LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN, September 14, 2023

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Lithuanian soldier dies after being injured in exercise – military
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, September 14, 2023
Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
Commission to decide on stripping Drobiazko of Lithuanian citizenship
Lithuania reports 306 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths
Lithuanian president expects green light for Ukraine's NATO membership next year
Lithuania upgrades cyber security hardware with EUR 7.5 mln in EU funding – ministry
Lithuania blocks 53 IP addresses used to access Russian propaganda channels
Case of Lithuanian man accused of spying for Belarus reaches court
Seven Russian cars turn around at Lithuanian border in past 24 h after sanctions warning
Lithuanian company involved in sale of plane parts to Russia (media)
Commission proposes stripping Russian ice dancer Drobiazko of Lithuanian citizenship
Commission proposes stripping Russian ice dancer Drobiazko of Lithuanian citizenship (expands)
Lithuanian MPs to consider proposal to hoist historical flag at border crossings on July 6
Lithuania's LFGU exits natl education pact
President to strip Russian ice dancer Drobiazko of Lithuanian citizenship 'in near future'
Ex-Minister Linkevicius "cooled off" enough to lead embassy – Lithuanian president
Lithuania wants to continue military exercises with Poland, focus on Suwalki gap – Nauseda
North Korea's support for Russia won't have major impact on Ukraine – Lithuanian president
South Korea shows 'very keen' interest in Lithuania – Nauseda
1st 3D medicine printer launched in Lithuania
Lithuanian troops perform 1st combat firing using NASAMS system in Norway
Lithuania's ForMin launches London Embassy audit after getting extra info on diplomats

Lithuanian soldier dies after being injured in exercise – military

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS – A soldier has died after being injured during a training exercise, the Lithuanian Armed Forces said on Thursday.

The soldier, a member of the permanent compulsory initial military service, died on Thursday "from injuries sustained during an exercise", the military said.

"The leadership of the Lithuanian Armed Forces expresses its deepest condolences to the soldier's relatives and service comrades," the statement reads.

On Tuesday, the injured solder was urgently evacuated to hospital from the training area where the exercise took place.

Military Police investigators are conducting a pre-trial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, September 14, 2023

VILNIUS, Sept 14, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Thursday, September 14, 2023:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to pay a working visit to Poland.

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Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have in the past 24 hours recorded no attempts to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Thursday morning.

Latvia reported 139 attempts at illegal border crossings on Wednesday, and 37 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Tuesday, according to the latest available information.

A total of 1,643 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year. Some 11,200 irregular migrants were turned away in 2022.

Lithuanian border guards have prevented a total of around 20,900 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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Commission to decide on stripping Drobiazko of Lithuanian citizenship

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS – The Citizenship Commission on Thursday is to consider a request to strip Margarita Drobiazko, an ice dancer who was born in Russia and now lives there, of her Lithuanian citizenship.

Her citizenship, granted by way of exception 30 years ago, is being reviewed in light of recent legislative amendments that allow revoking the citizenship of a dual citizen if the person publicly expresses support for a state that poses a threat to Lithuania or its allies' security interests.

Lithuanian authorities say that Drobiazko maintains close professional and personal ties with Tatyana Navka, the wife of Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Citizenship Commission will submit its recommendation to President Gitanas Nauseda, who will make the final decision.

Tomas Berzinskas, an advisor to the president, has told BNS that the invitation for Drobiazko to participate in Thursday's hearing was sent to her Lithuanian husband, Povilas Vanagas.

The commission on Monday received a reply from Vanagas saying that neither Drobiazko nor her representatives intended to attend the meeting.

In a publicly released letter earlier this week, Drobiazko said that she is not involved in Russian propaganda or politics and that she is spreading "the light of culture and kindness".

Referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, she said that "people on both sides of the conflict need emotional support to avoid slipping into fierce hatred of each other, whether it is justified or propaganda-driven".

Last year, Nauseda stripped Drobiazko and Vanagas of the Lithuanian state awards they had previously received for their achievements.

The move came after amid a public outcry over the ice-dancing pair's performance in a show organized by Navka in Sochi.

Drobiazko was granted Lithuanian citizenship in 1993 for her merits in sport.

By Saulius Jakučionis

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Lithuania reports 306 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS – Lithuania has recorded 306 new coronavirus infections and no deaths from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, official statistics showed on Thursday morning.

The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals stands at 38, including two ICU cases.

The 14-day primary infection rate has risen to 77.2 cases per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests at 23 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 expects green light for Ukraine's NATO membership next year

KRYNICA, Poland, Sep 14, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has said that he expects next year's NATO summit in Washington to give the green light to Ukraine's membership of the Alliance.

"We must now make every effort, and I very much hope for the cooperation of the Republic of Poland, so that at the Washington summit we can help take another step forward and perhaps fully greenlight Ukraine's NATO membership," Nauseda said at the Krynica Security and Economic Forum in Poland on Wednesday evening.

"The whole operational environment or algorithm on how Ukraine can achieve membership in the future was created in Vilnius," he said.

At their summit in the Lithuanian capital in July, NATO leaders pledged to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance "when allies agree and conditions are met".

In Nauseda's words, the text adopted in Vilnius was "the maximum of what we could achieve".

In Vilnius, NATO leaders also agreed to remove the Membership Action Plan (MAP) requirement for Ukraine, decided to set up a NATO-Ukraine Council, and approved a multiannual program of assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Nauseda said in Krynica that he believes that the political commitment of the European Union and NATO to support Ukraine is sufficient.

He added that he sees a consistent effort by US President Joe Biden to continue supporting Ukraine.

According to Nauseda, it is the duty of Lithuania, Poland and other countries on NATO's eastern flank to encourage discussion and determination to continue supporting Ukraine in its resistance to Russian aggression.

The president said that the war in Ukraine has elevated the relationship between Lithuania and Poland to "an even higher level."

