LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN, July 31, 2023

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Twenty-two irregular migrants turned away on Lithuania's border with Belarus
Lithuania's Meilutyte wins 50 meters breaststroke world gold in record time
Lithuanian PM calls 1991 border checkpoint massacre 'an episode' of Russia's war
Lithuanian PM calls 1991 border checkpoint massacre 'an episode' of Russia's war (expands)
SocDems top Lithuania's party rankings, conservatives back in 2nd place – poll - LIETUVOS RYTAS/VILMORUS POLL
Lithuania reports 3 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths
Lithuanian president enjoys post-summit rating surge - LIETUVOS RYTAS/VILMORUS POLL
Lithuania plans to open consulate general in Munich in September
Lithuanian president says can work with defmin, but waits for law enforcement opinion
EC urges Lithuania to step up efforts to increase prosecutors' salaries
Wagner's close presence increases provocation risk – Lithuanian president
Lithuanian president says can work with defmin, but waits for law enforcement opinion (expands)
Wagner's close presence increases provocation risk – Lithuanian president (expands)
Nauseda calls Medininkai massacre Soviet terror attack that failed to intimidate Lithuania
Half of Lithuanians would like retailers to label Russia-linked goods - BNS/VILMORUS POLL
Lithuanian court rejects request to register same-sex marriage
9 out of 10 Lithuanians view climate change as serious problem – Eurobarometer
Lithuania decides to set up consulate general in Munich (updates)
NATO jets scrambled 3 times to intercept Russian planes, once to patrol Baltic airspace
Drobiazko given explanation deadline before Lithuanian citizenship decision
Lithuanian cabinet proposes to expand bill on declaring ties with Russia, Belarus
Lithuanian court annuls reprimand for ex-PSS chief Pocius
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, August 21, 2023

Twenty-two irregular migrants turned away on Lithuania's border with Belarus

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have in the past 24 hours turned away 22 migrants attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Monday morning.

Latvia reported 28 attempts at illegal border crossings on Sunday, and 91 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Friday, according to the latest available information.

A total of 1,467 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year. Over 11,200 irregular migrants were turned away in 2022.

Lithuanian border guards have prevented almost 20,700 people from crossing in from Belarus since August 3, 2021, when they were given the right to turn away irregular migrants. The number includes repeated attempts by the same people to cross the border.

The SBGS says that illegal migration to Lithuania and the EU is being facilitated by Belarusian officials.

Almost 4,200 irregular migrants crossed into Lithuania from Belarus illegally in 2021. However, the vast majority of them fled Lithuania once they were allowed to move freely.

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Lithuania's Meilutyte wins 50 meters breaststroke world gold in record time

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS – Ruta Meilutyte broke the world record in the women's 50 meters breaststroke to win the gold medal at World Aquatics Championships in Japan on Sunday.

The Lithuanian swimmer set the new world record at 29.16 seconds.

On Tuesday, the 26-year-old won gold in the 100 meters breaststroke in a time of 1 minute and 4.62 seconds.

By Augustas Stankevičius

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Lithuanian PM calls 1991 border checkpoint massacre 'an episode' of Russia's war

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS – The killing of seven Lithuanian officers at the Medininkai border checkpoint 32 years ago was "one of the episodes" of the war that Russia is waging in Ukraine today, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said on Monday.

"The sacrifice of the Medininkai defenders acquires a new meaning today," Simonyte said in a press release. "It was an episode of the war that is raging in Ukraine now."

"Unfortunately, the freedom and strength of the state very often grow on soil soaked with the blood of heroes. The aggressor must be stopped and defeated in Ukraine if we want to prevent bloody tragedies in Lithuania," she said.

The prime minister noted that Lithuania had grown stronger over the 32 years, which would not have happened if "many people had not risked their lives to carry out their mission in the fight for freedom".

In early hours of July 31, 1991, members of the Soviet special police unit OMON killed seven Lithuanian customs, police and border guard officers – Mindaugas Balavakas, Algimantas Juozakas, Juozas Janonis, Algirdas Kazlauskas, Antanas Musteikis, Stanislovas Orlavicius ir Ricardas Rabavicius – who were on duty at the checkpoint on the border with Belarus.

Customs officer Tomas Sernas, the only survivor, was severely wounded.

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Lithuanian PM calls 1991 border checkpoint massacre 'an episode' of Russia's war (expands)

(adds Cmilyte-Nielsen's quote)

"The sacrifice of the Medininkai defenders acquires a new meaning today," Simonyte said in a press release. "It was an episode of the war that is raging in Ukraine now."

Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, speaker of the parliament, says that the Medininkai massacre was one of the most significant, albeit tragic, events for Lithuania's statehood.

"In the first years of independence, our fragile state was under real threat every day," the speaker said in a press release. "But the people of Lithuania were already determined to be free. They worked and stood guard under extreme conditions to defend what was then only a theoretically free state and to protect its borders and people."

"Free people who were determined to die created a free Lithuania, whose voice is now heard around the world," she said. "We will always remember and defend our country."

Customs officer Tomas Sernas, the only survivor, was severely wounded.

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SocDems top Lithuania's party rankings, conservatives back in 2nd place – poll - LIETUVOS RYTAS/VILMORUS POLL

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS – The opposition Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) remains at the top of the country's political party rankings and the ruling Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (HU-LCD) are back in second place, according to a Vilmorus poll published by the daily Lietuvos Rytas on Saturday.

Some 19.1 percent of respondents said in mid-July that they would vote for the LSDP if general elections were held next Sunday, up from 18.1 percent who said so in the previous poll in May.

The HU-LCD returned to second place after slipping to fourth in the wake of the so-called check scandal, as support for the ruling party rose to 9.9 percent in the latest poll, from 7.9 percent in May.

Vilmorus CEO Vladas Gaidys notes, however, that the changes were within the error margin.

"There are no fundamental changes," he told BNS. "The order of the parties in the ranking table has changed, but within the margin of error."

The opposition Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union came in third with 7.8 percent (9.4 percent in May), followed by the Democratic Union "For Lithuania", another opposition party, in fourth place with 7.6 percent (8.2 percent), and the Liberal Movement, a member of the ruling coalition, at number five with 4.3 percent (unchanged from two months ago).

Around a quarter of respondents were undecided and another 12 percent said they would not go to the polls.

Vilmorus polled 1,003 adult people in Lithuania between July 12 and 19. The results of the poll have an error margin of up to 3.1 percent.

By Milena Andrukaitytė

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Lithuania reports 3 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS – Lithuania has recorded three new coronavirus infections and no deaths from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, official statistics showed on Monday morning.

