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LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN, June 10, 2025

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Lithuania in talks with Leopard makers to assemble tanks locally – defense minister - BNS INTERVIEW
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Lithuania turns away 5 irregular migrants on border with Belarus
Lithuania's defense spending to top 4 percent of GDP this year – defense minister
Lithuanian defense minister defends Israel visit: 'My job is weapons, not foreign policy'
Israeli embassy in Lithuania calls Gaza-bound activist boat 'selfie yacht'
Lithuania, 12 other EU countries call for EU response to GNSS interference
Ukraine's operation against Russian aviation shows there'll be incursions – Lithuanian FM
Law enforcement decisions key to assessing Lithuanian PM's conduct – presidential aide
Lithuanian financial crimes body launches probe into ILTE soft loan to PM's company
Lithuania hopes to attract Japanese defense investment – vice minister
Lithuanian financial crimes body launches probe into ILTE soft loan to PM's company (expands)
Dead seal count soars to 61 on Lithuanian beaches in May and June (media)
Radzevicius appointed to lead Lithuania's journalist ethics watchdog
Lithuania buys anti-drone systems to protect strategic energy sites
Lithuania withdraws from Energy Charter Treaty (updates)
US tariffs could shave up to 0.8 pp off Lithuania's GDP growth – c. bank economist
Lithuania offers condolences over Austrian school shooting
Several hundred people protest in Vilnius against property tax
Russia's brutality is beyond comprehension – Lithuanian FM in Ukraine
Lithuania Defense Services in talks to assemble Leopard tanks (media)
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Lithuania in talks with Leopard makers to assemble tanks locally – defense minister - BNS INTERVIEW

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – Lithuania is in talks with Leopard manufacturers to have the German-made tanks it plans to acquire assembled in the country in cooperation with local businesses."

"In the coming weeks, tank manufacturers will come to discuss the details of assembling the tanks in Lithuania. This is a very positive thing because it means a significant part of the value will be created in Lithuania," Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene told BNS in an interview.

Lithuania plans to purchase a total of 44 Leopard tanks.

Sakaliene did not specify which companies might be involved in the assembly process.

"There are certain initial options, including German-Lithuanian joint ventures that could handle a substantial part of the work," the minister said.

"Once the manufacturers are here, we'll negotiate how the assembly could be implemented in a way that both ensures the timely delivery of the tanks and keeps as much of the added value as possible in Lithuania," she added.

Under the initial agreement, tanks for the first company are expected to arrive in Lithuania in 2029, with a full tank battalion to be formed by 2034.

According to the minister, an advance payment will be made in the coming months to speed up delivery.

"We're now hoping the first tanks could start arriving in 2028. The bulk would come in 2029, with the remainder delivered in 2030," she said.

Lithuania is pushing to accelerate the deliveries as part of its goal to develop a fully operational national division by 2030.

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 10, 2025

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 10, 2025:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to continue his visit to Japan.

PRIME MINISTER Gintautas Paluckas to meet with Maria Leptin, president of the European Research Council, at 8.30 a.m.

INTERIOR MINISTER Vladislav Kondratovic to meet with Sirpa Rautio, director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, at 10 a.m.

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Lithuania turns away 5 irregular migrants on border with Belarus

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have turned away five migrants 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 35 illegal border crossing attempts on Monday. Poland denied entry to 200 irregular migrants on Sunday, according to the latest available information.

Lithuania has barred a total of 857 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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Lithuania's defense spending to top 4 percent of GDP this year – defense minister

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – Lithuania's defense spending will exceed four percent of GDP this year, Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said on Monday.

"Tentatively, it will probably be 4.04 percent of GDP this year," she told BNS in an interview.

Lithuania's 2025 budget earmarks around 2.5 billion euros, or just over 3 percent of GDP, for defense, but an 800-million-euro increase in the borrowing limit has made it possible to boost that figure.

At the start of the year, it was believed that this amount would be sufficient to raise defense funding to 4 percent of GDP, but faster-than-expected economic growth meant more money was needed to reach that target.

"That figure had dropped to around 3.92 percent, but now, with the additional funds, we will still top 4 percent," Sakaliene said.

She said the extra defense funding – around 116 million euros – comes from the Bank of Lithuania's profit contribution.

Lithuania aims to spend between 5 to 6 percent of GDP on defense between 2026 and 2030, with next year's target set at 5.25 percent.

The funds will go toward developing a military division and hosting a German brigade in Lithuania.

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Lithuanian defense minister defends Israel visit: 'My job is weapons, not foreign policy'

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – Despite the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Israel's prime minister over military actions in the Gaza Strip, Lithuania has lessons to learn from the country, Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene, who visited the Jewish state this spring, said on Monday.

Sakaliene dismissed criticism from some analysts and members of the public about her visit, emphasizing her goal of learning from Israel's military experience.

"My job, as defense minister, is more about weapons than foreign policy. And in this situation, I see Israel as one of the key sources for strengthening the Lithuanian Armed Forces," she told BNS in an interview.

Israel has recently stepped up its operations in Gaza, describing them as renewed efforts to destroy the Islamist group Hamas.

In response, the United Kingdom has suspended free trade negotiations with Israel. The Jewish state is also facing criticism from an increasing number of European countries, although the European Union remains divided on the issue.

Sakaliene visited Israel in April. After meeting with the country's defense minister, she said the two nations "are united by the fighting spirit."

She was the first Lithuanian defense minister in more than a decade to visit Israel. During her trip, she also met with representatives of the local defense industry to discuss potential cooperation.

"Israel's experience in developing its armed forces is important to us. It is essentially a reservist-based army. (...) Lithuania currently also has a great need to expand its armed forces, its military, and we're looking for ways to increase troop numbers as quickly as possible, with limited infrastructure and personnel resources," the minister told BNS in the interview.

"And right now we have very little time, very complex geopolitical circumstances, and unless told otherwise by our president or prime minister, I'm going to draw all useful experience for the Lithuanian military and armed forces from democratic countries that have that experience," she 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.

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Israeli embassy in Lithuania calls Gaza-bound activist boat 'selfie yacht'

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – After Israeli forces on Monday intercepted a boat carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, with 12 activists on board including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, the Israeli Embassy in Lithuania called the vessel a "selfie yacht."

"The 'selfie yacht' led by Greta Thunberg safely made its way to the shores of Israel. The passengers are safe and were provided with sandwiches and water, and are expected to return to their home countries," the embassy posted on its Facebook page.

"The tiny amount of aid that wasn't consumed by the 'celebrities' will be transferred to Gaza through real humanitarian channels," it added.

The embassy stressed that there are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip that "do not involve provocations and selfies."

More than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel over the past two weeks, and nearly 11 million meals have been delivered directly to civilians in Gaza by the US-backed organization Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), according to the post.

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Lithuania, 12 other EU countries call for EU response to GNSS interference

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – 13 EU member states have called on the European Commission to respond to interference with Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in EU countries.

The ministers for transport and digital affairs from 13 countries have sent a joint letter to the European Commission, urging immediate and coordinated action in response to interference with Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) originating from Russia and Belarus. Following Lithuania’s initiative, the letter also highlights the urgent need to accelerate the deployment of interference-resistant GNSS services, enhance the overall resilience of critical infrastructure, and strengthen safety and security across Europe.

"The current security environment demands a unified response to hybrid threats posed by hostile regimes, as well as close cooperation to strengthen Europe’s preparedness and resilience. Disruptions to GNSS signals have a direct impact on strategic sectors such as transport, energy, and telecommunications. To prevent potential incidents, we must act swiftly and decisively at the European Union level – not individually, but in a coordinated manner," Lithuanian Transport and Communications Minister Eugenijus Sabutis says.

