really strong in Lithuania and our society is resistant to that. However, there is no need to test our society through the impunity of such actions," Paluckas said.
Established in 2011, Pravfond is under the supervision of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is headed by former Russian Ambassador to Lithuania Alexander Udaltsov.
Intelligence agencies in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and other Western countries have confirmed the foundation's direct links to Russian special services, and it's subject to EU sanctions from 2023.
According to the LRT, between 2012 and 2024, Pravfond has distributed over 6 million US dollars (around 5.4 million euros) to various activities in Western countries.
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No site named for Lithuanian training area, but east or south seen as best – military
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Military advice to the government does not name a specific location for Lithuania's planned new training area, but the most logical choice would be in the eastern or southern part of the country, Remigijus Baltrenas, chief of the Defense Staff of the Armed Forces, said on Tuesday.
"In the military advice submitted by the chief of defense to the (defense) minister, we clearly stated that we need a training area (...) for a brigade or two battalions," the lieutenant general told reporters. "The advice doesn't name a specific location, because that's a matter for broader discussion."
"Given where the threats come from – the borders with Belarus and Russia – and considering the focus on defense in those areas, it's obvious that those areas would make the most sense," he added.
Lithuania is looking for a site for a new brigade-sized military training area amid the growing presence of allied troops in the country, an increasing number of conscripts and reservists, and new military equipment purchases.
Authorities are seeking an area of 20,000 hectares, which would make it the largest training area in Lithuania.
Last fall, the parliament gave the green light to set up new military training areas in the western districts of Taurage and Silale, but these will be smaller and will be used only for maneuvering.
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Auditors won't assess LRT's neutrality, carry out normal performance audit – top auditor
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS - State auditors will not assess the neutrality of Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT, Auditor General Irena Segaloviciene says, adding that this will be a normal performance audit.
"This is a traditional performance audit aimed at assessing economy, efficiency and effectiveness. The aspect of political neutrality was mentioned by the Seimas when it tasked us to carry out the audit. We will do economy, efficiency and effectiveness," she told the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Tuesday, adding that a plan for this audit is currently being drawn up.
Segaloviciene, a former advisor to President Gitanas Nauseda, says she has not spoken to anyone from the outside about the planned LRT audit and has not been pressured to do so.
"So far, I don't see any bad indications and I can't say," she said.
The top auditor stressed that auditors are autonomous and independent in drawing up audit plans and implementing them.
"I am involved in the review, especially when it comes to communication, what messages we are sending, I see the results, but I am not involved in the process itself. Auditors are responsible for the compliance with and the implementation of auditing standards," Segaloviciene said.
The results of the LRT audit are expected in November.
As BNS reported earlier, the Lithuanian parliament tasked the National Audit Office to carry out an audit of the public broadcaster LRT by November 3 in the middle of April.
The NAO is expected to assess how the LRT's activities comply with the principles of transparency, efficiency, effectiveness, accountability, impartiality, political neutrality and other principles. The audit will cover the period between 2021 and 2024.
The resolution states that an audit is necessary in response to the growing allocations the LRT receives from the state budget. The LRT's budget stands at 79.6 million euros this year an is projected to increase to 87.8 million euros in 2026 and grow further to 97.2 million euros in 2027.
LRT director general Monika Garbaciauskaite-Budriene says that, with the planned audit, the Seimas is laying the groundwork for a fundamental change in the LRT's direction.
Currently, the LRT's journalistic content is also being audited in terms of political neutrality on behalf of the LRT Council, and it has already drawn criticism from the media community, NGOs and some politicians.
Soon after receiving such a task from the LRT Council, Laura Saviciene, the head of LRT's Internal Audit Service, resigned.
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This year's Zapad drills won't be bigger or more threatening – Lithuanian military
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – This fall's Zapad, a large-scale joint military exercise by Russia and Belarus, will not be "bigger or more threatening" than it was four years ago, Remigijus Baltrenas, chief of the Defense Staff of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, said on Tuesday.
"No one can deny that Russia and Belarus still have hostile intentions – we see what's going on – but this year's Zapad isn't any bigger or more threatening than it was in 2021," he told reporters.
According to Baltrenas, it has been publicly declared that Zapad 2025 will involve 13,000 troops.
"Given the situation in Ukraine, Russia and Belarus simply can't afford a larger-scale exercise – it's physically impossible. (...) The Russians always underreport their numbers in their drills, but when you add everything up, the total still grows," the Defense Staff chief said.
"But this is being monitored. Both NATO intelligence and Lithuanian intelligence are carrying out their functions, early warning systems are in place, and for now we don't expect any surprises," he added.