The 14-day primary infection rate has edged down to 7.8 cases per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests at 6.8 percent.

The number of new coronavirus cases hit the peak in Lithuania in early February 2022 when more than 14,000 new infections were recorded daily.

Around 1.19 million people in Lithuania have tested positive for COVID-19 at least once.

Some 68.5 percent of people in the country have received at least one coronavirus vaccine jab so far, according to the statistics.

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Lithuanian president enjoys post-summit rating surge - LIETUVOS RYTAS/VILMORUS POLL

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS - The NATO summit in Vilnius earlier this month has boosted Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda's personal popularity rating and public trust in the institution itself, according to the latest Vilmorus survey for the Lietuvos Rytas daily, published on Saturday.

It shows that 68.8 percent of respondents had a favorable opinion about the president in July, compared to 59.6 percent in May. 14 percent had an unfavorable opinion of the president, compared to 20.6 percent two months ago.

"The poll was carried out right after the NATO summit, Nauseda was visible, met with US President Joe Biden, and this had an impact on the favorable assessment," Vilmorus head Valdas Gaidys told BNS.

Public confidence in the presidential institution jumped from 35.2 percent in May to 48 percent in July.

The NATO summit on July 11-12 also had a positive impact on Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas' rating as he pushed MEP Vilija Blinkeviciute, who lads the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, to the third place.

50 percent had a favorable opinion of the defense minister in July, up from 44.3 percent two months ago, and 21.4 percent had an unfavorable on, down from 27.7 percent in May.

Confidence in the army also rose from 59.2 percent in May and to 64.5 percent in July.

Blinkeviciute came in third with 49 percent of favorable opinions (49.3 percent in May), and 23.7 percent (19.9 percent in May) had an unfavorable opinion of her.

Next comes Saulius Skvernelis, the chairman of the opposition Democrats "For Lithuania" with 36 percent of favorable opinions (37 percent in May), and 34.7 percent of negative ones (34.8 percent in May).

Andrius Mazuronis, the leader of the opposition Labor Party, ranks fifth with 32 percent positive and 25.6 percent of negative opinions, compared to 29.7 percent and 25.6 percent respectively in May.

Speaker of the Seimas Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, who leads the Liberal Movement, part of the ruling block, is viewed favorably by 31.8 percent (28.2 percent in May) and unfavorably by 39.5 percent (43.2 percent in May).

Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas, a member of the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, is viewed favorably by 25.6 percent and unfavorably by 22.3 percent. His name was not included in the previous poll.

64.5 percent had a negative opinion of HU-LCD leader and Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, up from 65.2 percent in May, while 18.3 percent had a favorable opinion (16.5 percent in May).

Economy Minister Ausrine Armonaite, who leads the Freedom Party, part of the ruling block, comes in second with 64.4 percent of negative opinions (66.1 percent in May) and 12.6 percent of negative ones. (10.6 percent in May), followed by MEP Valdemar Tomasevski, leader of the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania – Christian Families Alliance, with 62.7 percent of negative opinions (61.4 percent) and 7.1 percent (5.3 percent) of positive.

Trust in Church at 25-year lows

Among all institutions, the Lithuanian population has the highest level of trust in firefighters – 91.4 percent, compared to 87.8 percent in May.

The police comes second with 63.7% percent (59.2 percent in May), followed by the social security fund SoDra with 53.2 percent (51.1 percent in May), the State Border Guard Service with 51 percent (44.4 percent in May), and the education system with 46.9 percent (39.3 percent in May).

On the other end of the spectrum, people have the lowest level of trust in political parties (6.5 percent), and 55.9 percent do not trust them.

Only 9.9 percent have trust in the Seimas, and 53 percent have trust in it. 17.5 percent trust the government, and 41.9 percent don’t. Two months ago, the percentage of those who trusted the parties stood at 6.2 percent (59.2 percent had no trust), 8.5 percent trusted the Seimas (60.5 percent did not), and 11.8 percent trusted the government (48.8 percent did not).

1,003 Lithuanian adults took part in the survey on July 12-19 July.

By Milena Andrukaitytė

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Vilnius newsroom

Lithuania plans to open consulate general in Munich in September

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS – Lithuania is planning to open its consulate general in the German city of Munich on September 1.

The Cabinet is expected to discuss the Foreign Ministry's proposal this week.

The ministry's proposal underlines the need to strengthen relations with Germany, given the country's political and economic influence, its strategic importance in foreign policy, and its size.

The ministry notes that the opening of the consulate would not only strengthen Lithuania's economic interests, but would also ensure the provision of consular services to a large Lithuanian community living in Germany's economically strongest southern and western federal states.

"Currently, they have to turn to Lithuanian diplomatic missions in neighboring countries that are geographically closer to them for the consular services they need," it said.

Figures from the German Federal Statistical Office show that the number of Lithuanian citizens residing in the country increased two and a half times between 2010 and 2021, from 23,500 to more than 58,000.

While Germany's most important business associations are headquartered in Berlin, the country's considerable economic power is concentrated in the western and southern federal states, so part of Lithuania's economic diplomacy has to be targeted there, according to the ministry.

By Milena Andrukaitytė

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Lithuanian president says can work with defmin, but waits for law enforcement opinion

MEDININKAI, Lithuania, Jul 31, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on Monday that he can continue to work with Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas, but is waiting for a law enforcement assessment of his behavior in making public information on plans to purchase tanks.

"I hope that the minister will draw the necessary conclusions and I think that we can work together, but let's wait for an assessment from the Prosecutor General's Office," Nauseda told journalists.

Following last week's meeting of the president-chaired State Defense Council, Anusauskas made public information about Lithuania's plans to purchase tanks for its armed forces, drawing criticism from Nauseda and some other politicians.

Opposition MP Agne Sirinskiene asked the Prosecutor General's Office to look at whether the defense minister had disclosed classified information.

By Saulius Jakučionis

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EC urges Lithuania to step up efforts to increase prosecutors' salaries

VILNIUS, Jul 30, BNS - The European Commission has called on Lithuania to make efforts to allocate sufficient resources for the salaries of prosecutors and non-judicial court staff.

Published earlier this month, the EC's fourth Rule of Law Report notes that the salaries of prosecutors and court staff are a major concern and the issue itself has only been partially addressed.

"(It is recommended to – BNS) continue efforts to provide adequate resources for the justice system, including on the level of remuneration for prosecutors and non-judicial staff, taking into account European standards on resources and remuneration for the justice system," the recommendations provided in the report read.

President Gitanas Nauseda has proposed to advance salary increases for prosecutors and to do so as early as this year. The Seimas started debating related bills in late June.

