LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN
IN THIS ISSUE:
- Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 25, 2025
- Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
- Lithuanian president, other NATO leaders expected to agree on 5 pct defense spending goal
- Ten-year timeline for NATO's 5 pct defense spending goal 'far too long,' – Lithuanian FM
- Middle East truce, if it holds, will deal a blow to 'axis of evil' – Lithuanian president
- Lithuanian citizens advised against travel to Gulf states amid rising Middle East tensions
- Israel is in an existential struggle, now's not time for EU to review cooperation – Budrys
- Northrop Grumman to produce ammunition in Lithuania with Norway's NAMMO - BNS EXCLUSIVE
- MigDep proposes closing Tajikistan center for Lithuanian residence permits
- Lithuania continues search for Russian who jumped off train, alerts foreign partners
- Lithuanian border guards gather info after German's brief entry into Russian airspace
- Lithuanian president calls for "making NATO great again"
- Lithuanian defense minister removes military intelligence chief from office - BNS EXCLUSIVE (expands)
- Lithuanian govt proposes Varvuolis as ambassador to United States
- Lithuanian Desovietization Commission resigns after politicians' criticism
- Dismissal of military intelligence chief has to do with employment relations – PM
- Skvernelis says he was not informed about military intelligence chief's removal
- Nemunas River research launched in Lithuania to tackle pollution
- New bill allows Lithuania to impose national sanctions on Russia, Belarus
- Military intelligence chief dismissed amid review of working atmosphere – minister
- Lithuanian defmin on Russian who fled train: unlikely such incidents won't happen again
- President on military intelligence chief's dismissal: not the best way to say goodbye
- Appointment of military intelligence chief should be decided at higher level – Skvernelis
- Trump will ensure NATO allies follow through on defense spending pledge – Nauseda
- Lithuanian FM: broad support for Ukraine's NATO membership in The Hague, despite document
- Lithuanian defmin says she has candidate for military intelligence chief
- Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, June 26, 2025
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 25, 2025
VILNIUS, Jun 23, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 25, 2025:
PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to attend the NATO Summit in The Hague.
THE CABINET to hold its regular meeting at 11.30 a.m.
DEFENSE MINISTER Dovile Sakaliene to attend the NATO Summit and sideline events in The Hague.
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Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Lithuanian border guards recorded no attempts to cross into the country from Belarus illegally for the third day in a row on Tuesday, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Wednesday morning.
Latvia reported 20 illegal border crossing attempts on Tuesday. Poland denied entry to 39 irregular migrants on Monday, according to the latest available information.
Lithuania has barred 872 irregular migrants from entering from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year, after turning away 1,002 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.
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Lithuanian president, other NATO leaders expected to agree on 5 pct defense spending goal
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and other NATO leaders are expected to sign off on a pledge in The Hague on Wednesday to raise defense spending from the current 2 percent of GDP to 5 percent over the next decade.
The proposed target would be split into two parts: 3.5 percent of GDP would go toward core military needs and the remaining 1.5 percent would cover defense-related spending, such as protecting critical infrastructure, boosting innovation in the defense sector and strengthening defense industries.
"The declaration is basically agreed. Unless something very unexpected happens, it will be adopted on Wednesday," Asta Skaisgiryte, the president's chief foreign policy advisor, told BNS. "It sets out 5 percent as the defense funding goal for allies to reach by 2035."
"In our view, this is a major step forward. Lithuania and other like-minded countries have said this level of funding would be adequate under the current geopolitical conditions, and now that position is being recognized at the Alliance level," she added.
Lithuania plans to allocate just over 4 percent of GDP to defense this year, and 5.25 percent next year.
Although allies have tentatively agreed on the increase, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said over the weekend that his country would not have to reach the five percent target.
Skaisgiryte said the declaration does not mention any exceptions.
"There are no exceptions for any ally in the document. On the contrary, it states that the Alliance will follow through on this commitment," she said.
Observers say the agreement is likely to reassure President Donald Trump, who has cast doubt over whether the US would defend allies that spend too little on defense.
However, Trump says the US should not be bound by the target, while insisting that its allies must.
"We've been supporting NATO so long. (...) So I don't think we should (raise spending to 5 percent of GDP), but I think that the NATO countries should, absolutely," he said.
The US currently spends around 3.4 percent of its GDP on defense.
This year's summit in The Hague is expected to be brief, as is the declaration adopted afterward. Still, Skaisgiryte said the document reflects key issues for Lithuania.
"The 5 percent goal is the central point, but the declaration also identifies Russia as a long-term threat and reaffirms that NATO's Article 5 is solid and will be upheld," she said.
Unlike in previous years, the declaration will not mention Ukraine's prospects for NATO membership. However, allies are expected to reaffirm their commitment to supporting Kyiv.
According to BNS diplomatic sources, the declaration is also expected to include the possibility of counting aid to Ukraine as part of defense expenditure.
Lithuania has committed to allocating 0.25 percent of its GDP annually to Ukraine's defense needs.