"Today, it is the duty of Lithuania and Poland to jointly convey the message about the real intentions of Russia and Belarus, which was previously heard but perhaps only with one ear in Western Europe," he said.

Higher energy prices, inflation and psychological tensions seen in the region are incomparably smaller problems than those faced by Ukraine, with its ruined economy, destroyed infrastructure, ecological disasters, and loss of life, according to the Lithuanian president.

Nauseda took part in a debate with Polish President Andrzej Duda on support for Ukraine, bilateral relations between Lithuania and Poland, and Ukraine's prospects for NATO and EU membership.

Held annually for more than two decades, the Krynica Forum, referred informally as the Davos for Eastern Europe, brings together business and political leaders from Central and Eastern Europe. It usually takes place in early September.

By Greta Zulonaitė

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Lithuania upgrades cyber security hardware with EUR 7.5 mln in EU funding – ministry

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS - Lithuania has upgraded its cyber security hardware, using 7.5 million euros in EU funding, the Defense Ministry reported on Thursday.

Under the project aimed at creating a secure network and cyber attack prevention system, elements of the country's safe network, which allow larger data flows transmitted through the secure network be processed, have been upgraded.

This makes the state more resilient to increased DDoS cyber-attacks while allowing state institutions to exchange ever-increasing volumes of data even more quickly.

The upgrade of the secure network and its architecture allows for the connection of even more key public institutions to this network.

The ministry implemented the project in cooperation with the National Cyber Security Center and the Core Center of State Telecommunications.

The secure network is used by state and municipal institutions and establishments, state enterprises and public establishments.

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Lithuania blocks 53 IP addresses used to access Russian propaganda channels

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS – The Radio and Television Commission of Lithuania (RTCL) on Wednesday decided to block 53 IP addresses providing access to the Kremlin's main propaganda TV channels that are banned in Lithuania.

The media watchdog said in a press release that its monitoring has revealed that downloading lists of TV programs on certain websites allowed the live streaming of various TV programs, including those sanctioned by the Council of the European Union.

These include the Russian TV channels Russia Today, Sputnik, Rossiya RTR/RTR Planeta, Rossiya 24/Russia 24, TV Centre International, NTV/NTV Mir, Rossiya 1, REN TV, and Pervyi Kanal.

This follows similar decisions by the RTCL in March, May and June.

"As the prohibited television programs are transmitted via the Internet, it can be concluded that Internet service providers contribute to the transmission of prohibited television broadcasts," the watchdog said.

"They must therefore take all possible measures to bar access to the content listed in the regulations," it added.

The RTCL instructed providers of public electronic communications networks and services to block access to a total of 53 IP addresses enabling access the sanctioned television programs.

Russian TV channels have been massively restricted in the wake of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the intensification of war propaganda and disinformation.

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Case of Lithuanian man accused of spying for Belarus reaches court

VILNIUS, Sept 14, BNS – Lithuanian prosecutors have handed over the case of Mantas Danielius, a Vilnius resident accused of spying for Belarus and making impact on witnesses, to court, the prosecution service said on Thursday.

The pre-trial investigation on espionage was opened in late September 2022, following the receipt of substantiated evidence that Danielius had allegedly collected information of interest to Belarusian intelligence since early 2022 and subsequently handed over that information.

According to the investigation, Danielius worked for a Belarusian national linked with the Belarusian intelligence organization since January 2022, collected information and provided it to the Belarusian national.

"Under the guise of a volunteer, the accused approached organizations operating in Lithuania and uniting the democratic opposition to the regime of the Republic of Belarus, and was also in contact with persons who moved to Lithuania after the presidential election in the Republic of Belarus in August 2020 to avoid arrest, imprisonment or any other legal persecution," the persecution service said.

Danielius would visit the premises of Belarusian opposition organizations, attend events and allegedly collect and hand over information about their activities, ongoing projects, sources of funding, organization members and their meetings.

According to the investigation, the Belarusian national who worked for Belarusian intelligence and recruited Danielius instructed him on the methods and technical means to be used for collecting information of interest to a foreign intelligence organization, as well as on the methods of transmitting the collected information and on the security requirements for mutual communication. According to information available to BNS, the Belarusian national in question is journalist Ksenia Lebedeva.

The Lithuanian citizen is accused of not only having collected and possibly handed over information to Belarusian intelligence about Belarusian opposition organizations operating in Lithuania but he's also accused of having collected and handed over information about the Belarusian Kastus Kalinouski Regiment of Belarusians fighting in Ukraine.

Belarusian intelligence was interested in Belarusian opposition organizations operating in Lithuania, and in Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader who is politically active in Lithuania.

Eventually, representatives of Belarusian organizations in Lithuania informed Lithuanian law enforcement institutions about Danielius' the suspicious activities.

Danielius is accused of having stolen, purchased or otherwise collected and handed over information constituting a state secret in Lithuania or other information of interest to the intelligence services of a foreign state, working for another state.

He is facing a prison term ranging from six to 15 years.

Danielius was arrested in late September 2022 soon after a pre-trial investigation was opened.

He's also charged with influencing witnesses and is facing community service or a fine, restriction of liberty, arrest or a prison term of up to two years for that.

Danielius has several previous convictions for document forgery, fraud, fraudulent bookkeeping and other offenses.

By Ingrida Steniulienė

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Seven Russian cars turn around at Lithuanian border in past 24 h after sanctions warning

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS – Seven drivers have turned their Russian-registered cars around at the Lithuanian border over the past 24 hours after being warned by customs officers that their cars can be confiscated due to EU sanctions, the Lithuanian Customs said on Thursday morning.

Five of the cars with Russian registration plates wanted to cross into Lithuania at the Lavoriskes border check post and the other two at Kybartai, the Customs said in a press release.

It noted that a significant decrease in attempts to enter Lithuania with Russian-registered vehicles.

A total of 43 such cars have been refused entry since Monday morning.

Lithuanian customs officials warn those arriving at border checkpoints with Russian-registered cars that they will not be allowed in.