"It should be noted that the entry-level salaries for judges and prosecutors in Lithuania, in comparison with the annual average gross salary in the country, is among the lowest in the EU," the report says.

"There are also concerns regarding the salaries of court staff, such as judicial assistants and court hearing clerks, which leads to difficulties in recruiting qualified staff," the report states.

In late May, the Seimas approved the civil service reform providing for a pay rise for mayors, Constitutional Court justices, courts of general jurisdiction and specialized courts, intelligence officers and officers of the Special Investigation Service, starting from July 1. Meanwhile, prosecutors got into the second pay rise phase from January.

Prosecutor General Nida Grunskiene has said that if these changes come into force, a significant number of prosecutors will leave the service because of low pay.

Under the president's proposal, prosecutors' salaries would rise from October 1 and they will be calculated using a base rate of 1,785.4 euros. This would bring the prosecutor general's salary to almost 8,400 euros before taxes (currently the salary without bonuses stands at 4,300 euros). A prosecutor at the Prosecutor General's Office would earn 6,248 euros, from the existing 3,300 euros.

A prosecutor at a Regional Prosecutor's Office would earn 5,534 euros, from the existing 3,000 euros, and a prosecutor at a District Prosecutor's Office would be paid 5,177 (euros, from 2,600 euros now.

Undetr the bill, prosecutors could be paid bonuses of up to 30 percent of their official salary.

However, the report notes that the new legislation is intended to address the salary levels of judges, prosecutors and court staff, which have remained largely unchanged since 2008.

"The remuneration of judges has remained largely unchanged since 200847, which has led to a discrepancy in salaries compared to other public officials and a material decrease in purchasing power48. The Judicial Council expressed concerns that the situation is making the profession of judge less attractive, which is shown by unsuccessful selection procedures for judicial office due to a lack of suitable candidates," the EC report reads.

According to the Board of the Judicial Association, the average after-tax salary of a district judge without sufficient experience currently stands at 1,695 euros. While the highest possible salary for a judge at the Supreme Court of Lithuania is 2,611 euros, if they she has 30 years or more of service.

The report notes that an increasing number of judges are resigning, citing inadequate salaries as the reason. This is expected to increase the workload of the remaining judges and lengthen court proceedings for parties.

For its part, the Ministry of the Interior has told BNS that judges' salaries, which have not been substantially adjusted since 2008, are "one of the priorities", and that after the changes, judges' salaries would range from €5488 (for a district court judge) to €8,624 (for the president of the Constitutional Court).

According to the EC report, a growing number of judges are resigning due to the insufficient remuneration.

For its part, the Interior Ministry has told BNS that judges' salaries are "one of the priorities", adding that after the planned changes, judges' salaries would range from 5,488 euros for a district court judge to 8,624 euros for the president of the Constitutional Court.

By Paulius Perminas

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Wagner's close presence increases provocation risk – Lithuanian president

MEDININKAI, Lithuania, Jul 31, BNS – The presence of the Russian mercenary group Wagner in Belarus close to the Lithuanian border poses a serious threat, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says.

"From the very first reports that Wagner could be deployed in Belarus, I immediately said that we cannot rule out such a threat, even if the main scenarios might be different, or even if we are being led to believe that the scenarios are different and that Wagner groups might be heading for Africa or some other places. It's really too tempting not to use one's presence here, close to our border, for various provocations," the president reporters on Monday in Medininkai, close to the Belarusian border.

"That's why I think the threat is serious," he said.

On the other hand, Nauseda insisted that there were no signs or signals that such provocations were being prepared.

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Lithuanian president says can work with defmin, but waits for law enforcement opinion (expands)

"I hope that the minister will draw the necessary conclusions and I think that we can work together, but let's wait for an assessment from the Prosecutor General's Office," Nauseda told journalists in Medininkai, at the border with Belarus.

Opposition MP Agne Sirinskiene asked the Prosecutor General's Office to look at whether the defense minister had disclosed classified information.

"Each institution has its own security markings, (such as) restricted or confidential, and these must be respected," Nauseda told journalists. "The State Defense Council is one of these institutions, a very important institution where all of the country's leaders come together to discuss key security issues."

"That is why decisions must be taken in institutions, not on social media or on Facebook," he added.

While the public has to be informed about national defense decisions, "there is some information the disclosure of which could be detrimental to the state", according to Nauseda.

"I believe that it (the Prosecutor General's Office) will also be able to assess the legal aspects of this problem and then we will see what the conclusions will be," he said.

Anusauskas told reporters about Lithuania's plans to acquire Leopard tanks after the State Defense Council meeting on Monday last week. The next day, he made public data to show why these tanks are the best choice for the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

Anusauskas and defense officials say that this does not mean that Lithuania has already decided to buy Leopard tanks out of the three options considered, but some politicians maintain that the minister has undermined Lithuania's negotiating position with German manufacturers by revealing the country's inclination.

Anusauskas and, later, the Defense Ministry said that the minister had not disclosed classified information.

Lithuania is set to buy tanks as part of its plans to create an army division. Officials say this could cost the country around 2 billion euros.

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Wagner's close presence increases provocation risk – Lithuanian president (expands)

MEDININKAI, Lithuania, Jul 31, BNS – The presence of the Russian mercenary group Wagner in Belarus close to the Lithuanian border poses a serious threat, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says.

"That's why I think the threat is serious," he said.

On the other hand, Nauseda insisted that there were no signs or signals that such provocations were being prepared.

"We don't have any such indications today, but Wagner's mere presence in the vicinity... These provocations could be organized both against Poland and Lithuania, and, of course, there's another country that shares a border with Belarus, Latvia," the president said.

His comment followed the Polish prime minister's statement at the weekend that more than 100 mercenaries approached the Suwalki corridor. Mateusz Morawiecki also said the situation was becoming even more dangerous and that this was a step towards a further hybrid attack on Polish territory.

Lithuanian and Polish officials have said that their countries would be ready to close the border with Belarus in case of serious border incidents.

However, Lithuanian Interior Vice Minister Arnoldas Abramavicius says there's no need for this now.

"If the situation deteriorated, a regional solution would be needed, and we are ready for that, but there's no need to talk about it today," the politician said in Medininkai on Monday.

Election in Poland

For his part, Laurynas Kasciunas, chairman of the Lithuanian parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense, says that with its existing combat power, Wagner mercenaries in Belarus "do not pose a military, conventional threat".

"Yes, it's an additional risk factor, it will depend on further scenarios, how they will be armed and on their mandate to act," he said while attending the commemoration of the Medininkai massacre anniversary with other politicians.