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Ten-year timeline for NATO's 5 pct defense spending goal 'far too long,' – Lithuanian FM
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – As NATO allies move toward a goal of raising defense spending to 5 percent of GDP over the next decade, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys says the timeline is "far too long."
"Our ambition to do it in five years already seemed too long. Now setting a ten-year timeline is far too long," Lithuania's top diplomat told reporters in The Hague on Tuesday as NATO's two-day summit got underway.
NATO member states agreed on the 5 percent of GDP goal ahead of the summit. However, Spain claims it secured an exemption to spend less. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has insisted that there is no "opt-out" from the agreement.
Belgium, for its part, has also called for greater flexibility.
Budrys said that there had been challenges in reaching the current 2 percent benchmark, but raising doubts about the new commitment right from the start "is a bad sign."
"Each of us faces different situations at home, different kinds of pressure. (...) I'm not making excuses, just trying to understand why this is happening, but that can't be a reason to avoid commitments to allies," he said.
NATO's push to boost defense spending has come under pressure from the United States. But President Donald Trump has questioned whether the US should be bound by the new target, even though he insists that other allies must.
The US currently spends around 3.4 percent of its GDP on defense.
Lithuania plans to allocate just over 4 percent of GDP to defense this year, and 5.25 percent next year.
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Middle East truce, if it holds, will deal a blow to 'axis of evil' – Lithuanian president
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says that if a truce between Israel and Iran holds, it will deal a blow to the so-called axis of evil.
"We see Iran as part of the axis of evil. Alongside Russia and North Korea, Iran is a state that contributes to rising tensions not only in the Middle East but also supports Russia in its war against Ukraine," Nauseda told reporters before departing for the NATO summit in The Hague on Tuesday.
"So if this ceasefire holds, I'd say it will deal a blow to that axis, delay the timeline of Iran's nuclear program, and possibly even prevent it from being implemented," he added.
As Israel continues its military campaign in the Gaza Strip, tensions in the region escalated further in mid-June when the Jewish state struck Iran, justifying the attack on Tehran's nuclear and military facilities as an attempt to thwart Iran's efforts to develop nuclear weapons.
Iran, which continues to insist that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, responded with missile strikes on Israel.
Last weekend, the United States entered the conflict with massive air strikes that Washington said destroyed Tehran's nuclear program, although some officials warned that the extent of the damage was unclear.
On Monday, Iran said it had attacked a US military base in Qatar. According to Qatari officials, the attacks were successfully repelled.
On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
However, shortly afterward, both Iran and Israel accused each other of violating the truce announced earlier that morning.
"If the ceasefire proves fragile, well, then we'll be facing yet another hotspot," Nauseda told reporters.
"And, of course, the spread of that hotspot will definitely have negative consequences for the war in Ukraine – both by diverting global attention and by sharply pushing up oil prices, which undoubtedly benefit Russia, which rubs its hands every time it sees the price of black gold rising on global markets," he said.
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Lithuanian citizens advised against travel to Gulf states amid rising Middle East tensions
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry is advising against travel to countries in the Persian Gulf.
The ministry says renewed military activity in the region is creating risks that could spread throughout the wider region.
It warns that some countries may close their airspace, and therefore recommends that Lithuanian citizens avoid traveling to the Gulf states.
"We advise Lithuanians currently in Bahrain, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia to stay in safe locations, follow local authorities' updates, and comply with safety instructions," the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
The security situation in the region worsened on June 13, when Israel struck Iran. The Israeli leadership justified the attack on Tehran's nuclear and military facilities, as well as top-ranking military officers, as an effort to thwart the country's attempts to develop nuclear weapons. Israeli strikes also hit residential areas.
Iran, which continues to insist that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, responded with missile strikes on Israel.
Last weekend, the United States entered the conflict with massive air strikes, which Washington said destroyed Tehran's nuclear program, although some officials warned that the extent of the damage was unclear.
On Monday, Iran said it had attacked a US military base in Qatar. According to Qatari officials, the attacks were successfully repelled.
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Israel is in an existential struggle, now's not time for EU to review cooperation – Budrys
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS - As Iran and Israel have been shelling each other for more than a week, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys says now is not the right time for the European Union to review its cooperation agreement with Israel.
The EU decided to do so at the end of May because of alleged human rights violations in the Gaza Strip.
Brussels made the move after receiving overwhelming support from 27 member states at a meeting of EU foreign ministers to put pressure on Israel. Lithuania was against it.
"Israel is currently in an existential struggle with Iran, is being hit by ballistic missiles and needs political support to stand its ground. This is not the time to review treaties, to review how we trade. (...) We cannot think of a worse time," Budrys told reporters on Tuesday.
On the other hand, Lithuania's top diplomat admits that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip cannot be ignored.
"The situation is really bad, this is obvious to everyone. There is a shortage of aid, a shortage of food, a shortage of basic necessities, and finally a shortage of water," Budrys said. "Israel has a duty to improve the situation, to let trucks (with aid - BNS) in."
Nevertheless, the EU is struggling to have any influence on the conflict because of long-standing divisions within the bloc between countries that support Israel and those that are seen as more pro-Palestinian.