Held every two years since 2009, the Zapad exercise is scheduled for September.
The officially stated objectives are to practice joint defensive and offensive operations, improve cooperation between the armed forces and test troops' readiness for various security scenarios.
However, the drills always raise concerns among officials in neighboring countries about the risk of unintentional incidents.
No Zapad exercise took place in 2023.
British intelligence has cited Russia's shortage of troops and equipment, as well as the Kremlin's unwillingness to face criticism for holding yet another show of force during the war in Ukraine, as likely reasons for the cancellation.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has said that Tarassis 25 – a Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) exercise scheduled to run at the same time as Zapad – will be the largest since the multinational force was established.
This fall, Lithuanian Armed Forces combat units will also take part in the Thunder Strike exercise, which will include tactical maneuvers across various locations and military training areas, in line with the country's national defense plan.
By Vilmantas Venckūnas
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Lithuania takes delivery of part of purchased Bolide missiles, worth EUR 2 mln
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS –Part of the Bolide missiles purchased for the Lithuanian Armed Forces has been delivered to the army, the Defense Ministry said on Tuesday.
The missiles were delivered to the army on Monday and are intended for the portable short-range anti-aircraft missile air defense system RBS-70, the ministry said. The received missiles are worth 2 million euros.
"The Bolide missiles are tailored for the RBS-70 anti-aircraft missile system, which, among other characteristics, is fully resistant to mechanical and electromagnetic interference," Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said.
This short-range system was chosen for its extreme ease of servicing, mobility and other features. It can effectively destroy air targets both day and night. Bolide missiles can effectively destroy air targets up to 9 km away and penetrate armor up to 200 mm thick.
The contract with Swedish company SAAB Dynamics AB for the acquisition of Bolide and MK-2 missiles guided by the RBS-70 short-range anti-aircraft missile system was signed in the fall of 2022. The total value of the Bolide missiles to be acquired is around 34 million euros.
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Lithuania needs to up its cybernetics game to catch up with NATO members – army rep
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS - The Lithuanian Armed Forces need to improve their knowledge of cybernetics as it's not on a par with that of other NATO member countries, Remigijus Baltrenas, chief of the Defense Staff, says.
"I will mention cybernetics and the space dimension, let's call it that way. These are the areas where we, as the Defense Staff, really need to look into and take an interest in. And there are objective reasons for that as simply those dimensions are not developed to the extent that they are in some NATO countries," Baltrenas told reporters on Tuesday after the end of the training exercise Thunder Fortress 2025 involving Lithuania's defense plan.
"We are very actively consulting with NATO countries having strong capabilities in that area, and this helps us to understand, at least on a theoretical level, how we should integrate those capabilities if they were to be allocated to us by NATO countries for our defense," he said.
Lithuania plans to allocate an additional 12-13 billion euros to national defense by 2030, which would raise defense funding to 5-6 percent of GDP.
By Vilmantas Venckūnas
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Baltics to seek more EU funding for Rail Baltica project (expands)
(adds last para)
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – The Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian transport ministers have agreed to jointly push for more European Union funding for Rail Baltica, the multi-billion-euro European standard-gauge railway project whose costs have surged, the Lithuanian Transport Ministry said on Tuesday.
In a joint statement signed in Vilnius on Tuesday, the ministers emphasized that "the Baltic countries must work together to secure long-term EU funding, finding sources for additional financing to accelerate the construction of Rail Baltica's main line and ensure the project's timely and efficient implementation," it said in a press release.
Lithuanian Transport Minister Eugenijus Sabutis said the project will need further EU funding beyond 2027, when the bloc's current investment period ends.
Sabutis has previously said that borrowing is being considered for the project, with a guarantee that the loan would be repaid from future EU funding.
In a joint report released last June, Baltic auditors warned that completing the planned works across the three countries could require an additional 10-19 billion euros, with 8.7 billion euros needed in Lithuania alone.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas has said that the entire Rail Baltica project is currently facing a funding gap of about 11 billion euros.
According to LTG Infra, Lithuania has so far secured 1.6 billion euros in funding for the Rail Baltica project, of which 289.6 million euros have already been used (250.5 million euros for construction works).
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Lithuanian FM meets with EU ambassadors, calls for new sanctions against Russia
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys met with the ambassadors of EU countries on Tuesday and briefed them on Lithuania's foreign policy priorities. The minister also called for the adoption of the 18th sanction package against Russia as soon as possible, the Foreign Ministry said.
Key geopolitical, foreign policy and European security issues were also discussed during the meeting, the statement said.