However, he stressed that the scenarios of a hybrid threat "are being discussed and have been prepared for".

Kasciunas also linked the statements by Polish officials to the country's upcoming parliamentary election.

"One more thing, don't forget, Poland gears up for an election. You can draw your own conclusions," he said.

Speaking about to the Wagner movement in Belarus, the CNSD chair said one also should take into account the location of the bases and units of the Belarusian army that's being trained by mercenaries.

"The Belarusian army, unlike the various structures of the Belarusian interior system, the security structures, has never been well-funded. It's not Lukashenko's strong link. He is using the opportunity to carry out this type of training," Kasciunas said.

"When we look, for example, where 100-200 Wagner (mercenaries - BNS) are going in Belarus, whether we record it or somebody tells us about it, let's not forget that there's a Belarusian army camp, a base, somewhere where they are going and they are training," Kasciunas said.

"Let's not forget that when analyzing where they are moving to," he added.

Wagner mercenaries started moving to Belarus after their failed mutiny in Russia in June after authoritarian Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko allegedly helped to end this and allowdd mercenaries to come to Belarus.

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Nauseda calls Medininkai massacre Soviet terror attack that failed to intimidate Lithuania

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS – The brutal killing of seven Lithuanian officers at the Medininkai border checkpoint 32 years ago was a terrorist attack by the collapsing Soviet Union that failed to intimidate Lithuania into abandoning its quest for freedom, President Gitanas Nauseda said on Monday.

"Thirty-two years ago, the young Lithuanian state suffered yet another terrorist attack by the defeated, failing, and therefore raging evil empire," Nauseda said in his speech in Medininkai, close to the border with Belarus, at an event marking the 32rd anniversary of the massacre.

"The Medininkai terror attack was a convulsion of agony for the Soviet Union. The planners and perpetrators of the massacre did not intimidate Lithuanians into submitting to the will of the occupying power, but on the contrary, inspired even more courage and mobilized them to strengthen their state institutions," he said.

Nauseda noted in his speech that seven Lithuanian officers were brutally murdered at the Medininkai border checkpoint by hitmen from the Soviet special police unit OMON and Tomas Sernas, the only survivor, was severely wounded on the eve of his wedding.

The brutality of the totalitarian systems was what Lithuania and other countries in the region faced for much of the 20th century, according to Nauseda.

"The evil of the bestial systems erupted in planned, organized repression and massacres, when, in order to preserve their power, the leaders of the regimes took decisions to exterminate a particular group of people," he said.

In Lithuania in 1991, "the targets of murderous structures were people who chose freedom and civic values", the president said, referring to unarmed civilians who protected the TV Tower and the parliament building in Vilnius and those who joined the service to protect the state borders and maintain public order.

Six Lithuanian officers, Mindaugas Balavakas, Algimantas Juozakas, Juozas Janonis, Algirdas Kazlauskas, Antanas Musteikis and Stanislovas Orlavicius, were killed when OMON troops from Riga attacked the Medininkai border checkpoint on July 31, 1991, and one, Ricardas Rabavicius, died in hospital on August 2 from gunshot wounds to the head. Sernas, a customs officer, was severely wounded, but survived the attack.

Konstantin Mikhailov, a former OMON member, is serving a life sentence in a Lithuanian prison for his role in the Medininkai massacre.

Another three OMON members – Andrei Laktionov, Cheslav Mlynik and Alexander Ryzhov – were convicted and sentenced by Lithuanian courts to life imprisonment, the harshest possible punishment in the country, in absentia because of Russia's refusal to extradite them.

By Ignas Jačauskas

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Half of Lithuanians would like retailers to label Russia-linked goods - BNS/VILMORUS POLL

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS - Around half of people in Lithuania would like retailers to label goods made by producers who have not left Russia, according to a new Vilmorys survey for BNS.

Carried out in July, the survey shows that 47.4 percent think such goods should be labeled at the point of sale, while slightly more than a fifth believe they should not.

Just over 30 percent had no opinion on the issue.

Some retailers say they fear the legal implications of such labeling, while others want the government's assistance in accurately identifying makes of Russia-linked goods.

Four Lithuanian lawmakers representing the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats contacted retailers regarding the labeling of such products in late June.

One of them, Vilius Semeska, says no response has been received from any of the supermarket chains so far.

"This is a bit disturbing and saddens as such an attitude is strange and not entirely acceptable. We wanted to look for solutions without any legal obligations in the sphere and atmosphere of goodwill and cooperation, but there has been no response. They seem to think that they will wait for the summer and then it will all be forgotten, and the issue will probably be exhausted," the MP said.

However, the lawmakers plan to write to retailers in the fall again and initiate meetings.

In Semeska's opinion, supermarkets could also ask for a certain declaration from suppliers and manufacturers that they do not trade or operate in Russia.

Fear of legal problems

Vaida Budriene, head of communications for the Iki chain, told BNS the chain has no intention to label goods on its own initiative and hopes that awareness from suppliers themselves.

"We check the incoming goods very carefully because we've had cases where suppliers still send goods made in Russia, even though we order them from European or Chinese markets," Budriene said.

"Even though the Iki chain refuses to accept them, we can assume that such goods are still circulating in the market. So there's still work to be done on this issue too," she added.

Norfa's spokesman Darius Ryliskis is convinced that labeling could land the chain in court.

"If we marked some major firm marks as wrong, it can land us in court. What if you cause reputational damage? (...) We won't investigate, we can't know that they work in Russia, we won't hire somebody to investigate," he told BNS.

Indre Trakimaite-Seskuviene, director of Maxima's Communications and Corporate Affairs Department, told BNS that Maxima would consider labeling goods made by companies that have not withdrawn from Russia with special information if an official list of such producers is drawn up and approved by the responsible authorities.

"Otherwise, marking goods without an official list confirming the manufacturer's activity in the aggressor country risks misleading buyers and the chain could be subject to legal liability for disseminating potentially false information about a manufacturer, and in the absence of an official list, there's no possibility of applying the same conditions to all suppliers," she said.

The survey's exact results:

The Vilmorus survey asked respondents:

In your opinion, should or should not goods made by producers that have not ceased their activities in Russia be labeled at the point of sale?

The answers:

1. Yes, 47.4 percent;

2. No, 22 percent;

3. Don't care/no opinion – 30.6 percent.

The survey of 1,003 people in 22 cities and over 40 villages was carried out on July 12-19.

By Jurgita Andriejauskaitė, Sniegė Balčiūnaitė

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Lithuanian court rejects request to register same-sex marriage

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS – A Vilnius court on Friday rejected a request to oblige the Vilnius City Civil Registry Office to register a same-sex marriage and enter the marriage contract in the Register of Marriage Contracts.