In the letter addressed to the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas; Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius; Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas and other members of the European Commission, the ministers emphasize that since 2022, two types of interference to GNSS – jamming and spoofing – have been observed in the airspace of the Baltic Sea Region, posing a threat to various modes of transport, particularly civil aviation and maritime navigation.

The joint letter signed by the ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Germany, Slovakia, Finland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark, and Romania, also states that that GNSS interference cases are not random incidents but a systematic, deliberate action by Russia and Belarus, which can be used as a hybrid attack on strategic radio spectrum, essential for modern technology, regional safety, and security, particularly in transport.

Furthermore, the ministers call on the EU to increase diplomatic efforts to address the interference and apply pressure on the responsible parties, including legal action against responsible individuals and entities involved in the deliberate interference with GNSS signals, to enhance European safety and security.

Among other immediate actions, the ministers propose to intensify radio frequency monitoring and enhance civil-military coordination mechanisms among Member States for shared monitoring, data exchange, and possible response to GNSS interference. They also advocate for accelerating the deployment of interference-resistant GNSS services, particularly the anti-spoofing features of the Galileo program, and for upgrading and modernizing conventional navigation infrastructure.

In late February, presidential national security advisor Marius Cesnulevicius said that GPS interference had to do with Russia's step taken to defend itself from Ukraine's retaliatory strikes on Russian territory, adding that Lithuania was not a specific target.

Data from Lithuania's flight management company Oro Navigacija (Air Navigation) show that there were 440 reports on GPS interference in January, a tenfold increase from January 2024.

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Ukraine's operation against Russian aviation shows there'll be incursions – Lithuanian FM

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS - Ukraine's operation against the Kremlin's aviation shows that incursions into Russia will continue in the future, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys says.

"It (the operation - BNS) shows that Russia is vulnerable, it is not an impregnable fortress. It will be invaded in the future," Budrys said at a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha in Kyiv on Monday.

As BNS reported earlier, Ukraine launched a large-scale attack on Russian military aircraft and struck several bases in the country thousands of kilometers from the border. Ukraine says it caused damage worth 7 billion US dollars (6.17 billion euros).

"Ukraine is at the heart of the debate on global stability and security, and we are making every effort to achieve peace, recognizing that we have a huge challenge –Putin and his obsession with imperialism. We are trying to persuade him on a ceasefire, he is showing that he has no interest in it," Lithuania's top diplomat said.

In his words, Lithuania's support to Ukraine is and will remain comprehensive and long-term.

"I am here to reaffirm: Lithuania will be here for a decade and more, we will support defense, security, your reforms and your accession to the European Union. It’s our long-standing commitment," Budrys stressed.

Despite Hungary's objections, which are hampering Ukraine's EU accession process, he said, the latter must move faster and be based on the principle of merit.

Lithuania aims for Ukraine's EU accession date to be set for January 1, 2030.

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Law enforcement decisions key to assessing Lithuanian PM's conduct – presidential aide

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda's chief communication adviser Frederikas Jansonas said on Tuesday that law enforcement bodies' findings will be key to assessing Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas' conduct in connection with a company he partly owns that received a soft loan from the national development bank ILTE.

"What the Financial Crime Investigation Service (FCIS) is doing and what the Special Investigation Service (SIS) is reviewing are serious matters – whether the loan or loans were used lawfully and properly. That is the main issue and the answer right now," the adviser told Ziniu Radijas.

He added that while the findings of the Chief Official Ethics Commission, which has launched its own inquiry, "will be part of the picture," the responses from the FCIS and the SIS are "far more important."

On Monday, ILTE said that the loan to Garnis, a company Paluckas partly owns, followed the required procedures and that its internal review had not found any significant shortcomings.

However, the findings of the review recommended that the developers of financial instruments clarify how related parties are defined and include a requirement for actual capital increases before a financing agreement is signed.

Currently, when lending to businesses, ILTE interprets the concept of a "group of companies" in such a way that companies whose shareholder is the same natural person are not considered part of the same group.

The development bank also plans to improve its decision-making procedures for loan applicants connected to politically active individuals.

The investigative journalism center Siena and Laisves TV reported in late May that Garnis, which plans to produce battery systems, received a 200,000-euro soft loan from ILTE when Paluckas was already in office.

The prime minister owns 49 percent of Garnis. In February and March, the government made several decisions related to ILTE with his participation.

He also owns 51 percent of another company, Emus, which would not have qualified for the loan because it has been operating for too long. Garnis would not have been eligible either if it had been formally part of the same company group as Emus.

Questions have also been raised publicly about whether Garnis was created as a front to obtain the loan and whether the company is using the funds as intended.

ILTE said on Monday that it had found no violations in how the loaned funds were used.

Paluckas' conduct is under review by the Chief Official Ethics Commission, and the SIS is also looking into the matter. The prime minister denies any conflict of interest and says he is not involved in his companies' day-to-day operations.

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Lithuanian financial crimes body launches probe into ILTE soft loan to PM's company

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – Lithuania's Financial Crime Investigation Service (FCIS) has launched a pre-trial investigation into a soft loan received by Garnis, a company partly owned by Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas, from the national development bank ILTE.

The FCIS said in a press release on Tuesday that the decision to launch the investigation was made last Thursday, adding that the probe concerns possible credit fraud.

"(The goal is) to thoroughly examine the circumstances surrounding the possible fraudulent acquisition of the 200,000-euro soft loan granted to Garnis by ILTE, and the possible use of those funds in the operations of Emus, another company controlled by the same shareholders," the agency said.

"At this stage of the pre-trial investigation, no formal suspicions have been brought against anyone. The pre-trial investigation is being led and supervised by the European Public Prosecutor's Office," it added.

Paluckas is a shareholder in both Garnis and Emus.

By Augustas Stankevičius, Vilmantas Venckūnas

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Lithuania hopes to attract Japanese defense investment – vice minister

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – Lithuania and Japan have great potential for cooperation in the field of defense industry, and Lithuania could attract Japan's defense investment, Defense Vice Minister Loreta Maskalioviene said as she opened a defense industry forum in Tokyo.

"Lithuania and Japan have strengthened their relations in the fields of cyber security and military exchange in recent years. Now we are entering a new phase of cooperation in the field of defense industry," she was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the ministry on Tuesday.

"Our goal is not only to exchange experience, but also to create mutual and lasting value. We see great potential for cooperation with Japan in the field of defense industry, especially in attracting their investment to Lithuania," she said.

Lithuania's defense industry ecosystem was presented during the Tokyo event, and cooperation opportunities were also discussed. Around 20 Lithuanian and Japanese defense industry companies attended the event.

During the forum, Lithuanian representatives presented the country's defense industry development plans, focusing on four main areas: ammunition and explosives, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and anti-drone systems, heavy equipment repair, and maritime defense capabilities.

According to the Defense Ministry, the event showed that Lithuanian companies are already developing high-tech solutions that have been tested in real conditions - on the Ukrainian battlefield.

The participants also talked about the favorable environment created in Lithuania for national and foreign investments in defense, the so-called Green Corridor, which significantly reduces regulatory barriers and simplifies the procedure for issuing land use and construction permits for defense industry projects.

During her visit from Sunday to Tuesday, Maskalioviene also met with representatives of the Japanese Ministry of Defense and the industrial sector. The meetings focused on strengthening bilateral relations in the field of defense industry. Regional security issues and the war in Ukraine were also discussed.

Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene also visited Japan last month. This was the first official visit of this level in the last decade.

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Lithuanian financial crimes body launches probe into ILTE soft loan to PM's company (expands)

The FCIS said in a press release on Tuesday that the decision to launch the investigation was made last Thursday, adding that the probe concerns possible credit fraud.