Tensions in the region were exacerbated when Israel struck Iran in mid-June, justifying its attack on Tehran's nuclear and military facilities and senior military officers as a bid to thwart the country's efforts to build a nuclear weapon. Israeli strikes have also hit residential areas.
Iran, which has so far claimed to be developing its nuclear program for civilian purposes, responded with missile attacks on Israel.
"We are interested, as is the entire international community, in preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons," Budrys underlined.
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Northrop Grumman to produce ammunition in Lithuania with Norway's NAMMO - BNS EXCLUSIVE
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – US defense giant Northrop Grumman plans to manufacture medium-caliber ammunition at Lithuania's Giraite Armament Factory in partnership with Norway's ammunition producer NAMMO.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene and representatives of the two companies signed a memorandum of understanding in The Hague on Tuesday on the sidelines of the NATO summit. The document had previously been signed by Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius.
Deputy Defense Minister Loreta Maskalioviene, who is also currently in The Hague, told BNS that the deal will not only help ensure Lithuania's ammunition supply but also make the country "an important link in international supply chains."
"By strengthening our national defense industry, we are investing not just in technological capabilities but also in Lithuania's resilience to crises," the vice-minister said.
"This is a long-term investment in national and regional security that will yield results not only today but also in the future," she added.
The new agreement replaces a previous memorandum signed by the Defense and Finance Ministries and Northrop Grumman in late September.
While earlier plans called for producing 30 mm rounds, the new agreement envisions more flexible production lines capable of manufacturing ammunition ranging from 20 mm to 50 mm.
It is not yet clear when a final contract will be signed. Lithuania plans to continue negotiations with the US and Norwegian companies on the establishment of a new facility.
Sakaliene said in a press release later on Tuesday that the ammunition production would be primarily aimed at meeting the needs of the Lithuanian Armed Forces, ensuring uninterrupted supply.
"This agreement is important for the development of our national division by 2030 and for enhancing the capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces," Sakaliene said.
"It will increase the country's strategic autonomy in defense and deepen our partnerships with our NATO allies the United States and Norway. The ammunition we plan to produce is critically important for the Lithuanian military, our allies and Ukraine," she added.
Northrop Grumman and NAMMO will provide the Giraite factory with ammunition production technologies, equipment and technical expertise.
As part of the project, the state-owned factory will be integrated into Northrop Grumman's international supply chains, and the US company will be involved in supplying ammunition produced in Lithuania to international markets.
NAMMO will act as a subcontractor to Northrop Grumman.
NAMMO, an international aerospace and defense company headquartered in Norway, is equally owned by the Norwegian government and Finland's Patria. The latter is owned by the Finnish government (50.1 percent) and Norway's Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace (49.9 percent).
Medium-caliber ammunition is suitable for the Lithuanian Armed Forces' Vilkas infantry fighting vehicles and for Swedish-made CV90 vehicles that Lithuania plans to procure.
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MigDep proposes closing Tajikistan center for Lithuanian residence permits
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Lithuania's Migration Department has proposed closing an external service center in Tajikistan that accepts applications for temporary residence permits in Lithuania, the public radio LRT reports on Wednesday.
According to the department's data, some 6,250 citizens of this Central Asian country had Lithuanian residence permits in early June. The number of immigrants from Tajikistan has almost quintupled over the past two years.
Evelina Gudzinskaite, head of the Migration Department, told the LRT radio that Tajiks often stay in Lithuania illegally after the expiry of temporary permits.
"If we look at the data on illegal migration, the number of Tajik citizens who do not leave on time in good faith, who have to be obliged to leave, that is, we have to make decisions to return them, is higher in percentage terms than that of, for example, Uzbeks," she said.
According to Gudzinskaite, Tajiks also periodically appear at the Belarusian border with Lithuania and try to enter the country illegally.
There are currently 31 external service providers operating abroad, down from 34 last year, following the closure of such offices in Lebanon, Jordan and Sri Lanka.
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Lithuania continues search for Russian who jumped off train, alerts foreign partners
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Lithuanian police continue to search for a Russian citizen believed to have jumped off a Kaliningrad transit train last week and have alerted foreign partners about the incident.
"Intensive search efforts are underway. There's quite a lot of information, much of it vague. It takes time to analyze all incoming data and continue a targeted search," Deputy Police Commissioner General Renaldas Zekonis told reporters on Wednesday after a meeting of the parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs.
Zekonis declined to comment on whether the man may have already left the country.
He said, however, that foreign partners have been informed.
"This is a breach of the Schengen Area, so Schengen procedures apply," he said.
Julius Sabatauskas, chairman of the parliamentary committee, said the current procedure for inspecting transit trains is "unsatisfactory."
Danil Mukhametov, a Russian citizen born in 2004, unlawfully left the Adler–Kaliningrad train while it was transiting Lithuania on June 17.
According to police, about 25 minutes before the train was due to reach the Kybartai railway station, an attendant noticed an open train door while the train was moving between Pilviskiai and Kybartai, through which the man may have jumped.