The case was heard closed doors, and the Vilnius District Court only published the ruling stating that the application on the registration of the civil status act was rejected. The decision can still be appealed with the Vilnius Regional Court.

Gayline.lt, which reported on the ruling, said the court stated that the concept of marriage as stated in Article 38 of the Constitution "is clear and specific, and does not give rise to any presumption that it can be interpreted as conferring the right to marry irrespective of the sex of the persons concerned".

The Constitution provides that "marriage shall be concluded upon the free mutual consent of man and woman".

"Thus, according to the official constitutional jurisprudence, the constitutional concept of marriage (as opposed to the constitutional concept of family) is not gender-neutral, and marriage is only possible between a man and woman," the court's ruling reads.

Martynas Norbutas, one of the applicants, said in a statement that he was disappointed with the ruling because Lithuania "has not fulfilled its obligation to protect homosexual families".

"It's disappointing that this court did not consider it important to change the situation," he said.

Aivaras Zilinskas, the lawyer for the applicants, says the ruling will be appealed.

This case is one of three cases in which three couples are seeking the registration of a civil partnership, the registration of a marriage that took place abroad in the country's civil registry, and the recognition and registration of a same-sex marriage in Lithuania.

In April, the Vilnius City District Court already rejected the request to register the same-sex partnership in the register of civil status acts, stating that there's no legal act that could be used to satisfy the applicants' request, apart from the Law on Partnerships.

The court then pointed out that although the Constitutional Court recognizes that the concept of family is gender neutral, it does not create new norms as it must be done by the parliament.

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9 out of 10 Lithuanians view climate change as serious problem – Eurobarometer

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS - Nine out of ten Lithuanians and the same share of Europeans consider climate change to be a serious problem facing the world today, according to the latest Eurobarometer poll carried out in May and June.

69 percent of Lithuanians (77 percent of EU citizens) consider climate change to be a very serious problem, while 23 percent people in Lithuania (16 percent of EU citizens) consider it to be a serious issue.

50 percent of Lithuanians (58 percent of EU citizens) believe that the transition to a green economy needs to be accelerated due to the spike in energy prices and the uncertainty of gas supply following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

77 percent of respondents in Lithuania (73 percent of EU citizens) agree that the cost of climate change-caused damage is much higher than the investment needed for green transformation.

22 percent of respondents in Lithuania (33 percent of EU citizens) reported having personally experienced risks and threats related to the environment and climate.

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Lithuania decides to set up consulate general in Munich (updates)

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS – The Lithuanian government decided on Monday to set up a consulate general in the German city of Munich.

The government's resolution calls for establishing the consulate on September 1.

The Foreign Ministry, which put forward the proposal, underlines the need to strengthen relations with Germany, given the country's political and economic influence in the European Union and the international community, its size and its importance in foreign policy.

"Currently, they have to turn to Lithuanian diplomatic missions in neighboring countries that are geographically closer to them for the consular services they need," it said.

The consulate is being opened in Bavaria, a strategically important German federal state offering opportunities in the smart economy and traditional industry, it noted.

The consulate general in Munich is expected to employ seven staff.

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NATO jets scrambled 3 times to intercept Russian planes, once to patrol Baltic airspace

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS – NATO's fighter jets last week were scrambled three times to intercept Russian military aircraft flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea in violation of flight rules and took off once to patrol the airspace along the Baltic borders with Russia and Belarus, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said on Monday.

On Tuesday, NATO's air policing aircraft were scrambled to intercept an IL-20 attack plane flying in international airspace from mainland Russia to Kaliningrad.

On Wednesday, NATO's jets carried out patrols along the Baltic states' borders with Russia and Belarus and took off to intercept an IL-20 and two SU-27 fighter jets flying from Kaliningrad and then back to the exclave.

On Friday, the Alliance's aircraft were scrambled over an IL-20 on its way from Kaliningrad to mainland Russia and over two SU-27 fighters flying from and back to the exclave.

Most of the Russian aircraft were not using their onboard transponders or maintaining radio communication with the Regional Traffic Control Center. They did not have pre-filed flight plans either.

The NATO Baltic air policing mission is carried out from air bases in Lithuania and Estonia.

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Drobiazko given explanation deadline before Lithuanian citizenship decision

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS - Ice dancer Margarita Drobiazko, who lives in Russia, will have four weeks to provide her explanation and find a lawyer before Lithuania's Citizenship Commission decides on stripping her of Lithuanian citizenship.

"Taking into account the fact that she lives outside Lithuania, the appropriate timeframe for finding of a lawyer, getting acquainted with the hearing's materials and preparing explanations on the circumstances specified in the Interior Ministry's letter would be four weeks from the date of Drobiazko's notification," the Presidential Office said on Monday. "Thus, the Commission meeting cannot be held without Drobiazko being properly informed about it."

The deadline will be calculated from the date of Drobiazko's notification about the planned meeting of the Citizenship Commission.

"The commission is seeking to establish Drobiazko's contact details to properly inform her of the commission's meeting," the Presidential Office added.

Last week, Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite turned to President Gitanas Nauseda regarding the revocation of Drobiazko's Lithuanian citizenship she was granted by means of exception.

Before the president can take such a decision, the Citizenship Commission, chaired by the President's chief legal adviser, will issue a recommendation for such a move.

The Migration Department says Drobiazko is breaking her oath to Lithuania and bringing the country into disrepute by cooperating with a hostile regime. The department points to Drobiazko's close professional and personal ties with Tatyana Navka, the wife of Vladimir Putin's press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

The Lithuanian president said earlier he would not comment on Drobiazko's case, but stressed that "democracy must defend itself (...) because autocracies often try to test our strength".

Drobiazko was granted Lithuanian citizenship in 1993 by means of exception for her merits in the field of sport.

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Lithuanian cabinet proposes to expand bill on declaring ties with Russia, Belarus

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS – The Lithuanian government proposes to expand draft amendments that call for obliging civil servants to declare their links with Russia and Belarus.

The amendments were put forward by Laurynas Kasciunas, chairman of the parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense.

The Cabinet decided on Monday that persons who are under an obligation to file a declaration of private interests must declare not only their business ties in Russia and Belarus, as proposed by the MP, but also other links to the two countries.

According to the explanatory note, the draft amendments are aimed at prompting companies associated with civil servants to cut their business ties with Russia and Belarus.

The draft amendments tabled by Kasciunas in April suggested making it mandatory for civil servants to declare only their business relations with natural and legal persons operating in Russia or Belarus and disclosing their agreements.