People travelling in such cars are also informed that if they attempt to enter Lithuania again, they may face to a fine and confiscation of the vehicle for violating international sanctions.

Cars with Russian registration plates are not allowed into Lithuanian territory as of Monday, except for those transiting the country on their way to or from the Kaliningrad exclave.

This measure follows the European Commission's clarification, issued at the end of last week, that cars purchased or registered in Russia cannot be let into the EU.

Lithuania, together with the other Baltic states and Poland, has also imposed restrictions on the entry of Russian citizens both into the country and the EU.

Only Russian diplomats, dissidents, transport companies' employees, EU citizens' family members, and Russian citizens with residence permits or long-stay national visas from Schengen countries have been allowed into Lithuania since September 19, 2022.

Russian citizens can also transit through Lithuania by train to and from the Kaliningrad exclave.

Latvia and Estonia are also denying entry to Russian registration plates.

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Lithuanian company involved in sale of plane parts to Russia (media)

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS – The existing Western sanctions restrict Russia's access to plane parts, but a way has been found to circumvent them, and Lithuania has played a role in it, according to an investigation by Important Stories, a Russian investigative publication, cited by Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT.

Having analyzed customs data, the publication found that at least 18 billion roubles worth of original Boeing and Airbus spare parts were imported into Russia between March 2022 and March 2023. Most of them entered Russia via the UAE, China and Turkey, but some were also sold by Right Direction Aero, a Lithuanian company.

I FLY Airlines, a Russian airline, bought aircraft parts from the Lithuanian company and they included spare parts made by European and American manufacturers, including Boeing, worth more than 145 million roubles (1.5 million euros). The parts included temperature sensors, toilets, bolts, nuts etc.

Pavel Chalapov, director and owner of Right Direction Aero, told the Russian publication he sold the parts to the Kyrgyz company Cargoline, not Russia's I FLY Airlines. The former was registered one month after the start of the war in Ukraine when Russian airlines were banned by Airbus, Boeing and other parts manufacturers.

According to the documents, the spare parts were shipped to Kyrgyzstan, but customs records show that they actually went to Russia.

Chalapov says Azamat Alkadyrov, the head of Cargoline, assured him he had no links with the sanctioned markets and Russia, and the plane parts were sold to the company on the condition that it would not be allowed to re-export them to Russia.

Irina Saltis, the accountant working for the Lithuanian company, told Lithuania's public radio LRT her company terminated cooperation after suspicions about the Kyrgyz company were raised.

"All I know is that there were some suspicions and all relations were terminated, I don't know the rest. We have no Russian companies or any money from Russia. There is not a single Russian company in our accounts," she said.

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Commission proposes stripping Russian ice dancer Drobiazko of Lithuanian citizenship

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS – Lithuania's Citizenship Commission proposed to President Gitanas Nauseda on Thursday to strip Margarita Drobiazko, an ice dancer living in Russia, of her Lithuanian citizenship, Pranas Zukauskas, who chairs the commission, said.

"The commission has decided to propose to the president to recognize Margarita Drobiazko as having lost her citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania, granted by way of exception, because of her publicly expressed support for the Russian Federation that is regarded as a state hostile to Lithuania, the European Union and its allies," he told reporters after the commission meeting, noting that it's the first decision of this kind and it "sets a precedent for the future".

Drobiazko was granted Lithuanian citizenship by way of exception 30 years ago. She's being stripped of it under amendments to the law that came into force earlier this year and allows stripping a person of Lithuanian citizenship, if a person publicly expresses support for a state that poses a threat to Lithuania's security interests or those of its allies.

According to Lithuanian authorities, Drobiazko has close professional and personal ties with Tatyana Navka, the wife of Dmitry Peskov, press secretary to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

By Augustas Stankevičius, Ignas Jačauskas

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Commission proposes stripping Russian ice dancer Drobiazko of Lithuanian citizenship (expands)

"The meeting was attended by eight members and they all voted in favor," the commission chair said.

In an open letter earlier this week, Drobiazko said she's not taking part in Russian propaganda and was bringing "the light of culture and kindness".

"I am accused of not expressing my political position publicly, but under the Lithuanian Constitution, do I not have the right not to express my position if I cannot, do not want to or am not ready to?" she added.

For his part, Zukauskas argued that the commission's decision was based on the athlete's actions, not on her directly expressed position or lack of it.

"The very shows she partakes and dances in, of course, have nothing to do with the regime or its propaganda. But the broader context was assessed, including the organizers of these shows, their status, their position in Russia, as well as the sponsors of these shows who are publicly known, and many of them are sanctioned companies and individuals," the chair of the Citizenship Commission said.

"Even if it is not an open text, it shows a person's attitude. (...) First of all, there were no arguments that she directly supports (the regime - BNS). The whole activity context was assessed," he added.

Zukauskas stressed that Drobiazko had not presented her position to the commission, despite doing so in the open letter.

According to Lithuanian authorities, Drobiazko has close professional and personal ties with Tatyana Navka, the wife of Dmitry Peskov, press secretary to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Lithuanian MPs to consider proposal to hoist historical flag at border crossings on July 6

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS – The Lithuanian Seimas will consider a proposal by a group of lawmakers to hoist the country's historical flag featuring a mounted armored knight holding a sword and shield, known as Vytis, on a red background alongside the national tricolor at Lithuanian border checkpoints and to also hoist such a flag at state institutions on the State Day on July 6.

The motion received initial backing from 103 lawmakers on Thursday, and five abstained. The bill will now go to parliamentary committees for further consideration.

Andrius Kupcinskas, one of the initiators of the change, says this would partly combat the narrative being spread by Russia that the foundations of the State of Lithuanian were only laid in the 20th century and that this was due to Soviet Russia's assistance to Lithuania, such as the cession of the Vilnius Region.