Paluckas is a shareholder in both Garnis and Emus.

ILTE said on Monday that the loan to Garnis followed the required procedures and that its internal review had not found any significant shortcomings.

ILTE CEO Dainius Vilcinskas said that no violations had been identified in how the soft loan granted to Garnis was used. Still, he said the development bank continues to cooperate with law enforcement.

The Special Investigation Service (SIS) has started looking into the circumstances following information about the soft loan granted to the company partly owned by Paluckas.

The prime minister previously said he was confident that after ILTE found no irregularities regarding the loan granted to his company, law enforcement agencies would not find any either.

The investigative journalism center Siena (Wall) and Laisves TV reported in late May that Garnis, which plans to produce battery systems, received a 200,000-euro soft loan from ILTE after Paluckas had already taken office.

The prime minister owns 49 percent of Garnis. In February and March, the government made several decisions related to ILTE with his participation.

Paluckas' conduct is also under review by the Chief Official Ethics Commission.

The prime minister denies any conflict of interest and says he is not involved in his companies' day-to-day operations.

Questions have also been raised publicly about whether Garnis was created as a front to obtain the loan and whether the company is using the funds as intended.

Among other things, Andrius Tapinas, a journalist and public figure, said he has correspondence between an unnamed company and representatives of Garnis and Emus, both partly owned by Paluckas.

According to Tapinas, the unnamed company was paid with funds from Garnis' soft loan from ILTE, but the goods were delivered to Emus, which was not eligible for the financing.

By Augustas Stankevičius, Vilmantas Venckūnas

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Dead seal count soars to 61 on Lithuanian beaches in May and June (media)

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – Sixty-one dead seals have been found along Lithuania's Baltic Sea coast in May and June, TV3 News reported on Monday.

"This compares to 46 in the entire 12-month period last year. We are seeing the number of dead seals rising each year. Why this is happening is something I'm still questioning," said Jurgita Gustaitiene, head of the animal care center Nuaras.

According to TV3 News, biologists from the Lithuanian Sea Museum's animal rehabilitation center will investigate the cause of death of the seals found on the beaches by performing autopsies on the best-preserved carcasses.

The possibility that parasites are to blame has not been ruled out, since live seal pups arriving in the area are also infested with parasites.

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Radzevicius appointed to lead Lithuania's journalist ethics watchdog

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS - Dainius Radzevicius, head of the Lithuanian Union of Journalists, has been appointed Inspector of Journalist Ethics after 70 members of the Seimas voted in favor of his appointment on Tuesday, three voted against and two abstained. One ballot paper was found invalid.

Radzevicius will take up his new position on June 19. Before that, he will need to step down as chairman of the Lithuanian Union of Journalists.

Introducing himself to the parliament in late May, Radzevicius promised to seek dialogue for a safer public space and active cooperation with the Seimas groups and committees.

Radzevicius has a degree in journalism from Vilnius University, a Master's degree in communication and information, and has worked for a number of media outlets, the Office of the Government, the Ministry of Justice, and has been a member of the National UNESCO Commission, the Council of the Lithuanian Radio and Television, and the Lithuanian Radio and Television Commission.

He has been the chairman of the Lithuanian Union of Journalists since 2003.

By Jūratė Skėrytė

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Lithuania buys anti-drone systems to protect strategic energy sites

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – Lithuania's Defense Ministry said on Tuesday it is finalizing the procurement of stationary systems for detecting and neutralizing unmanned aerial vehicles.

The systems will be used to protect strategic energy infrastructure, the ministry said in a press release.

"In the event of aggression against Lithuania, the Lithuanian Armed Forces will take over control of anti-drone systems at energy facilities, integrating them into the overall air defense system," it quoted Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene as saying.

"This decision strengthens the country's overall defense capabilities, especially in light of the rapid development of drone technologies and the challenges they pose to the security of critical infrastructure," she added.

The systems will provide continuous detection of drones and their operators, pinpoint their locations, and prevent them from entering protected areas, according to the ministry.

"The protection of strategic energy infrastructure is one of our key priorities, particularly in the current tense geopolitical environment. We must be prepared for various scenarios, which is why the physical protection of infrastructure is very important," Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas said in the press release.

The ministry said three suppliers took part in the procurement process, with equipment from Poland's Advanced Protection Systems SA selected.

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Lithuania withdraws from Energy Charter Treaty (updates)

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS - Lithuania on Tuesday withdrew from the Energy Charter Treaty signed almost three decades ago after 99 members of the Seimas voted in favor, there were no votes against and two lawmakers abstained.

The withdrawal of the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) from the treaty as no longer compatible with the EU's climate goals under the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement was approved by the EU Council at the end of May last year.

Therefore, according to the Energy Ministry, it is in Lithuania's interest to withdraw as well.

According to the ministry, after the EU and many of its member states withdrew from the treaty and in the absence of EC coordination, if Lithuania were to remain a party to this treaty, it would increase the country's annual fee, which is currently around 7000 euros.

The Energy Charter Treaty, which involves 47 countries, mostly from Central Asia and the European regions, was signed in 1994 to protect energy investments in turbulent post-Soviet markets.

Since 2016, Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands have withdrawn from the treaty, and the EU and Euratom did that in late June.

Lithuania signed the treaty in April 1995 and the Seimas ratified it in June 1998.

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US tariffs could shave up to 0.8 pp off Lithuania's GDP growth – c. bank economist

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – The US import tariffs on most countries worldwide could slow global trade, reducing foreign demand for Lithuanian goods and hurting the country's exports, company revenues and overall economic growth, according to a Bank of Lithuania economist.

Based on the latest estimates by the central bank, weaker foreign demand and greater uncertainty could shave between 0.36 and 0.82 percentage points off Lithuania's GDP growth.

The overall impact on inflation from 2025 to 2029 could range from –0.03 to 0.14 percentage points during the same period.

"The size of the estimated impacts varies depending on the tariff scenarios modeled," Kasparas Vasiliauskas, the central bank economist, said in a press release on Tuesday.

"In the GDP modeling case, the upper impact limit corresponds to a scenario where all countries are subject to 50 percent tariffs on aluminum and steel, 25 percent tariffs on cars and car parts, China is subject to a 30 percent tariff, and other countries are subject to 10 percent tariffs until July 8, 2025," he added.

The United States doubled its tariffs on imported steel and aluminum from 25 to 50 percent starting last Wednesday.

In early April, US President Donald Trump imposed 10 percent tariffs on nearly all US trade partners and announced higher tariffs on dozens of countries, including the European Union and Japan, in an effort to pressure them to correct what Washington considers unfair trade practices.

The higher tariffs were suspended for 90 days, but that suspension is set to expire on July 9.

Last week, the EU trade chief said negotiations with the US "are moving rapidly in the right direction," just a month before the 50 percent US tariffs on European goods are set to take effect.

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Lithuania offers condolences over Austrian school shooting

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday expressed its condolences over a school shooting in the Austrian city of Graz, which left 10 people dead, including the alleged shooter.

"Our deepest condolences to the people of Austria and all affected by the horrendous attack in Graz. In this dark moment, Lithuania stands together with the families of those who tragically lost their lives and wishes a swift and full recovery to all injured," the ministry posted on X.

Elke Kahr, the mayor of the southeastern Austrian city, said nine minors and one adult were killed in the attack, while many others were injured and are currently being treated in hospital.

Graz is Austria's second-largest city with a population of about 300,000.

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Several hundred people protest in Vilnius against property tax

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – Several hundred people gathered outside the Lithuanian parliament on Tuesday to once again express the public opinion about the property tax changes being discussed by lawmakers.

Around 300-400 people are cooking porridge, drinking tea and singing songs outside the Seimas.