Lithuanian Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic has set up an interinstitutional task force to propose an updated response protocol for handling potential incidents related to the security of the Kaliningrad special transit scheme.
A similar incident was recorded in 2020, when an Uzbek national jumped off a train near Vilnius and died in what was reported as an accident.
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Lithuanian border guards gather info after German's brief entry into Russian airspace
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – A German citizen flying a light aircraft over the Curonian Spit may have briefly entered Russian airspace, Lithuania's State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Wednesday, adding that it is clarifying the circumstances and gathering information about the incident.
Preliminary data suggests that the single-engine SR20 aircraft may have crossed into Russia before quickly returning to Lithuanian airspace on Monday.
After the aircraft landed at Nida Airfield, border guards questioned the pilot. A German woman was also aboard the plane.
The pilot said the aircraft had lost its GPS navigation signal during the flight, which may have led to the brief entry into Russian airspace.
The SBGS is considering whether to launch administrative proceedings. The offense carries a fine ranging from 70 to 140 euros.
The service said it is verifying the details of the incident and exchanging information with the Lithuanian Air Force, the Transport Safety Administration and other relevant bodies.
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Lithuanian president calls for "making NATO great again"
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda arrived at the NATO summit in The Hague on Wednesday and called on allies to "make NATO great again" by substantially increasing defense spending.
"I think we should choose the motto "make NATO great again," he told reporters, echoing US President Donald Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again".
Nauseda believes that allies' planned commitment to increase defense funding to 5 percent of GDP should be at the heart of this NATO ambition.
According to the declaration to be adopted, this commitment should be fulfilled by 2035 and would be split into two parts: 3.5 percent of GDP would be allocated strictly to defense, while 1.5 percent of GDP could be earmarked for defense-related expenditure, such as the protection of critical infrastructure, defense innovation, and strengthening industry.
Political observers believe that the consensus to increase defense spending should reassure Trump who has threatened not to defend allies that spend too little on national defense.
Nauseda thanked the US president for his pressure to increase funding for national defense, saying that without Trump's involvement, NATO members would probably be debating the 2.5 percent funding limit, and even those discussions "would probably end in nothing".
"So, sometimes the external pressure, the pressure of our biggest ally is very useful in order to get the point, to understand the heat of the moment and to do our job," the Lithuanian leader said.
NATO must recognize the fact that it is currently lagging behind Russia as the latter manages to produce far more military equipment and ammunition than the whole Alliance, Nauseda pointed out.
Asked to comment on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's statements that a lack of economic competitiveness, not Russia, was the biggest threat to Europe is not Russia, Nauseda said that without military security all other aspects of life become irrelevant.
"If we lose our territorial integrity and independence, why we need this competitiveness? For what?" he asked.
Some allies were alarmed by Trump's pre-summit comment that his commitment under NATO's Article 5 "depends on your definition".
Trump said there were "numerous definitions" of Article 5. "I’m committed to being their friend," he said, asked whether he was committed to to NATO's core obligation to defend any member country attacked.
Nauseda says he's looking forward to talking about a common understanding of Article 5 at the summit, adding that for him the article is very clear.
"Article 5 is very simple: one for all, all for one," he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also in The Hague and is scheduled to meet with Trump later in the day.
Unlike in previous years, the NATO summit declaration will not mention Ukraine's prospects of joining the Alliance, but allies are expected to reaffirm their commitment to support Kyiv as it continues to fight against the Russian invasion.
By Saulius Jakučionis
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Lithuanian defense minister removes military intelligence chief from office - BNS EXCLUSIVE (expands)
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene has removed Colonel Elegijus Paulavicius, the outgoing chief of the country's military intelligence, from office.
According to information available to BNS, the head of the Second Investigation Department, has been transferred to the Defense Ministry's temporary reserve of professional military service personnel as of Wednesday.
Paulavicius was removed despite the fact that his term of office is due to expire in mid-August. BNS understands that the reason for his removal was his own request submitted in mid-June to terminate his professional military service contract at the end of his term of office.
Paulavicius was appointed head of military intelligence in August 2020.
He joined the Lithuanian Armed Forces in 1999 ad has served in a variety of positions within the system and has also worked at the NATO Joint Analysis and Lessons Learnt Center in Portugal.
The Second Investigation Department is one of Lithuania's two intelligence services responsible for ensuring and strengthening Lithuania's national security and defense.
By Jūratė Skėrytė
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Lithuanian govt proposes Varvuolis as ambassador to United States
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Lithuania's government on Wednesday proposed Gediminas Varvuolis as Lithuania's new ambassador to the United States.
Varvuolis, who has previously served as Lithuania's ambassador to Belgium and Japan would start working in Washington on August 1.
The Lithuanian government has already approved the recall of the current ambassador, Audra Plepyte, in early June and she will leave the US on July 14.
Plepyte started working in Washington in May 2021.
Prior to her appointment, Lithuania had not had an ambassador to the US since the end of the summer of 2020 as the nomination of ambassadors stalled after the presidential office and the Foreign Ministry had different positions on the matter.
Also on Wednesday, ministers approved the recall of Vaidotas Verba a Lithuania's representatives at the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe as of August 22.