Under the bill, the historical flag would have to be hoisted at international airports, seaports and inland ports open to international navigation, railway stations, and border checkpoints established along motorways.

Also, the amendment would provide for the possibility for residents to hoist the historical flag, but this would not be a mandatory instruction.

The amendment also provides that the historical flag would have to be hoisted at state and municipal institutions on July, the State (the Day of Coronation of King Mindaugas of Lithuania) and National Anthem Day.

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Lithuania's LFGU exits natl education pact

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS – The opposition Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union has decided to withdraw from the national agreement on education, signed by the country's political parties two years ago.

The decision was made by the party's board, party leader Ramunas Karbauskis said on Thursday.

"The LFGU has considered the situation and made a decision to withdraw from the national agreement on education policy, concluded in 2021, on the basis of the daily deterioration of the situation in the field of education," Karbauskis said.

"Our decision will serve as an example to other parties, especially the opposition parties, that it is not worth collaborating with this government in any way. As the party chairman, I will send documents to withdraw our signature from this agreement," he said.

According to Karbauskis, the goals set out in the agreement are not being implemented, "there is not even an attempt to implement them", and the situation is deteriorating in many areas.

For his part, Education, Science and Sport Minister Gintaras Jakstas sees this move as an evasion of responsibility. In his words, the agreement is in force until 2030, the incumbent government is responsible for fulfilling its commitments until the end of 2024. And through its withdrawal, the LFGU is also declaring that it will not fulfill the agreed commitments in the field of education and science after the upcoming general election, if it comes to power.

Another opposition party, the Labor Party, said earlier it was mulling withdrawing from the agreement, saying it would take this step, if it was confirmed that the parties' agreement on education policy in Lithuania was not being implemented.

The education agreement issue emerged after the Lithuanian Education Employees' Trade Union, led by Andrius Navickas, announced plans to go on strike. The trade union is demanding that teachers' pay be increased by 20 percent from September and be raised by another 30 percent from January. Teachers also want the number of children in classes to be reduced.

The leaders of the parliamentary parties signed the national agreement on education on September 1, 2020. Among other things, they committed to increase the GDP share allocated to education and raise teachers' salaries.

The pact was signed by representatives of the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats, the Liberal Movement, the Freedom Party, the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, the LFGU and the Labor Party. The opposition Democrats "For Lithuania" joined the agreement in June, 2022.

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President to strip Russian ice dancer Drobiazko of Lithuanian citizenship 'in near future'

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS – President Gitanas Nauseda said on Thursday that he intends to strip Margarita Drobiazko of her Lithuanian citizenship "in the near future" after the Citizenship Commission recommended that he do so over the ice dancer's publicly expressed support for Russia.

"This issue is absolutely clear to me. So, I will do it in the near future," Nauseda told reporters when asked if he will revoke the citizenship of the Russian-born ice-dancer.

"I think that people who want to carry the light of culture and goodness with the boots of the aggressor should continue to do so without the citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania," he added.

The ice-dancer, who lives in Russia, said in an open letter earlier this week that she is not involved in Russian propaganda, but that she is spreading "the light of culture and goodness".

Pranas Zukauskas, chairman of the Citizenship Commission, said that the recommendation to strip Drobiazko of her citizenship was based on the athlete's actions, rather than on her directly expressed or implied position.

"I think that today (Drobiazko's) merits (...) appear to be a sad parody in the light of what we saw and see today," said Nauseda.

"We have to choose sides as we cannot pretend that one thing exists without the other, especially when that culture, or the semblance of it, is created in a state that sheds innocent blood," the president said.

"We must be principled and adhere to the values we have held since the first days of the war in Ukraine, and we will adhere to them," he added.

Drobiazko's citizenship, granted by way of exception 30 years ago, is being reviewed in light of recent legislative amendments that allow revoking the citizenship of a dual citizen if the person publicly expresses support for a state that poses a threat to Lithuania or its allies' security interests.

Lithuanian authorities say that Drobiazko maintains close professional and personal ties with Tatyana Navka, the wife of Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Ex-Minister Linkevicius "cooled off" enough to lead embassy – Lithuanian president

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS - Former Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius has "cooled off" enough to head an embassy, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says.

"Whole three years have passed, not a year, and I think that with his experience, and I think it's quite clear that he is not going to participate in political activities any more, I think that the preconditions have been created for Mr Linkevicius to lead one of the embassies," the president told BNS in Poland on Thursday.

Asked whether Linkevicius was being considered for ambassador to Sweden, the president reminded of the fact that this was not public information at this stage.

"You want to put me in trouble Anusauskas is having," he replied, referring to the ongoing investigation into the defense minister's alleged disclosure of information about the planned purchase of tanks for the Lithuanian army.

BNS reported earlier that the so-called "cooling-off" period imposed by the president on the former foreign minister several years ago is coming to an end and he is already mentioned among candidates for ambassadorial positions.

Linkevicius was approved as a candidate by the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, according to the information available to BNS.

Neither committee member, nor the Foreign Ministry, nominates ambassadors, however, have officially confirmed that the ex-minister is among potential candidates.

Back in 2021, there were plans to send Linkevicius to the US but President Nauseda said the time he did not see the possibility of appointing the former foreign and defense ministers as ambassadors to Washington and Brussels as they needed a period of "political cooling-off". Such a pause after political appointments was necessary to depoliticize the diplomatic service, the head of state said at the time.

Linkevicius is now being considered for the position of Lithuania's ambassador to Sweden, according to the information available to BNS.

The position has been vacant since diplomat Giedrius Cekuolis left the post August 31.

The process of appointing ambassadors usually becomes public after the government registers bills on the nomination of candidates to the president.

Linkevicius served as Lithuania's foreign minister for two consecutive terms from 2012 to 2020. He returned to the diplomatic service in January 2021, after a general election, and was appointed an ambassador-at-large.

In Lithuania, ambassadors are appointed and dismissed by the president on the nomination of the government and with the approval of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs.