"Our goal is to make sure that no housing is taxed, absolutely no housing… The government has backed off a little bit but those demands are not being fully met," Raimondas Simaitis, the head of the association Atoveiksmis, which organized the protest, told reporters.

"We have won a battle, but not yet the war," he told the audience later.

According to Simaitis, this is not a protest because "the authorities have listened" and have backed away from their plans to tax the first residential property.

Signatures are also being collected during the event in favor of an amendment to exclude all residential housing, garden buildings and their pertinent from the property tax.

Simaitis also organized a rally against the universal property tax in late April when over 4,000 people gathered in Cathedral Square in central Vilnius.

Having discussed the tax changes proposed by the government, the parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance agreed on Monday not to tax first homes at all. This was agreed by the ruling coalition's council last week.

The government had proposed to allow municipalities to set the tax-free value of the first home and to apply rates ranging from 0.1 percent to 1 percent for anything above that.

The final property tax model will be decided by the Seimas.

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Russia's brutality is beyond comprehension – Lithuanian FM in Ukraine

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – All war crimes must receive the harshest possible punishment, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said on Tuesday as he visited the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions on Tuesday with his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha.

"Russia's brutality is beyond comprehension. All war crimes and crimes against humanity must be punished in the harshest way. Impunity only encourages further killing. Anyone who kills unarmed civilians with a light hand must not go unpunished," Lithuania's top diplomat said.

The two top diplomats visited a critical infrastructure facility, a hospital and a school in an underground shelter in the Kherson region, according to the Foreign Ministry. They also met with the heads of the military administrations of the two regions, inspected the damage caused by Russia, and discussed the security situation, the needs for assistance and the possibilities for reconstruction in these regions.

Budrys is the first foreign minister to visit Kherson since February 2022.

During the visit to Mykolaiv, the ministers paid tribute to the memory of the fallen Ukrainian defenders.

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Lithuania Defense Services in talks to assemble Leopard tanks (media)

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS - Lithuania Defense Services, a company based in Lithuania's central Jonava District, is in talks to assemble German Leopard tanks to be purchased by Lithuania, the public broadcaster LRT reported on Tuesday.

"The necessary infrastructure would be built and developed and the tanks would be assembled here. There are certain plans, which I cannot disclose, of course, but they are concrete, clear, of course, on how to do it. We just need to agree with the government and the Defense Ministry and everything will be done on time and properly", Vilius Semeska, a board member at LDS, told the public broadcaster. "Negotiations are currently taking place at a fairly high level."

The Jonava-based company offers services ranging from maintenance and repair of vehicle systems for the Lithuanian army and NATO allies to logistical support. It was founded in 2022 by two German arms manufacturers, Rheinmetall and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.

In her recent interview with BNS, Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene said that Lithuania is in talks with Leopard manufacturers to have the German-made tanks it plans to acquire assembled in the country in cooperation with local businesses."

Lithuania plans to purchase a total of 44 Leopard tanks.

Sakaliene did not specify which companies might be involved in the assembly process.

Under the initial agreement, tanks for the first company are expected to arrive in Lithuania in 2029, with a full tank battalion to be formed by 2034.

According to the minister, an advance payment will be made in the coming months to speed up delivery.

Lithuania is pushing to accelerate the deliveries as part of its goal to develop a fully operational national division by 2030.

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 11, 2025

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 11, 2025:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to continue his visit to Japan.

SOCIAL SECURITY AND LABOR MINISTER Inga Ruginiene to meet with Sirpa Rautio, director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, at 11 a.m.

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Jul 24 2025

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Monday, June 9, 2025
Lithuania turns away 18 irregular migrants on border with Belarus
Lithuanian president warns unfulfilled Russia sanctions threats hurt Western credibility
Lithuanian ministry seeks EUR 120 mln to beef up border with Russia
Lithuanian president starts Japan visit by meeting emperor
Court to rule in Georgian man's Vilnius University rare books theft case
Some 15,000 people take part in Baltic Pride march Vilnius
Pietinia Kronikas triumphs at Silver Crane movie awards in Lithuania
Lithuania's development bank says loan to PM's company followed rules
Lithuanian cultmin vows money for relocation of Soviet soldiers' remains next year
President invites Japanese companies to explore Lithuania's smart tech market
Clint Eastwood's image use lawsuit still pending in Lithuanian courts
Lithuanian PM says he expected outcome after ILTE review finds no loan breach
Upgrade of population warning system in Lithuania two years behind schedule – audit
Warning system upgrade has started, system will be in place by end of 2027 – ministry
Lithuanian FM in Kyiv to discuss frontline situation
Georgian convicted of stealing books from Vilnius University, to be handed over to France
No suspects yet in probe into suspected NATO Vilnius summit data leak
Ukraine's NATO membership commitment must be reiterated in The Hague – Lithuanian FM
NATO jets in Baltics scrambled 3 times over Russian aircraft last week
Security in Far East and Europe are closely interlinked – Lithuanian president
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Monday, June 9, 2025

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Monday, June 9, 2025:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to pay a visit to Japan.

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Lithuania turns away 18 irregular migrants on border with Belarus

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have turned away 15 migrants attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally over the past 24 hours, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Monday morning.

Latvia reported 58 illegal border crossing attempts on Sunday. Poland denied entry to 266 irregular migrants on Saturday, according to the latest available information.

Lithuania has barred 852 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.

Lithuanian border guards have blocked around 23,800 attempts by foreign nationals to cross into the country illegally from Belarus since the start of the migration crisis.

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Lithuanian president warns unfulfilled Russia sanctions threats hurt Western credibility

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – Western leaders' threats to slap tough sanctions on Russia that never materialize are undermining the credibility of Ukrainian backers' response to the Kremlin's aggression, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has warned.

"Of course. This is a problem. It negatively affects not only the credibility of our sanctions but also that of other measures aimed at Russia and support for Ukraine," Nauseda said in an interview with the German newspaper Bild when asked whether Chancellor Friedrich Merz had undermined Europe's credibility by threatening sanctions that were never imposed.

"We have repeatedly declared that we would support Ukraine and supply it with fighter jets, long-range missiles and ammunition. But we have failed to keep these promises," he added.

The Lithuanian president pointed to the Baltic and Nordic countries as examples of firm support for Ukraine.

"In this respect, the Baltic and Nordic countries are probably a good example of how strong political will can translate into support for Ukraine. Ukrainians need equipment and ammunition now – not tomorrow," he said.

In May, European Union leaders hoped to reach an agreement with the United States on a new round of tough sanctions against Moscow, which has shown no willingness to declare a ceasefire or engage seriously in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

US lawmakers have also been stepping up calls to increase sanctions pressure. However, President Donald Trump is holding off, saying he does not want to jeopardize talks between Moscow and Kyiv.

The US leader has not only failed to respond with any sanctions to the Kremlin's ongoing offensive and bombardment of Ukraine, but has also expressed his displeasure with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's outspokenness.

The EU adopted its 17th sanctions package against the Kremlin in May, but some member states are already pushing for an 18th.

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Lithuanian ministry seeks EUR 120 mln to beef up border with Russia

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic has said that Lithuania needs an estimated 120 million euros to ramp up security along its border with Russia.

"The total amount exceeds 120 million euros. We'll discuss potential funding options shortly as part of the budget planning process. We're also seeking European funding sources and already have some initial insights. Securing funding could be possible in the near future," Kondratovic told BNS last week.

"This is a preliminary estimate. We'll definitely give priority to the most important things," he added.

The minister said the funding would primarily go toward building a physical barrier, upgrading surveillance systems and purchasing a counter-drone system for this section of the border.

He also said EU funds could help finance a new quay at the seaport of Klaipeda.