"Providing consistent support for Ukraine, strengthening national defense capabilities, maintaining a strong Euro-Atlantic link and further tightening international pressure on Russia are the four priority areas of Lithuania's foreign policy, which are directly related to the security of our state and are being given the highest attention," Lithuania's top diplomat was quoted as saying in the ministry's statement.
In his words, with the mass attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilians over the past few nights, Russia has once again cynically demonstrated that, empowered by impunity, it has no intention of accepting a ceasefire, nor of pursuing a lasting and sustainable peace.
"It is therefore imperative that the 18th package of sanctions be adopted as soon as possible, seriously targeting Russia's energy sector, all remaining aggressor banks and all remaining unauthorized shadow fleet vessels," the statement said.
Budrys also stressed the importance of merit-based EU enlargement and Ukraine's EU membership for a secure future. Ukraine is making progress and it is in everyone's common interest to help it as much as possible. With Denmark and Sweden's support, Lithuania is implementing the Ukraine2EU project aimed at accelerating Ukraine's EU accession process with a view to achieving full EU membership by January 2030.
The meeting also discussed the situation in the Middle East. Budrys stressed the need to seek the release of the hostages held by Hamas and to address the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip immediately.
"The existing situation there is a matter of great concern and humanitarian aid must not only be resumed but also significantly increased to meet the needs of the people of Gaza," the minister said.
The meeting, which traditionally takes place twice a year at the initiative of the presidency of the Council of the EU, was held at the invitation of Grzegorz Marek Poznanski, Poland's charge d'affaires in Lithuania.
Poland holds the rotating EU presidency until July 1.
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Prosecutors to probe why Lithuania mishandled EUR 235 mln in EU funds
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – After the National Audit Office found that Lithuania had mishandled more than 235 million euros in EU funding, the Prosecutor General's Office has launched an investigation into whether the institutions administering EU aid ensured proper oversight of how the money was allocated.
"The pre-trial investigation will aim to determine whether the institutions responsible for administering EU fund investments – the Central Project Management Agency and the Innovation Agency – properly fulfilled their duties in overseeing EU-funded projects and took all necessary steps to detect and address violations," the Prosecutor General's Office said in a press release on Tuesday.
The investigation was opened under a Criminal Code article that deals with failure to perform official duties.
As part of the probe, prosecutors will also look into whether the institutions failed to protect the public interest or caused harm to the state.
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Lithuanian president strips Vaitkus of state award
VILNUS, May 27, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Tuesday signed a decree stripping Eduardas Vaitkus, a former presidential candidate, of a state award, the presidential office said.
The decision is based on a recommendation of the Council for the Awards, issued after Vaitkus' recent visit to Minsk were he degraded the name of an awardee with his anti-Lithuanian statements.
Vaitkus received the award from the then President Rolandas Paksas in 2004.
As BNS reported earlier, while in Minsk several weeks ago, 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.
In response, Lithuania's police launched a pre-trial investigation into aiding another state to act against Lithuania. Vaitkus declined to comment on the probe, but his lawyer, Mazvydas Misiunas, told BNS later that the purpose of Vaitkus' trip was allegedly to restore "normal cooperation" and dialogue between the two countries and their people.
Speaking after Vaitkus' Minsk visit, Nauseda called him a "perfect example of the fifth column".
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Lithuania hands protest note to Russia over attacks on Ukrainian civilians
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – A representative of the Russian Embassy in Lithuania was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday and handed a note of protest over the Kremlin's ongoing military actions in Ukraine.
"Lithuania strongly condemns the killing of unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war and the intensified missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities. These attacks are killing or seriously injuring innocent civilians, including children, and destroying civilian infrastructure," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry stressed that these actions amount to war crimes, which are not subject to any statute of limitations, and warned that "all perpetrators of these crimes will sooner or later be held to account."
"Lithuania also notes that by failing to declare a ceasefire for at least 30 days, Russia is demonstrating its aggressive intent to continue the war it started and is fundamentally rejecting the international community's efforts to stop the killing of the Ukrainian population," the ministry said.
"Lithuania will continue to support Ukraine's efforts to defend itself against the invaders by all available means," it added.
By Dominykas Biržietis
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We have people in Lithuania, acting against state, they have no influence – PM
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS - There are people in Lithuania, acting against the state, but they cannot be called the fifth column because they have no influence within the society, Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas says.
"Yes, we have persons acting against the interests of our state, but to call them the fifth column is too great an honor for them because they have no influence within our society," the prime minister told reporters on Tuesday after his meeting with President Gitanas Nausada.
"Our nation is resilient and I am very happy and proud of that," he added.
Speaker of the Seimas Saulius Skvernelis was the first to start speaking about the formation of the fifth column in Lithuania, a view later echoed by the president. However, the prime minister says there's no fifth column in Lithuania.