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Lithuania wants to continue military exercises with Poland, focus on Suwalki gap – Nauseda

KRYNICA, Poland, Sep 14, BNS – Lithuania is willing to continue military exercises with Poland, with a focus on the defense of the so-called Suwalki Gap, President Gitanas Nauseda said in Poland on Thursday.

Troops from the Special Operations Forces (SOF) of Lithuania and Poland held a critical infrastructure recapture drill on the Dane River in the port city of Klaipeda in early July.

"We would like to continue these exercises, with a particular focus on what we talked about a lot yesterday and today: the defense of the strategically important strip, the Suwalki Corridor," Nauseda told reporters.

The Lithuanian president revealed that the joint SOF exercise was the "interesting proposal" that the president said back June he had received from his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda.

"At that time, I received a proposal to organize a joint military exercise on the eve of the NATO summit," he told reporters in Krynica. "It was directed primarily at our SOP exercise in Klaipeda."

Nauseda emphasized that Lithuania is interested in continuing such military cooperation with neighboring Poland.

For his part, Duda said that Poland will likely host a similar exercise shorly.

"I think we will discuss this issue further," he said. "I believe that exercise will be held very soon."

The Suwalki Gap is a land strip of around 100 kilometers on the Lithuanian-Polish border that is wedged between the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad on the west and Belarus on the east.

In a military conflict, the seizure of the land corridor would cut off the land route for NATO allies to the Baltic countries.

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North Korea's support for Russia won't have major impact on Ukraine – Lithuanian president

KRYNICA, Poland, Sep 14, BNS - North Korea's support for Russia will not have a major impact on the Kremlin's war in Ukraine, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda believes.

"Such cooperation between Russia and North Korea only reaffirms how desperate Russia is, if it needs friends like North Korea," he told BNS in Poland on Thursday. "I have no doubt that this support, which is now being declared by the North Korean leader, will not have a major impact on the course of the Ukrainian war."

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed possible military support earlier this week. Putin said that military cooperation with Pyongyang was possible despite international sanctions.

Nauseda says that a growing number of countries are supporting Ukraine, including North Korea's neighbor South Korea., adding that such countries do understand "the nature of this war" and are not willing to "stand by and watch" Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

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South Korea shows 'very keen' interest in Lithuania – Nauseda

KRYNICA, Poland, Sep 14, BNS – President Gitanas Nauseda said on Thursday that he sees a "very keen interest" from South Korea in Lithuania and expects the country to open its embassy in Vilnius in the near future.

Nauseda's comment came after his meeting with South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo at Krynica Forum in Poland.

The two leaders discussed cooperation not only in the economic sphere, but also in the defense industry, according to the Lithuanian president.

Nauseda neither confirmed nor denied information, published earlier by Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas, that Lithuania is considering purchasing South Korean-made tanks, among other options.

"Korean companies took part in the Baltic Miltech (military industry) conference in Vilnius this spring, and I know that Korean companies are going to take an active part in the Live Science conference next week," the president told BNS.

"All this reflects the very keen interest that South Korea has in Lithuania," he added.

Nauseda said Han Duck-soo told him about plans to organize a visit by major South Korean companies to Lithuania in the next six months.

"I hope this will be a very good impetus to concretize our wishes in the area of cooperation and turn them into more specific projects," the Lithuanian president said.

The South Korean president's visit to Vilnius in July during NATO's summit gave a significant boost to Korean interest in Lithuania, expediting the country's decision to open its embassy in Vilnius, according to Nauseda.

"I was impressed by the president's statement that when he saw Vilnius, when he saw Lithuania up close, he made this decision (to open the embassy) in the same minute, even though there had been a rather long process of reflection before then," he said.

Nauseda expects South Korea's embassy in Vilnius to open its doors in less than a year.

Lithuania opened its embassy in Seoul two years ago. It is headed by diplomat Ricardas Slepavicius.

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1st 3D medicine printer launched in Lithuania

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS - The first validated 3D medicine printer in Europe has been launched at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences.

The device is capable of creating personalized medicines tailored to each patient, increasing the effectiveness of medicines by combining several substances in one tablet, and reducing side effects, the university said on Thursday.

The printer allows inserting different micro-capsules into one tablet and coating them with different layers of excipients that regulate the release of the medical substance.

"This is particularly important for the development of medicines for special patient groups, such as children and the elderly," the statement reads.

The new 3D printer is the first of its kind in Europe and one of the first in the world, according to the university.

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Lithuanian troops perform 1st combat firing using NASAMS system in Norway

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS - Members of the Lithuanian army's Air Defense Battalion conducted their first combat firing using the NASAMS system during an exercise in Norway this week, the Lithuanian army reported on Thursday.

"It has been a long way - from receiving the NASAMS system to combat firing. The battery personnel have been trained to use and perform maintenance of the system. Also, the necessary training documentation has been prepared, and the soldiers have been trained and gained experience during exercises both in Lithuania and abroad," Air Defense Battalion Commander Andrius Konovalovas said.

According to the report, the planning of the NASAMS live-fire exercise took 18 months.

Silver Joint Arrow, a bilateral Lithuanian-Norwegian live-fire exercise, started on Monday and will end on Friday. During the exercise, Lithuanian and Norwegian troops have fired combat missiles at targets moving over the Norwegian Sea and simulating a hostile aircraft. The combat shots were fired during the dark hours of the day.

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Lithuania's ForMin launches London Embassy audit after getting extra info on diplomats

VILNIUS, Sep 14, BNS – Lithuania's Foreign Ministry has launched an audit into the use of representation funds at the Embassy in London after receiving additional information about possible misconduct of two diplomats - Ambassador to the United Kingdom Eitvydas Bajarunas and Ambassador to NATO Deividas Matulionis.

"Officials steps have now been taken, upon receipt additional information, to verify the above-mentioned information, and there's also an ongoing audit into the use of the embassy's representation funds in London," Paulina Levickyte, spokeswoman for the foreign minister, told BNS on Thursday.