Kondratovic added that there is a need for a new hovercraft. Border guards currently operate two.

The ministry is also looking to buy additional patrol boats to monitor rivers and the Curonian Lagoon and to help protect critical infrastructure.

Lithuania shares a roughly 275-kilometer border with Russia. Parts of the existing infrastructure are already fortified.

According to Kondratovic, border violations and incidents along the border with Russia are rare.

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Lithuanian president starts Japan visit by meeting emperor

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda started his official visit to Japan on Monday by meeting with Emperor Naruhito.

Later on Monday, Nauseda is scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. The meeting "will focus on key areas of bilateral relations and the international situation," the Lithuanian president's office said in a press release.

Nausėda, accompanied by a large delegation of government officials and business people, also attended the Lithuania-Japan Business Forum in Tokyo, "where he highlighted the close bilateral relations and growing prospects for cooperation."

"During the forum, key cooperation agreements were signed in the fields of innovation, space, and transport," his office said.

On the sidelines of the event, the president was scheduled to meet with representatives of Japan's business federation Keidanren and major corporations.

He is also set to meet with Hirofumi Nakasone, chairman of the Japan-Lithuania Friendship Parliamentary League.

On Tuesday, Nausėda will address the Lithuania-Japan Science Forum at Waseda University in Tokyo.

Later, he will meet with Lithuania's honorary consuls in Japan and the leaders of the Japan-Lithuania Friendship Association (JALFA).

On Wednesday, the president will visit Expo 2025 in Osaka, where he will tour the Lithuanian and Japanese pavilions.

The visit also includes a separate program for First Lady Diana Nausediene.

In October 2019, the Lithuanian president and his wife attended Emperor Naruhito's enthronement ceremony at the Tokyo Imperial Palace.

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Court to rule in Georgian man's Vilnius University rare books theft case

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – The Vilnius District Court is expected to issue its ruling on Monday in the case of Mikheil Zamtaradze, a Georgian national charged with stealing rare books from the Vilnius University (VU) Library.

The prosecution is seeking a prison sentence of three years and four months, as well as 606,000 euros in compensation for material damages to VU.

Zamtaradze has admitted to the theft in Lithuania but denies being part of an organized criminal group that operated in Lithuania, Poland, France, Switzerland, Germany, Georgia and other countries. He refused to testify about other members of the group.

The Georgian citizen is charged with the theft of property of very high value. Under Lithuanian law, property worth more than 45,000 euros qualifies as such.

The 17 books stolen from Vilnius University have been valued at 606,000 euros. The defendant disputes this, claiming the books are worth between 100,000 and 120,000 euros.

Zamtaradze says he sold the stolen books to a client in Moscow for 30,000 US dollars.

According to the case file, the Georgian man came to Lithuania in 2023 as part of an organized criminal gang operating in Lithuania, Poland, France, Switzerland and Georgia.

He visited the VU Library, posing as a researcher and showing the staff a document that appeared to verify his credentials. This allowed him to order books of great historical and cultural value from the Rare Readings and Professors' Reading Rooms.

The case file shows that he stole 17 books, including works by Russian writers Ivan Krylov, Alexander Pushkin, Mikhail Lermontov and Nikolai Gogol. Twelve of these were replaced with forgeries sent to him by the buyer in Moscow.

The Russian buyer also supplied Zamtaradze with forged documents, which were found on him when he was arrested in Brussels.

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Some 15,000 people take part in Baltic Pride march Vilnius

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – Some 15,000 people took part in a march in central Vilnius on Saturday, which was part of the LGBTIQ festival Baltic Pride 2025.

The Lithuanian Gay League told BNS on Saturday at least 15,000 people took part in the march, according to the LGL estimates.

Participants were mostly young people who were carrying rainbow-colored flags, balloons and other paraphernalia of various sizes, and drove vehicles with LGBTIQ symbols and signs reading "Celebrate pride", "Love wins", "LGBTIQ Rights are Human Rights”, etc.

People were also carrying the flags of various organizations and companies, flags of Lithuania, Ukraine, Iceland, Georgia, Estonia, Norway, France, Ukraine, Canada, Palestine and various posters.

The organizers had expected the march to attract around 20,000 people.

Mayor: Vilnius is an open and free city

Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas says that the large number of march participants confirms that Vilnius is an open and free city.

"This is indeed a big event, a big celebration. It confirms that Vilnius is an open and free city where everybody can find their place, everybody has freedom of expression," Benkunskas told BNS. "Vilnius has certainly been like this historically, and it will certainly remain like this in the future."

According to the mayor, the situation has changed and the level of tolerance in society has increased since the first LGBTIQ march in Vilnius.

"Do we still have problems? Yes. The legal framework in Lithuania has not been sorted out in any way. It seems to me that we have really gone a big step forward and that is why it is important to talk about it, not to be afraid," Benkunskas said.

"We are becoming part of Vilnius"

Vladimir Simonko, leader of the Lithuanian Gay League, told BNS on Saturday before the march that the event was dominated by a "spirit of protest".

"We are not happy with politicians who avoid passing laws that are necessary for our community. That is why this march will be a protest and a celebration - it is also a form of protest," Simonko told BNS.

Om his words, the LGBTIQ community and its marches are already becoming part of the Lithuanian capital.

"Vilnius, this is not yet Lithuania. Vilnius is a bubble, a very good bubble to live in. We are seeing Vilnius as a changing city, and we are already becoming a part of Vilnius, and the celebration is already a part of Vilnius, something I could not even dream of ten years ago," he said.

He believes that many participants came to demand the adoption of a partnership law.

Participants also told BNS that tolerance is still lacking in Lithuania, but attitudes are slowly changing.

There were three small groups of people also protesting during the LGBTIQ march. They carried placards reading "I am for the natural family", "The goal of LGBT ideology is to force humanity to stop reproducing" and "Let's rebuild the Catholic state".

Politicians among participants

According Simonko, the LGBTIQ march was expected to attract participants from other Lithuanian cities, as well as Latvia, Estonia and other European countries.

Earlier it was announced that the march would be attended by politicians from three political forces - the Liberal Movement, the Freedom Party and the Lithuanian Green Party, but MP Matas Maldeikis and Benkunskas, both representing the conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, were also taking part in the march.

Among the LGBTIQ marchers were Tomas Vytautas Raskevicius, chairman of the Freedom Party, Vytautas Mitalas, a vice mayor of Vilnius, Simonas Kairys of the Liberal Movement, Ieva Budraite, leader of the Lithuanian Green Party, and Ewelina Dobrowolska, a former justice minister.

There was a large presence of police officers during the march.

Baltic Pride 2025 took place after Lithuania's Constitutional Court gave the green light to the registration of gender-neutral partnerships in mid-April.

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Pietinia Kronikas triumphs at Silver Crane movie awards in Lithuania

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS - The best filmmakers in Lithuania were awarded 18 national Silver Crane statuettes in Vilnius on Sunday.

The majority of them went to Ignas Miskinis' feature film Pietinia Kronikas (The Sothern Chronicles) about the lives of young people in the 1990s when the Soviet rule collapsed in Lithuania and a new state was being established.

The film won in 12 out of the 14 nominations, including Best Feature Film. Also,

Miskinis was named the Best Director and Dziugas Grinys was named the Best Actor. It was also recognized as the most watched film.

Ieva Rupeikaite was honored as the Best Actress for her role in Saule Bliuvaite's Toxic

The main prize, the Golden Crane, was awarded to film critic and Scanorama festival organizer Grazina Arlickaite for her lifetime achievements.

The special award for the promotion of film culture went to the 30th edition of the Kino Pavasaris film festival.

The Silver Crane is the most important award for Lithuanian filmmakers.