The Interior Ministry says, however, that economic activity only covers production, commercial and financial activities related to the purchase or sale of goods or services, but it fails to cover other possible links with legal persons operating in Russia or Belarus.

An additional funding of 120,000 to 150,000 euros is needed to establish such an obligation, according to the exploratory note.

If approved by the parliament, the amended law will take effect next January.

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Lithuanian court annuls reprimand for ex-PSS chief Pocius

VILNIUS, Jul 31, BNS – A Vilnius court on Monday overturned the government's reprimand for former Public Security Service commander Ricardas Pocius.

The decision can still be appealed with the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania.

The ex-PSS chief had asked the court to annul the government's decision made on June 22, 2022 to reprimand him.

The Interior Ministry argued that Pocius was reprimanded for official misconduct as he had set a negative example for the institution's other staff and the heads of other statutory bodies by violating the strictly regulated subordination within the statutory service and by failing to comply with the management's orders.

The Interior Ministry said earlier that the PSS was assigned tasks of particular importance for national security, and the interior minister was supposed to be constantly informed about their performance.

Meanwhile, Pocius, according to the ministry, failed to coordinate his actions with the ministry's leadership and refused to implement the plan ordered by the minister.

For his part, Pocius accused Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite of incompetence and indecisiveness for her alleged failure to activate an anti-riot plan in the wake of disturbances outside the Seimas, and he also claimed he was got rid of.

The Interior Ministry plans to appeal as, it said, the Vilnius Regional Administrative Court, annulled the reprimands only on the grounds of procedural irregularities. Pocius also vows to take further "legal action", without elaborating.

Pocius led the PSS since 2015. He resigned in late October 2021.

By Ingrida Steniulienė

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, August 21, 2023

VILNIUS, Aug 01, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Tuesday, August 1, 2023:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to meet with Linas Pernavas, head of the Special Investigation Service at 11 a.m.

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to meet with US Ambassador to Lithuania Robert S. Gilchrist at 10a.m.; an interview with Poland's English-language channel TVP World at 11.20 a.m.

DEFENSE MINISTER Arvydas Anusauskas to meet with US Ambassador to Lithuania Robert S. Gilchrist at 10.45 a.m.

FOREIGN MINISTER Gabrielius Landsbergis to meet with US Ambassador to Lithuania Robert S. Gilchrist at 1 p.m.

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Aug 02 2023

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, July 28, 2023
Eighteen irregular migrants turned away on Lithuania's border with Belarus
Lithuanian intermin addresses president about revocation of Drobiazko’s citizenship
Lithuania reports 18 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths
Lithuania, Poland consider jointly shutting border with Belarus over Wagner
Ex-Kaunas administration director's corruption cases referred to court
Lithuanian minister: disqualification of Ukrainian fencer completely incomprehensible
Lithuania hands in note to Belarus over launch of Astravyets NPP's 2nd unit
Almost 26,000 applications for admission to higher education filed in Lithuania – LAMABPO
Businesses will find routes if Lithuanian-Belarus border is shut down because of Wagner
Lithuania sends Germany letter of intent on planned Leopard tank acquisition
IAEA praises Lithuania’s siting plans for deep geological disposal of radioactive waste
Lithuania sends Germany letter of intent on planned Leopard tank acquisition (expands)

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, July 28, 2023

VILNIUS, Jul 28, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Friday, July 28, 2023:

FOREIGN MINISTER Gabrielius Landsbergis to meet with Latvia’s ambassador to Lithuania.

INTERIOR MINISTRY to hold a news conference at 10.30 a.m. on the issue of Lithuanian citizenship of ice dancer Margarita Drobiazko, with Deputy Interior Minister Arnoldas Abramavicius due to provide a summary of information received from all responsible authorities.

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Eighteen irregular migrants turned away on Lithuania's border with Belarus

VILNIUS, Jul 28, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have in the past 24 hours turned away 18 migrants attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Friday morning.

Latvia reported 44 attempts at illegal border crossings on Thursday, and 144 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Wednesday, according to the latest available information.

A total of 1,427 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year. Over 11,200 irregular migrants were turned away in 2022.

The SBGS says that illegal migration to Lithuania and the EU is being facilitated by Belarusian officials.

Almost 4,200 irregular migrants crossed into Lithuania from Belarus illegally in 2021. However, the vast majority of them fled Lithuania once they were allowed to move freely.

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Lithuanian intermin addresses president about revocation of Drobiazko’s citizenship

VILNIUS, Jul 28, BNS – Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite has addressed President Gitanas Nauseda about the revocation of the Lithuanian citizenship, granted by way of exception to Margarita Drobiazko, a Russia-born ice dancer.

The Interior Ministry said on Friday that the minister had turned to the head of the state on the basis of the Law on Citizenship and in the light of the information provided by competent authorities. The final decision will be taken by the president.

Having summarized the information provided by all the responsible authorities, the Migration Department has stated in its submission to the Interior Ministry that Drobiazko, a Lithuanian citizen, maintains close professional and personal ties with Tatyana Navka, who is associated with the Russian ruling regime.

According to the Interior Ministry, publicly available Russian media sources show that Drobiazko cooperates with Navka, the wife of the Russian president's spokesman Dmitry Peskov, and participates in ice dancing performances organized by her, and presumably receives remuneration for this.

“The events in which Drobiazko participates contribute to the image of Russia as a great country that hosts outstanding events around the world, thus helping to develop the Russian regime's narrative of a 'Russian world' and strengthening the power of the Russian regime," the ministry stated.

According to the ministry, Drobiazko has neither condemned nor opposed Russia's brutal military actions in Ukraine.

In the opinion of responsible public authorities, a Lithuanian citizen must be loyal to the Lithuanian State.

"It should be noted that Drobiazko, by acquiring the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, promised to abide by the laws of the Republic of Lithuania, to respect the independence of the State and its territorial integrity, but by her actions, she is not abiding by the oath she has taken, and is discrediting the name of Lithuania by cooperating with a regime that is hostile to the State of Lithuania," the ministry pointed out.

The Law on Citizenship stipulates that a person who has been granted Lithuanian citizenship by means of exception might lose it not only if their actions pose a threat to national security interests but also if they publicly express support for a state that poses a threat to the security interests of Lithuania and/or other EU member states and/or their allies.

Following the performance by Drobiazko and Povilas Vanagas, her husband and dance partner, in Sochi, President Nauseda stripped them of the Lithuanian state awards they had previously received for their achievements.

Drobiazko, who was born and lives in Russia, was granted Lithuanian citizenship by way of exception for her merits in sport.