"However, we will refrain from making broader comments at the moment while the information is being verified and assessed," she added.

The delfi.lt news website reported in August that the Foreign Ministry had received complaints from employees about possible mobbing and abuse of office by Bajarunas. There were also allegations that Matulionis may have failed to comply with the mandate given by state institutions and may have weakened Lithuania's negotiating position during the negotiations on the documents of the NATO summit in Vilnius.

In Lithuania, ambassadors are appointed and dismissed by the president on the recommendation of the government and with the approval of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs.

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Sep 19 2023

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Twenty-one irregular migrants turned away on Lithuania's border with Belarus
Indian woman killed as car with migrants plunges into river in southern Lithuania
Eight irregular migrants injured in police chase in central Lithuania
MPs to look at how Lithuania protects 1991 crackdown case judges
Lithuania reports 309 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths
Ban on Russia-registered cars to affect those already in EU – Lithuanian Customs
US SOP commander visiting Lithuania
Nineteen cars with Russian plates denied entry into Lithuania in past 24 hours – Customs
Lithuanian formin expects decisions as EC chief talks about Kyiv's EU future
Lithuania's CFA to look into two ambassador's conduct after ministerial probe – chair
Lithuanian govt agrees to use fines for sanction non-compliance to rebuild Ukraine
Lithuania to offer coronavirus shots to everyone aged over 6 months this season
EU commission: Russians can bring in items not posing sanctions evasion risk
Lithuania concerned over threats to Russian war crimes investigators
Lithuania sets heat record for 2nd consecutive day
Ex-Foreign Minister Linkevicius mentioned among future ambassadors in Lithuania
Seimas prepares to express Lithuania's support for Ukraine's NATO membership
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, September 14, 2023

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, September 13, 2023

VILNIUS, Sept 13, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Wednesday, September 13, 2023:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to attend the annual Krynica Security and Economic Forum in Poland.

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to appear on Ryto Garsai on the public radio LRT at 8.05 a.m.

PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte to chair the Cabinet's regular meeting and sitting at 1 p.m.

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

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS – Lithuanian border guards have in the past 24 hours turned away 21 migrants attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Wednesday morning.

Latvia reported 70 attempts at illegal border crossings on Tuesday, and three irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Monday, according to the latest available information.

A total of 1,643 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year. Some 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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Indian woman killed as car with migrants plunges into river in southern Lithuania

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS – An Indian woman was killed when a car carrying irregular migrants plunged into a river in southern Lithuania in the early hours of Wednesday morning, the Police Department.

The police in Marijampole District received a report at 3:36 a.m. that a Mazda car was carrying irregular migrants.

The car was spotted on the Marijampole-Kalvarija road, but it failed to stop when signaled to do so by the police.

The Mazda veered off the road into the Sesupe River in Liudvinava at around 3:50 a.m.

The police detained three men, irregular migrants, possibly Indian nationals, and have launched a search for the car's driver.

The female passenger, believed to be an Indian national, was killed in the accident.

Preliminary information indicates that the irregular migrants had crossed into Lithuania from Latvia.

With Latvia recording a record number of attempts at illegal border crossings from Belarus, Lithuanian border guards note that the majority of migrants are being transported into Lithuania from this neighboring country.

A total of 1,643 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year. In Latvia, the number has already exceeded 7,000.

Lithuania is planning to send 20 border guards to help Latvia cope with record migrant flows.

By Ingrida Steniulienė

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Eight irregular migrants injured in police chase in central Lithuania

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS – Eight irregular migrants, possibly Sri Lankan nationals, were injured when their car overturned while fleeing the police in the central Lithuanian town of Jonava in the early hours of Wednesday, the Police Department said.

The police began to pursue the Opel Astra after it failed to stop when signaled to do so at the entrance to Jonava at around midnight, it said.

The vehicle veered off the road in the town, hit a building and overturned.

The driver of the Opel, a 42-year-old Sri Lankan national, was injured in the accident, as were seven irregular migrants, also possibly Sri Lankan nationals, who were travelling with him.

They were taken to hospital with various injuries and handed over to the State Border Guard Service after receiving medical assistance.

Preliminary information suggests that the irregular migrants arrived from Latvia.

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MPs to look at how Lithuania protects 1991 crackdown case judges

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS – The parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense (CNSD) on Wednesday will look at how Lithuania ensures the protection of January 1991 crackdown case judges who have been convicted in absentia by a Russian court.

"I know that the state is taking actions and has certain algorithms, but we will see how they work and what they are, and we will urge full attention to this issue," Laurynas Kasciunas, the committee's chairman, has told BNS.

The CNSD will look at what situations the judges should avoid and how Lithuania's authorities should act if unfavorable circumstances arise, according to Kasciunas.

"Situations can be very lifelike, such as traveling in a third country that is a member of Interpol and has good relations with Russia, (and we'll look at) whether our officials can feel safe in that country or not and which countries to avoid," the MP said.

Representatives from the Prosecutor's Office, the judiciary, the police, and the Interior Ministry have been invited to the closed CNSD meeting.

In August, Basmanny District Court in Moscow announced that it had convicted in absentia Virginija Pakalnyte-Tamosiunaite, Arturas Sumskas and Ainora Kornelija Maceviciene, the three judges who delivered the judgment in the January 13 case.

The Russian court did not elaborate on its verdict and the reasons for it. It is said that the court ordered the judges' arrest.

Russian investigators accused the Lithuanian judges of delivering a "deliberately wrongful sentence", a charge that carries a prison sentence in Russia.

Russia opened criminal cases against all three judges in the spring of 2019 after Vilnius Regional Court in March of that year convicted more than 60 former Soviet officers and officials of war crimes and crimes against humanity for their roles in the bloody Soviet crackdown on unarmed civilians in Vilnius in January 1991. The majority of the defendants were sentenced in absentia.