In Lithuania, ambassadors are nominated by the government, approved by the the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs and then appointed by the president.
By Vilmantas Venckūnas
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Lithuanian Desovietization Commission resigns after politicians' criticism
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Lithuania's Desovietization Commission has decided to resign after criticism from politicians in recent weeks, Vitas Karciauskas, its chairman, said on Wednesday.
"Yes, by mutual agreement we decided to cease work," Karciauskas told BNS. "As to how this is going to happen, we'll set up an editorial board to prepare a document that we'll all sign."
"Since (politicians) have expressed no confidence in us, we can't continue working," he added.
More than 20 Social Democrat MPs have proposed disbanding the Desovietization Commission and handing over decisions on renaming streets and squares or removing monuments to municipalities.
The initiative has received support from Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas and Saulius Skvernelis, the speaker of the parliament. President Gitanas Nauseda has accused the commission of "politicking" and said he "wouldn't shed a tear" if it were disbanded.
Karciauskas said that the resignation also responds "to the legislative amendments and statements from top state officials declaring that we are unnecessary."
"The chairman of the Seimas Committee on Culture (Kestutis Vilkauskas) also said we're working inefficiently. We don't understand how we could be more effective, but if they (the politicians) think so, then let them do the work," he told BNS.
Critics of the Social Democrats' proposal say it will derail the desovietization process started after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Lithuania's ban on promoting totalitarian and authoritarian regimes and their ideologies came into force in May 2023. The law requires the removal of totalitarian and authoritarian symbols from public spaces.
Questions about whether specific sites violate the law are first reviewed by the Desovietization Commission, which is made up of experts, with final decisions made by the director general of the Genocide and Resistance Research Center of Lithuania (GRRCL).
Once the manager of the public site, monument or landmark is notified of the director general's decision, they must arrange for its removal, alteration or renaming within three months.
Some decisions have sparked controversy. Klaipeda's city council twice rejected proposals to rename Salomeja Neris and Liudas Gira streets. The Radviliskis district council refused to change the names of Salomeja Neris and Romanas Zabenka streets in Baisogala. Protests have been held in Vilnius over the planned removal of the Neris monument.
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Dismissal of military intelligence chief has to do with employment relations – PM
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – The defense minister's decision to remove Colonel Elegijus Paulavicius as the chief of the country's military intelligence from office has to do with employment relations, not national security, Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas says.
"More details, as far as it is possible in this situation, should be provided by the defense minister. I am aware of the situation and I think that the minister has made a weighed decision," the prime minister told reporters at the Seimas on Wednesday.
"The situation is in no way related to national security or military intelligence. It has to do with employment relations, the readiness of a person to continue in their position and similar things. (...) judging from the information provided (by the minister - BNS), her decision does not raise any questions for me," he said.
Paulavicius is not subject to any investigation, the prime minister said, refraining to provide any more information because of the protection of personal data.
Approached by BNS, Paulavicius confirmed the fact that he's been transferred to the professional military service reserve since Wednesday under Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene's order, although he had asked in mid-June to be dismissed from the professional military service from August when his term of office expires.
Paulavicius was appointed head of military intelligence in August 2020.
He joined the Lithuanian Armed Forces in 1999 ad has served in a variety of positions within the system and has also worked at the NATO Joint Analysis and Lessons Learnt Center in Portugal.
The Second Investigation Department is one of Lithuania's two intelligence services responsible for ensuring and strengthening Lithuania's national security and defense.
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Skvernelis says he was not informed about military intelligence chief's removal
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Speaker of the Lithuanian Seimas Saulius Skvernelis says he was not informed about the removal of Colonel Elegijus Paulavicius, the country's military intelligence chief, from office before his term expires.
Ge also criticizes the whole communication, saying that the public should also receive answers to questions about the colonel's dismissal.
"It seems to me that today, regardless of the position, regardless of the opposition, this question must be raised by everyone and the answer must be very clear," Skvernelis told journalists at the Seimas on Wednesday.
"Here we have, it seems to me, the removal of the head of one of the most important institutions, and we have no answer. For what? Maybe he did something? Did he work against the interests of the state? Although it is hard to believe, knowing him and his experience at the Second Investigation Department. We can only speculate here, but this is nonsense," the Seimas speaker added. "What is happening with such posts, we cannot have this type of communicated."
Approached by BNS, Paulavicius confirmed the fact that he's been transferred to the professional military service reserve since Wednesday under Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene's order, although he had asked in mid-June to be dismissed from the professional military service from August when his term of office expires.
Paulavicius says he does not know the reasons for the minister's decision. For his part, Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas says they are work-related and not related to national security.
The Defense Ministry is yet to comment on Paulavicius' dismissal as Minister Sakaliene is currently attending the NATO summit in The Hague.
Paulavicius was appointed head of military intelligence in August 2020.
He joined the Lithuanian Armed Forces in 1999 ad has served in a variety of positions within the system and has also worked at the NATO Joint Analysis and Lessons Learnt Center in Portugal.
The Second Investigation Department is one of Lithuania's two intelligence services responsible for ensuring and strengthening Lithuania's national security and defense.