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Lithuania reports 18 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths

VILNIUS, Jul 28, BNS – Lithuania has recorded 18 new coronavirus infections and no deaths from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, official statistics showed on Friday morning.

The 14-day primary infection rate has edged up to 8 cases per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests at 7.8 percent.

The number of new coronavirus cases hit the peak in Lithuania in early February 2022 when more than 14,000 new infections were recorded daily.

Around 1.19 million people in Lithuania have tested positive for COVID-19 at least once.

Some 68.5 percent of people in the country have received at least one coronavirus vaccine jab so far, according to the statistics.

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Lithuania, Poland consider jointly shutting border with Belarus over Wagner

VILNIUS, Jul 28, BNS – Lithuania and Poland consider jointly shutting their border with Belarus if there are serious incidents involving the Russian mercenary group Wagner along their frontiers with the country, officials of the two countries have confirmed.

“The discussions are real. The possibility of closing the border exists,” Lithuanian Deputy Interior Minister Arnoldas Abramavicius told reporters on Friday.

Reuters cited Poland’s interior minister as saying on Thursday that such a possibility was being discussed with the neighboring countries.

Last week, Warsaw decided to move military units to its east after Wagner mercenaries began training Belarusian special forces a few kilometers from its border.

Abramavicius said he had information that on Thursday, representatives of the Polish government visited the border with Belarus to assess the threats.

"They identified about 1,200 Wagner fighters there who are on Belarusian territory and some of them are close to the border,” the deputy minister noted.

He said he did not think Poland could be intimidated by comments made by Belarusian authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko who said that the Russian mercenaries “are asking to go West, ask me for permission... to go on a trip to Warsaw, to Rzeszow”.

"As a military power, Poland is not in great danger, I imagine. But as a possibility of provocation, yes, it does. It could be some groups of refugees, irregular migrants being transferred in order to cause some kind of unrest", Abramavicius said.

Wagner fighters started coming to Belarus after their failed June mutiny in Russia, which was reportedly brought to an end by Lukashenko who allowed Russian mercenaries to enter his country.

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Ex-Kaunas administration director's corruption cases referred to court

VILNIUS, Jul 28, BNS – Lithuanian prosecutors have referred to court the case of former Kaunas city municipal administration director Vilius Siliauskas who is charged with bribery.

According to the pre-trial investigation, Siliauskas directly demanded and accepted 260,000 euros in bribes for his own benefit from the head of a private company between 2021 and 2022.

Bribes were allegedly taken in return for future favors and for acting lawfully in the exercise of powers, making decisions related to the execution and administration of contracts between Kaunas City Municipality and the company in question.

The case has been referred to the Kaunas Regional Court.

Earlier, Juozas Kriaučiunas, the head of Autokausta, a construction company, was also suspect in this case but was released from criminal liability.

Siliauskas was detained in March 2022.

According to previous media reports, Siliauskas testified that Kaunas Mayor Visvaldas Matijosaitis had allegedly told his subordinates not to issue a permit for the reconstruction of the Britanika hotel because it would harm his family's business interests.

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Lithuanian minister: disqualification of Ukrainian fencer completely incomprehensible

VILNIUS, Jul 28, BNS – Lithuanian Minister of Education, Science and Sport Gintautas Jakstas has described as completely incomprehensible the decision by the International Fencing Federation to disqualify Ukraine's Olha Kharlan for not shaking the hand of her beaten Russian opponent Anna Smirnova at the Fencing World Championships on Thursday.

"The decision of the International Fencing Federation to disqualify Ukraine's Olha Kharlan from the world championships because she refused to shake hands with her opponent after her win over Russia's Anna Smirnova is completely incomprehensible!" the minister said in a Facebook post on Friday.

"I will write an official letter to the International Fencing Federation and other federations urging them to respect human rights and to be sensitive to the situation," he noted.

Four-time sabre world champion Kharlan defeated Smirnova and refused to shake her opponent's hand at the end of the match.

Kharlan on Thursday became the first athlete officially representing Ukraine to face a Russian or Belarusian opponent since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

According to Jakstas, if the federation does not have the will to take a firm decision not to invite Russian and Belarusian athletes, "the least it could do is to respect the right of other athletes to choose, to maintain a moral stance".

He also noted that the return of Russians and Belarusians to international competitions violates the rights of Ukrainian athletes and creates conflict.

The Lithuanian Fencing Federation has also expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian fencer.

Four athletes representing Lithuania at the championships – Vikte Azukaite, Olivija Masalo, Lurde Grabovskyte and Leonardas Kalininas – will not have to face athletes from Russia and Belarus.

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Lithuania hands in note to Belarus over launch of Astravyets NPP's 2nd unit

VILNIUS, Jul 28, BNS – Lithuania's Foreign Ministry has handed in a diplomatic note to Minsk following the launch of the second unit of the Astravyets nuclear power plant and an increase in its power.

Lithuania calls on Belarus not to operate the second unit until the identified safety problems have been resolved, the necessary safety improvement measures have been implemented, and international nuclear safety and environmental standards and requirements are strictly observed.

According to the ministry, when picking the Astravyets site, Belarus failed take into account the density and distribution of Lithuania's population and the potential negative cross-border environmental and population impact, and also failed to ensure adequate public participation in the decision-making process.

Belarus has also not implemented the recommendations presented after the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) experts' "stress tests", has not carried out an assessment of the impact of the crash of a large commercial airliner, and has failed to provide the information necessary for a more accurate assessment of the potential impact of the Belarusian nuclear power plant on Lithuania, the note reads.

Moreover, the ministry said, Minsk is not addressing the issues raised by Lithuania regarding seismic aspects, the location of radioactive waste and spent fuel storage and disposal facilities in Belarus, and possible environmental problems related to the use of the River Neris water to cool the Belarusian nuclear power plant's reactors.

Lithuania calls for transparent communication to inform the public and stakeholders about the real situation at the Belarusian nuclear power plant and incidents at the site, including accidents and unusual events, the Foreign Ministry said.

It also calls for the suspension of operations at the Belarusian nuclear power plant until all nuclear safety issues identified by international missions and review processes are resolved.

The launch of the second reactor started at the end of last year and in April its power was increased from the minimum controlled power (1 percent) to 40 percent of its nominal power. It was officially announced in May that the power was being increased to 50 percent. Minsk plans to start commercial operation of the power unit in October.

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Almost 26,000 applications for admission to higher education filed in Lithuania – LAMABPO

VILNIUS, Jul 28, BNS – Nearly 26,000 people have declared their intention to study at higher education institutions by the end of the enrolment period at noon on Friday.