On Tuesday, Paluckas backed the president's decision to strip Eduardas Vaitkus, a former presidential candidate, of a state award.
"Those statements or initiatives or communication with politicians and leaders of unfriendly countries are certainly not an honorable thing to do. Whether this can be qualified as a criminal offense of any kind is for the law enforcement authorities to assess and they will do so. But I think a such a person is not worth having a state award," the prime minister said.
Earlier in the day, Nauseda signed a decree stripping Vaitkus of a state award, the presidential office said.
The decision is based on a recommendation of the Council for the Awards, issued after Vaitkus' recent visit to Minsk were he degraded the name of an awardee with his anti-Lithuanian statements.
Vaitkus received the award from the then President Rolandas Paksas in 2004.
As BNS reported earlier, while in Minsk several weeks ago, 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.
In response, Lithuania's police launched a pre-trial investigation into aiding another state to act against Lithuania. Vaitkus declined to comment on the probe, but his lawyer, Mazvydas Misiunas, told BNS later that the purpose of Vaitkus' trip was allegedly to restore "normal cooperation" and dialogue between the two countries and their people.
Speaking after Vaitkus' Minsk visit, Nauseda called him a "perfect example of the fifth column".
By Jūratė Skėrytė
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Lithuania hands protest note to Russia over attacks on Ukrainian civilians (expands)
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – A representative of the Russian Embassy in Lithuania was summoned to the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday and handed a note of protest over the Kremlin's ongoing military actions in Ukraine.
"Lithuania strongly condemns the killing of unarmed Ukrainian prisoners of war and the intensified missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities. These attacks are killing or seriously injuring innocent civilians, including children, and destroying civilian infrastructure," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry stressed that these actions amount to war crimes, which are not subject to any statute of limitations, and warned that "all perpetrators of these crimes will sooner or later be held to account."
"Lithuania also notes that by failing to declare a ceasefire for at least 30 days, Russia is demonstrating its aggressive intent to continue the war it started and is fundamentally rejecting the international community's efforts to stop the killing of the Ukrainian population," the ministry said.
"Lithuania will continue to support Ukraine's efforts to defend itself against the invaders by all available means," it added.
Russia has recently stepped up drone attacks on Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv.
Moscow claims it is targeting military infrastructure, but its strikes are mostly killing civilians, including children.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said during a meeting with EU ambassadors earlier on Tuesday that with the mass attacks of recent nights, Russia had once again cynically demonstrated that, emboldened by impunity, it has no intention of agreeing to a ceasefire or pursuing a lasting and sustainable peace.
Lithuania's top diplomat therefore urged the swift adoption of the EU's 18th sanctions package.
As the Kremlin's war in Ukraine continues, the EU adopted its 17th sanctions package against Moscow a week ago. Among other things, it provides for around 200 oil tankers used to circumvent restrictions on Russian oil exports to be added to the blacklist.
Meanwhile, Lithuanian political leaders are calling for sanctions on more vessels from the so-called Russian shadow fleet, as well as on energy companies, liquefied gas exports, and additional banks from the aggressor state.
By Dominykas Biržietis
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Lithuania will be able to borrow 'substantial amounts' from EU defense fund – Kubilius
VILNIUS, May 27, BNS – As Lithuania plans to apply for loans from a 150-billion-euro fund the EU is creating, Lithuanian EU Defense and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius says the country will be able to borrow "substantial amounts" on attractive terms.
"There is no limit to the amount one can apply for, so Lithuania can claim quite substantial amounts according to its fiscal situation," Kubilius told reporters in Vilnius on Tuesday. "These (...) loans are really attractive because the EU guarantees them with its budget, in other words, the EU borrows the money on its own behalf. They are cheap enough, they are long-term."
Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius said on Tuesday that Lithuania, together with other neighboring countries, is already preparing to apply for loans from the EU defense fund.
To receive funding, countries will have to find partners to carry out projects, Kubilius pointed out.
"Partners need to be found to make use of these loans and joint procurement needs to be carried out. Ukraine might be among such partners, and it is also possible to buy from the Ukrainian defense industry for Ukraine itself. I also hope that countries will use this opportunity to strengthen their support to Ukraine," Kubilius said.
Sadzius said earlier that financial aid from the new fund could be used to attract suppliers from Canada, the United Kingdom and other friendly countries.
Editor: Roma Pakėnienė
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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, May 28, 2025
VILNIUS, May 28, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Wednesday, May 28, 2025:
DEFENSE MINISTER Dovile Sakaliene to continue her a visit in Japan.
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