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Nemunas River research launched in Lithuania to tackle pollution
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Nemunas 2.0, a newly established charity and support fund, said on Wednesday that it has launched water quality research of Lithuania's largest river as part of a broader effort to reduce its pollution.
According to Kestutis Skrupskelis, an ichthyologist and member of the fund's board, research on the Nemunas got underway earlier this year.
The aim is to carry out systematic monitoring of the Nemunas – the most extensive and comprehensive research ever conducted on the river. Once pollution levels are measured and the most affected areas identified, efforts will be made to curb the pollution.
The research has started in the upper section of the Nemunas in Lithuania, from the point where the river crosses the Belarusian border near Kapciamiestis to the Punia forest. Scientists say it is important to determine the quality of the water flowing in from Belarus and what pollutants it carries.
Researchers will then move downstream to assess the impact of Druskininkai on the river, including how effective the town's wastewater treatment facilities are.
Water quality will also be tested in Merkine, a small town in Alytus County, and in the largely undeveloped section below it, where the river flows through forests and is believed to be least affected by human activity.
The fund says it also plans to examine the impact of the town of Alytus on the river at a later stage.
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New bill allows Lithuania to impose national sanctions on Russia, Belarus
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – The Lithuanian government will be able to impose national economic sanctions on Russia and Belarus if the European Union fails to extend its measures.
On Wednesday, the parliament passed the amendments to the Law on Restrictive Measures Due to Military Aggression Against Ukraine with 93 votes in favor, none against and two abstentions.
The amendments were drafted by the Foreign Ministry and backed by the government, although Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas has said that if there is no regional agreement on sectoral sanctions, it makes little sense for Lithuania to act alone.
The changes will allow the government to impose two types of sanctions: asset freezes and sectoral restrictions.
Once the legislation takes effect, the government will be able to restrict the export of goods, technologies, services and software that could be used by the Russian or Belarusian military, or to strengthen their defense, security or industrial capabilities.
The government or its authorized institution will designate individuals, legal entities and organizations subject to the restrictive measures, based on criteria set out in the law.
The freezing of funds and economic resources will not apply to individuals already sanctioned under EU measures.
The legislation outlines five criteria for sanctioning individuals – three for restricting exports, and two for imports.
Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys, who initiated the amendments, said the need for such legislation became apparent over the winter, when the EU began facing difficulties in extending existing sanctions.
EU sanctions are extended by consensus among member states, but this time there are concerns that Hungary might veto the move.
If the EU fails to extend its sanctions, Lithuania is weighing two alternative options: Plan B would involve coordinated action among 26 member states, while Plan C would mean introducing national-level sanctions, the minister said.
Vilnius wants not only Lithuania but also other EU members bordering Russia or Belarus to impose measures if the EU sanctions are not extended. This would prevent goods from the two countries from entering the bloc by land and increase trade costs.
Budrys has said that Latvia, Estonia and Poland already have similar legal tools in place and can use them if needed.
The EU has adopted 17 sanctions packages against Russia since February 24, 2022, when Moscow launched its large-scale invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions target both specific individuals and key sectors and companies of the Russian economy.
Lithuania has also imposed its own national sanctions on Russian and Belarusian citizens. These include entry restrictions, limits on issuing residence permits, and additional security checks for those arriving from outside the EU. Russian and Belarusian citizens are also prohibited from bringing or taking Ukrainian hryvnias into or out of Lithuania, and the import of agricultural products and feed originating from Russia or Belarus is banned.
Russian citizens without residence permits are also barred from purchasing real estate in Lithuania.
By Jūratė Skėrytė
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Military intelligence chief dismissed amid review of working atmosphere – minister
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Lithuania's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene dismissed Colonel Elegijus Paulavicius, the country's military intelligence chief, amid an ongoing probe into the working atmosphere at the Second Investigation Department.
Approached by BNS, Paulavicius confirmed the fact that he's been transferred to the professional military service reserve since Wednesday under Sakaliene's order, although he had asked in mid-June to be dismissed from the professional military service from August when his term of office expires.
"The transfer to the reserve was carried out in order to ensure the smooth and uninterrupted work of a very important institution carrying out military intelligence and counter-intelligence," the ministry said in its statement to the press.
"The questions regarding smooth work have to do with the internal atmosphere in the organization and we are checking this information. While the investigation is ongoing, in order to ensure the smooth functioning of the institution and to enable them to perform their duties properly, a decision was made to move the head of this institution into the reserve for the last seven weeks before the end of his term of office," it said.
According to the ministry, in the current geopolitical context, the smooth functioning of the intelligence institution is a non-negotiable priority.
"We hope that the director will cooperate with the investigation and keep the interests of the state above personal ambitions," the ministry said.
Sakaliene told reporters in The Hague that the investigation had been launched following complaints from staff, but she refrained to comment on the details of these complaints or what the probe is looking into.
Paulavicius had to be transferred to the reserve because "it would be difficult to expect efficient and smooth operation" mid the ongoing probe, the defense minister pointed out.