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Lithuania's development bank says loan to PM's company followed rules

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – A soft loan granted to Garnis, a company co-owned by Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas, was issued in line with the rules, Lithuania's national development bank ILTE said on Monday following an internal review.

"The investigation did not identify any significant shortcomings. The descriptions of financial instruments and internal procedures clearly define the timelines, stages and required documentation for financing processes," Daina Klepone, chairwoman of ILTE's supervisory board, which initiated the review, said in a press release.

The review recommends that the developers of financial instruments clarify how related parties are defined and include a requirement for actual capital increases before a financing agreement is signed.

The development bank noted that most ILTE instruments interpret the concept of a "group of companies" as defined in the Law on Financial Reporting by Undertakings, meaning that companies whose shareholder is the same natural person are not considered part of the same group.

"The specific description of the financial instrument and the relevant state aid scheme are the main documents used to assess whether an application qualifies for funding," ILTE said in the press release.

ILTE CEO Dainius Vilcinskas said the review's findings would help improve internal risk management processes.

"For example, the current situation showed that our interpretation of what constitutes a group of companies is too narrow. We should also consider business ties between companies connected through shareholders – natural persons – and how actively those shareholders are involved in company operations," he said.

ILTE also plans to improve its decision-making procedures for loan applicants connected to politically active individuals.

Decisions on starting business relationships with such clients will require approval from the management board. The development bank also proposes introducing rules to monitor those relationships, according to the press release.

ILTE also said that it is actively cooperating with law enforcement to help answer all public questions about the loan to the prime minister's company.

The internal review was carried out by ILTE's Audit and Risk Committee, which reports to the supervisory board and includes four independent members.

ILTE launched the review after the investigative journalism center Siena and Laisves TV reported in late May that Garnis, which plans to produce battery systems, received a 200,000-euro soft loan when Paluckas was already in office.

The prime minister owns 49 percent of Garnis. In February and March, the government made several decisions related to ILTE with his participation.

Public concerns have been raised about whether Garnis was created as a front to obtain the loan and whether the company is using the funds as intended.

Paluckas' conduct is under review by the Chief Official Ethics Commission, and the Special Investigation Service is also looking into the matter. The prime minister denies any conflict of interest and says he is not involved in his companies' day-to-day operations.

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Lithuanian cultmin vows money for relocation of Soviet soldiers' remains next year

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – As Lithuanian Culture Minister Sarunas Birutis vows to allocate funds for the relocation of Soviet soldiers' remains only next year, the mayor of the country's northern city of Siauliai, who is actively pushing for a procedure for the relocation of such graves, downplays the fact.

"The issue is indeed very important and not only for the city of Siauliai as several other municipalities are also addressing the issue of how to remove the graves of soldiers from the city center. We (...) will approve the rules. The budget is another problem," Birutis says.

"So far this year, we don’t the budget for such removals. Next year, hopefully, it will be included in the budget bill and approved, so we will be able to do it," he said.

The Culture Ministry told BNS in May that the issue of the procedure for the relocation of Soviet soldiers' remains should be resolved in the coming months. According to the ministry, the draft rules had already been submitted for inter-institutional coordination.

Siauliai Mayor Arturas Visockas told BNS that he expected to move the remains of Soviet soldiers later this year, and if necessary, he would initially do so at the municipality's expense.

"If the money cannot be allocated now, that's okay, we will use the municipality's money and can get compensation later, and I hope that it can be done," Visockas told BNS. "We want to deal with it this year already because it has taken too long."

The graves of Soviet soldiers in central Siauliai are included in the Register of Cultural Heritage. It says 52 Soviet soldiers killed during WWII as buried there.

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President invites Japanese companies to explore Lithuania's smart tech market

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – President Gitanas Nauseda invited Japanese companies "to explore and engage with" Lithuania's smart technology market as he delivered a speech at the Lithuania-Japan Business Forum in Tokyo on Monday.

Nauseda's office said in a press release that the forum showcased Lithuania's potential in defense and space technologies, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing and the sustainable food industry.

"Lithuania is internationally recognized for its advanced laser technologies, life sciences, and Internet of Things devices. Our space sector has recently strengthened its position in the international space ecosystem. We are a global financial technology hub, ranking 6th in the Global Cybersecurity Index. Our food industry is diverse, sophisticated, and sustainability-focused. Our green-tech and mil-tech ecosystems are also on the rise," Nauseda said in his speech.

"I invite Japanese businesses to explore and engage with Lithuania's smart technology market," he added.

The president also highlighted Lithuania's rapid growth and competitive investment environment.

"Over the past 20 years, using the great transformative power of the European Union, we have raised our GDP per capita to 90 percent of the EU average," he said. "Year after year, Lithuania ranks among the fastest growing economies in Europe."

Nauseda told the forum that starting next year, Lithuania will allocate more than 5 percent of its GDP to defense, opening up significant opportunities for the defense industry.

"To facilitate the growth of military production, we have started cutting red tape. The simplified procedures for setting up production facilities have already attracted industry giants from Germany and the United States," he said.

The president also said that efforts are underway to boost the competitiveness of the seaport of Klaipeda, which holds a market share of around 40 percent in the Baltic region.

Nauseda invited Japanese companies to actively engage in key transport and energy infrastructure projects in Lithuania. He stressed that Lithuania offers an attractive investment environment for the defense industry and for developers of artificial intelligence and autonomous driving technologies.

The president also underlined Lithuania's commitment to achieving energy independence, saying that the country "aims to become fully energy-independent by 2028, with a strategy centered on renewable energy and innovative solutions, including small nuclear reactors," according to the press release.

Nausėda described Japan as a strategic partner for Lithuania in the Indo-Pacific region and one of its key global allies.

"Our political, security, economic, scientific and cultural ties are of great value," he said.

According to the president's office, several important cooperation agreements in the fields of innovation, space and transport were signed at the forum. These included a joint declaration by Innovation Agency Lithuania and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), as well as cooperation agreements between the ports of Klaipeda and Nagoya and between Innovation Agency Lithuania and the CrossU Open Space Business Innovation Platform.

Nauseda began his official visit to Japan by meeting with Emperor Naruhito earlier on Monday.

It was the president's second meeting with the emperor. In 2019, he and the first lady attended the emperor's enthronement ceremony.

"The president's meeting with the Emperor takes place in the context of a close dialogue between Lithuania and Japan," Nauseda's office said in a press release.

"In 2022, the two countries established a bilateral strategic partnership, and in 2024, Japan became a strategic partner of the Three Seas Initiative during the summit in Vilnius. In 2022, Lithuania and Japan celebrated the 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations," it said.

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Clint Eastwood's image use lawsuit still pending in Lithuanian courts

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – A court in Lithuania's western city of Klaipeda will have to hear for the third time the 5.3 million euro lawsuit filed by Hollywood actor Clint Eastwood against Mediatonas, a liquidated online advertising company, and its former CEO for the illegal use of the actor's image to advertize cannabis products.

On June 5, the Lithuanian Court of Appeal overturned the Klaipeda Regional Court's second ruling issued in December last year and told the Klaipeda court to hold a new hearing. This is the second time that the Court of Appeal has referred the case back to the same court.

"The court of first instance did not apply and interpret the rules of procedural and substantive law in a completely correct manner, as a result of which the merits of the case were not properly examined and the substance of the case remained unresolved, and the judgment under appeal cannot be regarded as lawful and well-founded," the Court of Appeal ruled.

Its judicial panel also ruled that the court of first instance was justified in its findings that Mediatonas had acted unlawfully, but it failed to consider and assess in substance the other necessary condition, which is damage.

Therefore, according to the judges, the regional court will have to reassess and re-decide the damage, the causal link between the unlawful acts and the damage and the existence or absence of fault on the part of the company.