"By this moment, 25,900 applications have been submitted," Erika Vaitkuniene, a representative of the Association of Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions for Centralized Admissions (LAMABPO), confirmed to BNS.

This year, 12,700 first-year students are expected to be admitted to state-funded places at higher education institutions, the same number as in previous years. Of these, 8.600 are expected to be admitted to universities, and 4,100 to colleges.

Data provided by LAMABPO to BNS on Thursday showed that university social sciences (16 percent), health sciences (14 percent), business and public management (13 percent), computer science (10 percent), and arts (9 percent) were the most frequently chosen study programs in the applications.

Meanwhile, prospective college freshmen would like to study business and public management (26 percent), health (22 percent), engineering (15 percent), social sciences and education (9 percent each).

LAMABPO said it would provide the precise final data at a later stage.

Vilnius University is traditionally the most popular among applicants, followed by Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas University of Technology, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University and Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.

In the college sector, Kaunas College, Vilnius College and Klaipeda State College have the highest numbers of applicants.

A maximum of nine preferences can be included in the application during the main admission process. Applicants will be informed about the results of the main admission on August 2, both in the information system and by e-mail.

An additional admission will take place on August 7-10 and will be followed by the announcement of invitations to study on August 16. The second phase of the additional admission will take place on August 21-24.

This year, 16 universities and 18 colleges are offering study programs in Lithuania.

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Businesses will find routes if Lithuanian-Belarus border is shut down because of Wagner

VILNIUS, Jul 28, BNS – As Lithuania and Poland mull jointly closing their borders with Belarus amid the threat of the Wagner mercenary group, haulers would find other routes to Belarus, representatives of the haulage business say.

The existing flow of freight traffic crossing the Lithuanian-Belarusian border would move elsewhere, Antanas Simelis, president of the Lithuanian Logistics Association, told BNS on Friday.

"In any case, if we have some kind of traffic, so if its gone, some other routes will probably open up, so it will not be a good thing for Lithuanians, of course," he said.

Zenonas Buivydas, secretary general at the Linava, the national road carriers' association, says that in such a case, trucks would go to the east via the Paternieki border checkpoint in Latvia, and truck lines will move there.

Moreover, there are few Lithuanian businesses left that carry goods to Belarus, so the border closure would not cause any major inconvenience, Simelis pointed out.

Buivydas estimates that there are currently some 300 small Lithuanian haulage companies that transport goods to the East.

Earlier in the day, Lithuania's Interior Vice Minister Arnoldas Abramavicius told reporters Lithuania might close its border with Belarus, adding that such considerations are real. His comment followed Poland's interior minister's remarks on Thursday when he was quoted by Reuters as saying that Warsaw is looking into such a possibility with its neighbors.

By Valdas Pryšmantas

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Lithuania sends Germany letter of intent on planned Leopard tank acquisition

VILNIUS, Jul 28, BNS – Lithuania's Defense Materiel Agency on Friday sent the German Defense Ministry a letter of intent on the purchase of Leopard tanks, but stressed that it did not yet indicate Lithuania's final decision to buy the equipment.

"The letter of intent was sent today," the Defense Ministry told BNS.

According to the ministry, it gives Lithuania the opportunity to receive information about the tanks and to discuss other specific information that will be needed if Vilnius decides to join the German Defense Ministry contract with Leopard makers.

"The statement of intent is not a legal commitment, but the German Defense Ministry will rely on the parties' intentions in determining the total demand for new tank in negotiations with the manufacturers," the ministry said.

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IAEA praises Lithuania’s siting plans for deep geological disposal of radioactive waste

VILNIUS, Jul 28, BNS – An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission said that Lithuania’s process to select a site for the country’s deep geological repository (DGR) for spent nuclear fuel and long-lived radioactive waste of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP), which was shut down more than a decade ago and is now being decommissioned, is in line with international safety standards.

At the same time, the agency’s experts identified specific areas for additional efforts including for the government to establish intermediate milestones and assign appropriate decision making responsibilities as it progresses with the site selection, the agency said in a press release.

The mission also identified recommendations and suggestions to improve the process for siting the DGR, including for VATESI, Lithuania's State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate, to consider developing comprehensive guidance on geological disposal facilities in support of national requirements on siting process.

“By adequately considering the outcome of the present review, Lithuania will be in a good position to continue the safe development of the DGR project,” the press release quoted Jean-Michel Hoorelbeke, team leader at the Integrated Review Service for Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management, Decommissioning and Remediation (ARTEMIS), as saying.

Experts carried out the review of Lithuania’s siting selection process for the planned DGR at the request of the Lithuanian government.

The ARTEMIS review evaluated the adequacy of Lithuania’s overall DGR site selection process, including timeframes, the studies prepared for each phase of site selection process, and an assessment of the outcomes of the DGR site selection process and the prioritization of potentially suitable sites for the DGR.

The ARTEMIS review team comprised six experts from Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, and Slovakia, and three IAEA staff members.

The review team met with representatives of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP), the Energy Ministry, VATESI, the Lithuanian Geological Survey, the Lithuanian Energy Institute, as well as the Spanish company IDOM and the Finnish Posiva Solutions – two consulting companies for the DGR project.

The construction of the repository has been estimated to cost 1 billion euros and its exploitation – another 900 million euros.

The repository will be built at the depth of several hundred meters and safety of people and the environment will be ensured by both natural barriers and artificial, or engineering, barriers.

The Ignalina facility was shut down in late 2009 and its decommissioning process was launched the following year.

Spent nuclear fuel and other long-lived radioactive materials were generated between 1983 and 2009, but will continue to be generated during the decommissioning process up until 2038.

They are now stored in temporary storage facilities and will be later transferred to a deep repository, which is expected to be built and operational in 2068.

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Lithuania sends Germany letter of intent on planned Leopard tank acquisition (expands)

"The letter of intent was sent today," the Defense Ministry told BNS.

Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas told reporters about Lithuania's plans to acquire Leopard tanks after the State Defense Council meeting on Monday. He said at the time that the final decision on acquisition had not yet been taken and did not comment further on the plans.

After being criticized for the transparency of the acquisition, the minister eventually disclosed the details of such choice in a Facebook post but then received comments from President Gitanas Nauseda who thought that the minister should not have made this information public.

MP Agne Sirinskiene turned to the prosecutor's office concerning possible disclosure of a state secret, but both Anusauskas and, later, the Defense Ministry stated that the minister had not disclosed any classified information.

Lithuania is buying the tanks with the intention of creating a division in its army. To choose the tanks, defense officials examined the offers of three manufacturers.

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Jul 31 2023

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