She denied that she had any disagreements with the chief of military intelligence and said that she had not informed politicians or the public about her decision due to the specific nature of the SID work.
"Military intelligence is not an institution where we would like to go and tell everybody about any assumptions or any situations that are sensitive enough," the minister said. "Therefore, obviously, the most important goal is to investigate everything calmly, within the institution, to look into the circumstances and to make the best decisions."
Paulavicius says he does not know the reasons for the minister's decision. For his part, Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas says they are work-related and not related to national security.
The parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense is holding an extraordinary meeting on the issue on Friday.
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Lithuanian defmin on Russian who fled train: unlikely such incidents won't happen again
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – As Lithuanian police continue searching for a Russian citizen believed to have jumped off a Kaliningrad transit train, Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene says it is unrealistic to expect that such incidents will not happen again.
"It's hard to expect that, under the current circumstances, we won't face such complex or unexpected situations. Russia's level of activity remains very high," she told reporters in The Hague on Wednesday.
Sakaliene emphasized that ensuring transit security requires "a lot of work from our institutions," including close cooperation and coordinated action.
The minister said she did not have the latest updates on the search for the Russian national who disappeared from the train last week but noted that Russia continues to carry out provocative activities.
"Their actions – from intelligence gathering to provocations and sabotage – have been ongoing for some time and are clearly continuing," she said.
Discussions on tightening transit controls began after Danil Mukhametov, a Russian citizen born in 2004, fled the Adler–Kaliningrad train while it was passing through Lithuania under a special transit arrangement.
According to police, about 25 minutes before the train was due to reach the Kybartai railway station, an attendant noticed an open train door through which the man may have jumped.
A similar incident occurred in 2020, when an Uzbek national jumped off a train near Vilnius and died in what was reported as an accident.
Transit between mainland Russia and Kaliningrad through Lithuania is currently regulated by an agreement between the European Union and Russia.
By Dominykas Biržietis
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President on military intelligence chief's dismissal: not the best way to say goodbye
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says the dismissal of military intelligence chief Elegijus Paulavicius before the end of his term is "not the best way to say goodbye".
"I think that the psychological climate just heated up a little bit and maybe there was a reaction from both sides. And I don't think this is the best way to say goodbye," Nauseda told reporters in The Hague on Wednesday.
"I think there is certainly a way to say thank you. And I wish Mr Paulavicius every success in any area of his life, if he decides to take another path. I give him my utmost support and hope that he will be able to serve the country in various positions," he added.
Paulavicius has been transferred to the professional military service reserve since Wednesday under Sakaliene's order, although he had asked in mid-June to be dismissed from the professional military service from August when his term of office expires.
Sakaliene told reporters earlier in the day that she made the decision amid an ongoing probe into the working atmosphere at the Second Investigation Department.
Nauseda says he values his constructive relationship with the defense minister and had been informed of her earlier decision to look for another candidate to lead military intelligence when Paulavicius' term of office ends.
"If a person, a candidate, is not proposed for a second term, it does not at all mean that they are doing a bad job. It is just that the minister, and she has that right as a leader, is looking for new priorities, she is looking for ways to perhaps strengthen certain aspects of the service. And this is her right, and we have had many cases where, well, I myself did not propose a person for a second term, but at the same time I thanked him for their good work," the president said. "(...) I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Paulavicius for the years during which he has shown himself to be both an active and a skillful head of this institution."
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Appointment of military intelligence chief should be decided at higher level – Skvernelis
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS - The appointment of Lithuania's new military intelligence chief should be decided at a higher level than it is done right now, Speaker of the Seimas Saulius Skvernelis says.
"If the president and the Seimas are involved in the appointment of the head of the State Security Department, a very important institution, then it is the minister's decision in this case (the appointment of the military intelligence chief – BNS). I think this appointment should be done at a higher level, it's certainly not the defense minister's competence level," the Seimas speaker told reporters at the Seimas on Wednesday adding that this issue should be tackled during this parliament.
Under the existing procedure, the head of th Second Investigation Department, Lithuania's military intelligence, is appointed by the defense minister.
Skvernelis made his remarks in response to Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene's decision to dismiss Colonel Elegijus Paulavicius as head of the country's military intelligence.
Paulavicius has been transferred to the Defense Ministry's temporary professional military service reserve since Wednesday under Sakaliene's order, although he had asked in mid-June to be dismissed from the professional military service from August when his term of office expires.
Paulavicius was appointed head of military intelligence in August 2020.
Sakaliene told reporters earlier in the day that she made the decision amid an ongoing probe into the working atmosphere at the Second Investigation Department.
The Second Investigation Department is one of Lithuania's two intelligence services responsible for ensuring and strengthening Lithuania's national security and defense.
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Trump will ensure NATO allies follow through on defense spending pledge – Nauseda
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – US President Donald Trump's leadership will ensure that NATO allies follow through on their pledge to significantly boost defense spending, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Wednesday.
"There's one factor, and it comes down to two words: Donald Trump. Today at the table, I heard a great deal of praise for his leadership, and I believe that (...) if not for President Trump, we wouldn't even be talking about 5 percent today. And we certainly couldn't expect such a level of defense spending to be set," Nauseda told reporters in The Hague.