In December 2024, the Klaipeda Regional Court partially upheld Eastwood's lawsuit over the unauthorized use of his image to advertise CBD products, awarding him 250,000 euros in damages from the former CEO of a now-liquidated Lithuanian company.

Eastwood was also awarded interest and proportionate litigation costs, the court said in a statement on Monday.

According to the court, Mediatonas, the Lithuanian company headed by the defendant, Giedrius Bucinskas, conducted a cannabidiol (CBD) product advertising campaign that unlawfully used Eastwood's name, likeness, and fame, publishing articles without his consent.

The court deemed the actions of Mediatonas and its CEO to be dishonest and ruled that the company's liquidation was an attempt to evade accountability for unlawful actions.

In 2021, a US court awarded Eastwood and Garrapata, the company that owns the rights to his likeness, 5.27 million euros in damages from Mediatonas, which was later liquidated and deregistered, for using the Hollywood star's name and likeness to make it appear as though he was endorsing their products.

Since Mediatonas was liquidated, Eastwood and Garrapata sought the 5.27 million euros from Bucinskas personally, claiming that he decided to liquidate his company to avoid paying the damages.

According to the Lithuanian court, Bucinskas was aware of the court proceedings in the US both before and during the liquidation process and this awareness motivated his decision to liquidate the successful and highly profitable company.

The court noted that Bucinskas had no reason to doubt that the US court would at least partially uphold Eastwood's claims.

Regarding the amount of damages, the Klaipeda court based its decision on Lithuanian law, finding that the company's CEO violated advertising and image rights regulations. Factors increasing the damages included the intentional nature of the violation, the extensive dissemination of unauthorized information, and the defendant's denial of wrongdoing. However, mitigating factors included the time elapsed since the violations occurred and Bucinskas' financial inability to pay the sum awarded by the US court.

This marked the second time the Klaipeda Regional Court examined the case. Initially, the court dismissed the claims filed by Eastwood and Garrapata on the grounds that they had failed to proven their status as creditors of Mediatonas. The actor and his company then sought 50,000 euros in damages.

However, the Lithuanian Court of Appeal returned the case back to the first-instance court for re-examination.

The actor and his representatives told the court that they were claiming 50,000 euros in damages from Bucinskas, Mediatonas' former shareholder and CEO, for his decision to liquidate the company, thus preventing them from recovering at least part of the amount awarded in the US court.

In October 2021, the Los Angeles Federal Court ordered Mediatonas to pay Eastwood and Garrapata 6.1 million US dollars (5.26 million euros).

Mediatonas' liquidation process started in March 2021. Garrapata said that it had notified the Lithuanian company of its claims regarding the unauthorized use of Eastwood's likeness in February of that year.

Established in March 2017, Mediatonas was registered in the village of Dauglaukis in the district of Taurage and was engaged in website development.

Based on Mediatonas' reports, it held no long-term assets in late 2020 and in previous years. The company reported 4.425 million euros in revenue and a net profit of 524,800 euros for 2020, up 44.7 percent and 85.2 percent, respectively, from 2019.

In 2021, Eastwood filed two lawsuits in the US court against three CBD manufacturers and marketers whose products were featured in an online article claiming that he endorsed CBD products, as well as 10 online retailers whom he accused of manipulating search results.

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Lithuanian PM says he expected outcome after ILTE review finds no loan breach

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – Prime Minister Gintautas Paluckas said on Monday that he had not expected any other outcome after Lithuania's national development bank ILTE announced, following an internal review, that a soft loan granted to Garnis, a company he partly owns, was issued in line with the rules.

"It couldn't have been otherwise, because I'm convinced that no irregularities were committed," Paluckas told reporters.

"ILTE carried out its audit, and I believe this will serve as a solid foundation for other investigations and institutions that may want to look into the matter, because the information has already been collected," he added.

Earlier on Monday, ILTE said that the loan to Garnis followed proper procedures and that its internal review had not found any significant shortcomings.

However, the findings acknowledged that the development bank's interpretation of what qualifies as a company group is too narrow: links between companies with common shareholders – natural persons – and the shareholders' involvement in company operations should also be taken into account.

The internal review was carried out by ILTE's Audit and Risk Committee, which reports to the supervisory board and consists of four independent members.

Also on Monday, ILTE CEO Dainius Vilcinskas said that no violations had been identified in how the soft loan granted to Garnis was used.

Still, he said the development bank continues to cooperate with law enforcement.

The prime minister owns 49 percent of Garnis. In February and March, the government made several decisions related to ILTE with his participation.

Public concerns have been raised about whether Garnis was created as a front to obtain the loan and whether the company is using the funds as intended.

Andrius Tapinas, a journalist and public figure, said he has correspondence between an unnamed company and representatives of Garnis and Emus, both partly owned by Paluckas.

According to Tapinas, the unnamed company was paid with funds from Garnis' soft loan from ILTE, but the goods were delivered to Emus, which was not eligible for the financing.

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Upgrade of population warning system in Lithuania two years behind schedule – audit

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – Work to upgrade the population warning system in Lithuania is two years behind schedule and the funds allocated for it have been diverted to other needs of the Fire and Rescue Department, according to the results of the National Audit Office's audit published on Monday.

2.9 million euros was allocated to the FRD between 2023 and 2025 to ensure the cyber security and reliable operation of the system but this work has not yet started two years later, according to the findings.

According to the NAO, 1.8 million euros, or 95 percent of the amount allocated for the upgrade of the system for the period 2023-2024, has been used to pay the social security contributions for FRD staff, severance payments and other needs, and it has been done with the Interior Ministry's approval.

In addition, 78 percent of the sirens are not connected to a centralized system that would allow simultaneous activation of the sirens, thus risking that the population would not be alerted immediately.

Also, in the event of an emergency, there would be a shortage of space for about 361,000 people in shelters and 200,000 people in collective protection structures, and over 91 percent of the shelters are not accessible to people with disabilities.

A plan for the installation of a multi-channel alerting platform has been developed this year, which will cover all the main means of alerting the population, including sirens and the alert information system. The platform is expected to be in place by the end of the first quarter of 2028.

In addition, 27.5 million euros is planned for the necessary equipment for collective protection structures and 77 million euros for the installation of shelters by 2030.

The NAO vows to monitor the implementation of these measures and the progress achieved.

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Warning system upgrade has started, system will be in place by end of 2027 – ministry

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – The upgrade of the population warning and information system in Lithuania has started and will be completed by the end of 2027, the country's Interior Ministry said on Monday after the National Audit Office sad the upgrade work is two years behind schedule.

According to the ministry, decisions have already been made on the modernization of the system and implementation work has started.

The ministry estimates that the system will require around 5.88 million euros to be upgraded and that the work will be completed by the last quarter of 2027. The money will be used to upgrade the technology, increase the reliability of the system and ensure centralization.

The Interior Ministry also calls for the alert system to be included in the list of critical infrastructure, which would ensure the necessary attention to security, reliability and maintenance of the system.

Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic says that rapid technological progress in the field of communications and telecommunications shows the need to use modern technologies to alert the population, and alerts must reach people in time.

"Unfortunately, in recent years, there have been a number of cases where alert messages reached the population late or failed to reach them at all. This is a clear indication that the system needs a major overhaul. Ukraine and its painful war experience must serve as an example for us to upgrade this system," said.

Work to upgrade the population warning system in Lithuania is two years behind schedule and the funds allocated for it have been diverted to other needs of the Fire and Rescue Department, according to the results of the National Audit Office's audit published earlier on Monday.

By Dominykas Biržietis

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Lithuanian FM in Kyiv to discuss frontline situation

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys arrived in Kyiv on Monday to discuss with Ukrainian government members and officials the frontline situation and international efforts to pressure Russia to cease fire and declare a ceasefire as a precondition for peace talks.