Russia earlier announced that it had also opened criminal cases against Lithuanian prosecutors involved in the so-called January 13th case.

Fourteen civilians were killed and hundreds more were wounded when the Soviet troops stormed the TV Tower and the Radio and Television Committee building in Vilnius in the early morning hours of January 13, 1991.

The Lithuanian Judicial Council has appealed to the country’s president, the speaker of the parliament and the prime minister, and the European Commission, asking them to ensure the full safety and security of the courts and judges involved in the January 1991 crackdown trial.

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Lithuania reports 309 new COVID-19 cases, no deaths

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS – Lithuania has recorded 309 new coronavirus infections and no deaths from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, official statistics showed on Wednesday morning.

The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals stands at 35, including two ICU cases.

The 14-day primary infection rate has risen to 67.8 cases per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests at 23.3 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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Ban on Russia-registered cars to affect those already in EU – Lithuanian Customs

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS – The European Commission's clarification on the confiscation of Russia-registered vehicles once they enter Lithuania will in the future also affect vehicles already in the European Union, Darius Zvironas, head of the Customs Department, said on Wednesday, urging such cars' owners to take them out of the bloc's territory as promptly as possible.

"The next appropriate step will be a decision on these vehicles that are within the EU," Zvironas told LRT Radio.

"There are a lot of them, and I believe every Russian citizen who has a car registered in Russia should take steps to take it to third countries, such as the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, or others," the official said.

"While this regulation is new now, I don't think anyone will be able to claim in two or three weeks that they (...) failed to leave the EU out of ignorance," he added. "I think this is something to be dealt with and not postponed for a long time."

Cars with Russian registration plates are not allowed into Lithuanian territory as of Monday, except for those in transit to or from Kaliningrad.

"Currently, vehicles traveling to Kaliningrad Region with transit documents are allowed through, but only those," said Zvironas.

"If a Russian citizen has an EU visa or permission to reside in an EU country, this is not a reason to let their car in. We do not admit vehicles, but we do admit people," he added.

Seventeen Russian-registered vehicles were denied entry into Lithuania from Monday, when customs officials began to apply the procedure, until Tuesday morning, according to Zvironas.

"In all cases, the drivers returned to the Republic of Belarus or the Russian Federation," the Customs Department's director general said.

"Of course, if there were disobedience to the lawful orders, administrative proceedings would be initiated, and these cars would be detained and most probably confiscated through a court decision," he added.

The Customs chief said that many Russian citizens are unaware of this new regulation and that he expects the number of attempts to enter Lithuania with cars to decrease over time.

Zvironas said Lithuania is "one step ahead" compared to other countries, adding that he had discussions with customs officials from Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Poland on Tuesday.

"They also have a lot of questions and uncertainties, which they will present to the European Commission," he said. "I'm glad that we are moving in the same direction; this is not just our unilateral step."

Zvironas said that, to his knowledge, Latvia stopped allowing in Russian-registered cars at 6 p.m. on Tuesday.

Under an agreement among the three Baltic countries and Poland, only Russian diplomats, dissidents, transport companies' employees, EU citizens' family members, and Russian citizens with residence permits or long-stay national visas from Schengen countries have been allowed to cross the EU external border since September 19, 2022.

Russian citizens can also transit through Lithuania by train to and from the Kaliningrad exclave.

The Lithuanian parliament's resolution declaring a state of emergency on the borders with Russia, in force at least until December 16, also bans the entry of Russian citizens.

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US SOP commander visiting Lithuania

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS - Bryan Patrick Fenton, commander of the United States Special Operations Command, is visiting Lithuania this week, the Lithuanian army said on Wednesday.

Fenton visiting Lithuania as part of a delegation from Tuesday and is scheduled to meet with Lithuania's Chief of Defense General Valdemaras Rupsys, Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas and representatives of the Lithuanian army's Special Operations Forces.

Their meetings will focus on the cooperation between the Lithuanian and US Special Operations Forces, the army said.

According to the statement, the main purpose of Fenton's visit is to highlight the close cooperation between the US and Lithuanian Special Operations Forces within international operations and in strengthening the security of Lithuania and the Baltic region, to get acquainted with the security situation in Lithuania, and to further strengthen the "excellent military relations between Lithuania and the United States".

The Lithuanian army reminds of the fact that Lithuanian and American Special Operations Forces started their cooperation more than 20 years ago. The cooperation moved to a higher level in terms of quality in 2002 when Lithuanian troops started partaking in the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.

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Nineteen cars with Russian plates denied entry into Lithuania in past 24 hours – Customs

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS – Nineteen cars with Russian registration plates were refused entry into Lithuania between Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning, following the European Commission's clarification on restrictions on vehicles from Russia.

"Out of these, 17 attempted to enter through the Kybartai border checkpoint, one through the Medininkai post, and one through the Lavoriskes post," Irmina Frolova-Milasiene, the Customs Department's spokeswoman, told BNS.

"The Customs continue to deny entry to cars with Russian license plates," she added.

According to the Commission's clarification issued at the end of last week, cars purchased or registered in Russia cannot be allowed into the EU. Among other things, the document says that the ban also covers personal belongings. Lithuanian politicians say they will ask for further clarification from the EU's executive body on the latter.

Cars with Russian registration plates are not allowed into Lithuanian territory as of Monday, except for those transiting the country on their way to or from the Kaliningrad exclave.

Darius Zvironas, head of the Customs Department, said told LRT Radio on Wednesday that if drivers of vehicles with Russian plates fail to obey customs officials' lawful orders, administrative proceedings will be initiated and their cars will likely be confiscated through a court decision.

The Customs chief said that many Russian citizens are unaware of this new regulation and that he expects the number of attempts to enter Lithuania with cars to decrease over time.

Zvironas said Lithuania is "one step ahead" compared to other countries, adding that he had discussions with customs officials from Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Poland on Tuesday.

Russian citizens can also transit through Lithuania by train to and from the Kaliningrad exclave.