NATO leaders agreed to raise defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035, with 1.5 percent of GDP going toward indirect costs related to national defense.
Nauseda said Trump has remained consistent in pressuring allies during his second term as US president.
"Is there a country today that would want to openly oppose the 5 percent goal, which is President Trump's demand? I don't think any of them would, whether openly or covertly," the Lithuanian president said.
“And that's probably the reliable guarantee that will help us move forward," he added.
According to Nauseda, raising defense spending to 5 percent of GDP would be not just a quantitative but also a qualitative leap in building up allied armed forces, which is especially important in the face of Russia's confrontation with NATO and continued aggression in Ukraine.
He also said that, in Lithuania's view, the 2035 target date is too far off, but “politics is the art of compromise."
The Lithuanian president also welcomed the fact that the NATO summit declaration retained a commitment to support Ukraine.
"Allies reaffirm their enduring sovereign commitments to provide support to Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours, and, to this end, will include direct contributions towards Ukraine's defense and its defense industry when calculating Allies' defense spending," the document reads.
By Saulius Jakučionis
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Lithuanian FM: broad support for Ukraine's NATO membership in The Hague, despite document
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys says he heard broad support in The Hague for Ukraine's NATO membership, despite the fact that the country's membership prospect was not mentioned in the summit's final declaration.
"We have had and will be opportunities to capture and bring that optimism home because (...) the absolute majority of countries are not only supporting Ukraine through their actions and concrete support, but they also support Ukraine's NATO membership," Budrys told BNS by phone from The Hague. "So in the longer term, we see this as a feasible thing."
He also said, however, that talks on Ukraine mostly focused on the need to ensure a ceasefire in the country's conflict with Russia and eventually peace.
"Without peace, we will not jump on the issue of NATO membership”," Lithuania's top diplomat said.
The NATO summit declaration on Wednesday reaffirmed allies' "enduring sovereign commitments to provide support to Ukraine, whose security contributes to ours, and, to this end, will include direct contributions towards Ukraine's defense and its defense industry when calculating Allies' defense spending", but it did not mention Ukraine's membership, despite the fact that the outcome documents of previous summits have mentioned that Ukraine will eventually become part of the bloc.
Budrys urged people not to compare this declaration with previous ones.
"I would look, however, at what has been included and mentioned in the declaration, which is five points, half a page, and not at what is missing compared to last year," the minister said. "This year, what we have at this summit is that Ukraine was mentioned and also the importance of the Ukrainian struggle for our security. (...) The fact that we did have the NATO-Ukraine Council meeting, (...) we did have very good-quality and good talks. The fact that we have President (Volodymyr - BNS) Zelensky here is an achievement."
He urged people to compare today's situation not with what was a year or two ago, but with the mood with which allies observed the first actions of US President Donald Trump before and after his inauguration.
"We had a great deal of apprehension, and we remember it ourselves, that maybe the (Hague - BNS) summit would not happen at all, whether the US (president - BNS) would come or not, whether Article 5 would remain in force," Lithuania's top diplomat said.
"So today, what I heard from President Trump during the leaders' meeting, is that the US commitment is working, that the US needs a strong alliance, that it wants all of us to do our part - and that's the way it should be," Budrys said.
As BNS reported earlier, NATO leaders agreed to raise defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035, with 1.5 percent of GDP going toward indirect costs related to national defense.
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Lithuanian defmin says she has candidate for military intelligence chief
VILNIUS, Jun 25, BNS – Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene says she has already found a candidate to lead the country's military intelligence service, the Second Investigation Department.
Already known to President Gitanas Nauseda, the person will replace Colonel Elegijus Paulavicius who was dismissed on Wednesday.
Sakaliene says that Paulavicius will be temporarily replaced by his first deputy Petras Zaptorius until the end of Paulavicius' term.
Paulavicius was transferred to the professional military service reserve on Wednesday, despite having submitted a request in mid-June to be dismissed from professional military service in August when his term of office expires.
"A new head can only be appointed after the end of the incumbent head's term of office, and this is what we plan to do. Yes, the nomination has been agreed with the president," Sakaliene told BNS when asked when she planned to appoint the new SID head and whether she already had a candidate.
The SID director is appointed by the defense minister's order.
Earlier on Wednesday, Sakaliene told reporters that she made the decision to dismiss Paulavicius due to an ongoing internal probe into the working environment at the department. According to her, this investigation was also launched on Wednesday.
The defense minister said that she had informed the president, as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas, as his immediate superior, and Chief of Defense General Raimundas Vaiksnoras about her decision to transfer Paulavicius to the reserve.
Paulavicius was appointed head of military intelligence in August 2020.
The Second Investigation Department is one of Lithuania's two intelligence services responsible for ensuring and strengthening Lithuania's national security and defense.
By Saulius Jakučionis
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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, June 26, 2025
VILNIUS, Jun 26, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Thursday, June 26, 2025:
PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to attend a European Council meeting in Brussels.
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