Lithuania's top diplomat is set to meet with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, Deputy Prime Minister-Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olga Stefanishyna, Minister of Strategic Industries Herman Smetanin and Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksandr Lytvynenko.

During the visit, Budrys is also scheduled to meet with the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

According to the ministry, the meetings will also focus on security guarantees for Ukraine, priorities for military, diplomatic, financial and humanitarian assistance, Ukraine's progress in the process of integration with the European Union, and measures to deter and deter Russia.

This is Budrys' third visit to Ukraine since taking up his post as foreign minister. His last visit took place on April 1.

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Georgian convicted of stealing books from Vilnius University, to be handed over to France

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – Georgian national Mikheil Zamtaradze was on Monday sentenced to five years in prison for stealing rare and valuable books from the Vilnius University (VU) Library, but the term was reduced to three years and four months because he had admitted to the crime.

The defendant attended the hearing remotely from a Vilnius prison.

"Zamtaradze has been convicted for stealing 19th-century books of significant cultural and historical value, worth 606,000 euros, while acting as part of an organized group," Judge Mindaugas Razanskas of the Vilnius District Court said.

According to the case file, two of Zamtaradze's accomplices visited the VU Library before the theft, likely to scout the site. One of them is currently serving a prison sentence in Latvia for book theft.

The court upheld VU's civil claim and ordered Zamtaradze to pay 606,000 euros in damages.

Some of the books were taken by Zamtaradze, who posed as a researcher named Mikhail Zavadsky, and never returned. He swapped a dozen others with pre-prepared forgeries. The court ordered the destruction of these counterfeit copies.

During the trial, the defendant disputed the value of the stolen books, claiming they were worth about 120,000 euros. However, the court fully upheld the university's claim.

Zamtaradze has been held in custody in Lithuania since December 2023, and this time will count toward his sentence. He was arrested in Belgium and spent two months in detention there before being extradited to Lithuania.

Razanskas said the convict will soon be handed over to France, where he is suspected of similar thefts. He will be able to request that the time he spent in custody in Belgium be counted towards his sentence.

Zamtaradze said he sold the stolen books to a buyer in Moscow for 30,000 US dollars.

According to the case file, the man came to Lithuania in 2023 as part of an organized group operating in Lithuania, Poland, France, Switzerland and Georgia.

He posed as a researcher and presented a falsified document allegedly confirming his credentials to VU Library staff. This allowed him to order books of significant historical and cultural value from the Rare Readings and Professors' Reading Rooms.

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No suspects yet in probe into suspected NATO Vilnius summit data leak

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – Nearly two years after a suspected data leak during the NATO summit in Vilnius, authorities are still investigating, but no suspects have been identified.

"The pre-trial investigation into the suspected unlawful interception and use of electronic data (...) as well as unauthorized access to an information system (...) is ongoing. The data collected during the investigation is being analyzed and assessed," Gintare Vitkauskaite-Satkauskiene, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor General's Office, told BNS.

"No formal suspicions have been brought against anyone in this investigation," she added.

The investigation was launched in July 2023 after information appeared on the social media platform Telegram suggesting that data related to the organization of the NATO summit may have been leaked.

Around 30 documents were published, though their authenticity has not been confirmed. They included the names of hotels where heads of state and delegations were staying, airport arrival times, the names of security personnel, types of weapons, and specifications for communication equipment.

Also made public were the names of snipers from the Aras counterterrorism unit, minutes from security planning meetings and proposed measures concerning airspace, traffic and restrictions on transit from Russia and Belarus.

At the time, Arvydas Anusauskas, then Lithuania's defense minister, said that the leak had not disrupted the summit and that the information published did not contain classified NATO material.

Vilnius hosted the NATO summit on July 11–12, 2023.

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Ukraine's NATO membership commitment must be reiterated in The Hague – Lithuanian FM

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – The commitment that Ukraine will become a member of NATO in the future must be reiterated at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys says,

"During our meeting today in Kyiv, we are also talking about what we should and could do in preparation for the NATO summit in The Hague. And one of the objectives is to pay really appropriate attention to what is the most important issue in Europe today, which is Ukraine," the foreign minister, who in Kyiv right now, said in a video comment on Monday.

"The least we must do is to reiterate the commitment to have Ukraine in NATO in the future, and also to agree on additional support for Ukraine, which is so much needed, because we don't see any signs so far that Putin is reducing the number of attacks or is slowing down and at least showing something that promises a coming ceasefire," he said.

These elements will be as important as reaching an agreement on additional defense funding, Budrys said.

Ukraine has been invited to attend the Hague summit on June 24-25. It will focus on Russia's invasion of Ukraine and US President Donald Trump's calls on allied members to increase defense spending.

Ukraine applied to join NATO in September 2022, a few months after the start of Russia's large-scale invasion. The country has not received a formal invitation as the 32 NATO member countries are struggling to reach a consensus on the issue.

Budrys says important decisions will also be made within the EU format late this month: "June will be intense in terms of EU processes as well because we will certainly have to make final decisions on whether we open the first negotiating chapters for Ukraine in this half of the year or not".

Ukraine and Moldova were granted EU candidate status in June 2022.

Last year, all 27 EU members gave Kyiv the green light to open accession talks, but the process has stalled because Hungary is blocking it, demanding guarantees for the rights of Ukraine's Hungarian-speaking minority.

By Karolina Ambrazaitytė

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NATO jets in Baltics scrambled 3 times over Russian aircraft last week

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS – NATO fighter jets policing Baltic airspace were scrambled three times last week to intercept Russian aircraft flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea in violation of flight rules, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

On June 3, NATO jets took off to identify two Su-30SMs flying with their onboard transponders on but without pre-filed flight plans and without maintaining radio communication with the Regional Traffic Control Center.

On the same day, an alert scramble was conducted to intercept a Su-33 fighter and a Su-24MR reconnaissance plane flying in international airspace from mainland Russia without using their onboard transponders or maintaining radio contact with the traffic controllers. The planes had no pre-filed flight plans either.

On June 4, NATO jets were scrambled over two Su-30SMs, which took off from the Kaliningrad exclave and were on their way back. The Russian aircraft were not using their onboard transponders or maintaining radio communication with the traffic controllers, nor did they have pre-filed flight plans.

The Alliance's Baltic Air Policing mission is carried out from Lithuania and Estonia.

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Security in Far East and Europe are closely interlinked – Lithuanian president

VILNIUS, Jun 09, BNS - Security in the Far East and Europe are closely interlinked, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda as he's visiting Japan.

"The aggressive actions of China and North Korea are reminiscent of the aggressive actions of the countries to the East of us in Europe and especially in Ukraine. I would say that those security dimensions in both the Far East and Europe are closely interlinked, which is probably the most important reason for saying that we need to cooperate," the president said in a video comment from Tokyo on Monday.

"We are like-minded countries, we respect the same principles of democracy, freedom and territorial integrity. We have to defend them together, not one by one, and then we will achieve more," the Lithuanian leader said after his meetings with Emperor Naruhito of Japan, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and participation in the Lithuania-Japan Business Forum.

"I think that especially in the field of infrastructure - both transport and energy – we have the best opportunities," the president said, adding that there are no obstacles to cooperation in attracting companies from Japan's defense industry to Lithuania.

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 10, 2025

VILNIUS, Jun 10, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 10, 2025:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to continue his visit to Japan.

PRIME MINISTER Gintautas Paluckas to meet with Maria Leptin, president of the European Research Council, at 8.30 a.m.

INTERIOR MINISTER Vladislav Kondratovic to meet with Sirpa Rautio, director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, at 10 a.m.

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