The Lithuanian parliament's resolution declaring a state of emergency on the borders with Russia, in force at least through December 16, also bans the entry of Russian citizens.

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Lithuanian formin expects decisions as EC chief talks about Kyiv's EU future

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis expects the European Union to take practical steps this year to bring Ukraine closer to EU membership.

His statement comes in response to the European Commission president's annual speech in which she highlighted Kyiv's progress in pursuit of EU membership.

"The EC president made it clear that Ukraine's future lies in the EU. I would very much like to see this wording evolve into practical steps towards Ukraine's full EU membership later this year," Lithuania's top diplomat said on Wednesday.

Ukraine's war against the Russian invasion is a fight for Europe, Landsbergis said, adding that "this is not just a nice rhetorical phrase but a reflection of a very important and very fragile reality".

"If we fail to defend the European security architecture in Ukraine, the front line could very realistically move here, to our streets. The history of the EU proves that everything we consider the EU's success story started with a bold step into the unknown. The EU will remain a strong and united geopolitical union, guided by values, ideas and principles," Landsbergis underlined.

Ukraine was granted EU candidate status last year and is seeking to open accession negotiations this year following an assessment of its progress in implementing reforms.

In her annual speech on Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine had made "significant progress" towards EU membership, adding that "Ukraine's future lies in our Union".

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Lithuania's CFA to look into two ambassador's conduct after ministerial probe – chair

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS – The Lithuanian parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs has yet refrained to comment on reports of possible misconduct by two Lithuanian diplomats, Ambassador to the United Kingdom Eitvydas Bajarunas and Ambassador to NATO Deividas Matulionis, and is awaiting an investigation by the Foreign Ministry, the committee's chair Zygimantas Pavilionis says.

"Obviously, the ambassadors' reputation is an important matter, but as we do this kind of work, we have to give the ministry the space to find out how much of that fire is there because of the smoke, to gather all the information and only then, I think, we will be able to have a say, as a committee that is involved in the appointment of ambassadors. It's really too early to talk about it," Pavilionis told reporters after the committee meeting on Wednesday.

Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis received questions on this issue during the committee's closed-door meeting but the matter was not discussed in detail.

Pavilionis, a former diplomat himself, pointed out that many times such disputes had ended up in court, which is why it is necessary to thoroughly look into the original information.

Landsbergis told reporters on Wednesday that no decision has been taken yet on whether to open an official investigation following these complaints. He also stressed that the chancellor of the Foreign Ministry, not him, takes such decisions.

Landsbergis also refrained to give his personal views on the situation, saying that any comment would be "premature". He confirmed, however, that he had informed President Gitanas Nauseda and Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte about the ambassadorial situation.

Speaking last week, the president voiced his confidence in the two diplomats.

In Lithuania, ambassadors are appointed and dismissed by the president on the recommendation of the government and with the approval of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs.

By Jūratė Skėrytė

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Lithuanian govt agrees to use fines for sanction non-compliance to rebuild Ukraine

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS – Lithuania's Cabinet on Wednesday approved amendments that would allow fines received for non-compliance with international and national sanctions to be used to rebuild Ukraine.

The changes still need parliamentary approval.

Under the bill put forward by the Foreign Ministry, such funds would go to the Development Cooperation Fund and be used to implement projects related to the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Also, budget funds received for confiscated items would go into this fund as well.

According to the Code of Administrative Offenses, violations of international sanctions or restrictive measures imposed by Lithuanian law are punishable by fines of ranging from200 and 6,000 euros.

"Such a move would demonstrate Lithuania's firm commitment to provide support to Ukraine, which is suffering from Russian aggression, and would contribute to the international community's efforts to ensure the fundamental principle that the aggressor must compensate for the damage it has caused," the bill reads.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the damage caused by Russia in Ukraine is estimated at 700 billion euros.

The European Union has now sanctions in place for 1,473 Russian and Belarusian citizens and 207 entities. These sanctions and measures have led to the freezing of 215 billion euro worth of assets in EU member states, as well as to the immobilization of around 300 billion euro worth of assets of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation in EU and G7 countries.

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Lithuania to offer coronavirus shots to everyone aged over 6 months this season

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS – COVID-19 vaccinations will be available this season to all Lithuanian residents aged six months and older, and will be offered at no cost to those covered by compulsory health insurance, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.

"An updated COVID-19 vaccine has been delivered to Lithuania, and our plan is to make it accessible to residents aged six months and older," Jurgita Pakalniskiene, advisor at the ministry's Health Promotion Division, told the parliamentary Committee on Health Affairs.

The ministry intends to unveil its vaccination strategy to the public in late September.

The authorities would consider declaring an epidemic on a national or municipal level if the cumulative incidence of flu, COVID-19 and colds exceeds 1,500 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per week, and if coronavirus and flu patients occupy over 1,500 hospital beds and 120 or more ICU beds for more than a week.

Preventive measures during an epidemic would include strengthened controls in health and social care facilities, event restrictions, an infection control regime, and recommendations to work remotely and use personal protective equipment.

Pakalniskiene said COVID-19 is not expected to reach the incidence levels observed during the first year of the recent pandemic.

The number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals stands at 35, including two ICU cases, according to official statistics as of Wednesday morning.

The 14-day primary infection rate has risen to 67.8 cases per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests at 23.3 percent.

The Health Ministry has registered an uptick in daily cases in the past few weeks.

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EU commission: Russians can bring in items not posing sanctions evasion risk

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS – Russians are allowed to bring only items that pose no risk of sanctions evasion into the European Union, according to a further clarification issued by the European Commission on Wednesday.

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry told BNS that this includes, for example, personal hygiene products or clothing packed in suitcases, which "will obviously be used during travel."

"Member states should apply these restrictions in accordance with the principles of proportionality and reasonableness," the ministry said in a comment.

According to the Commission's clarification issued at the end of last week, cars purchased or registered in Russia cannot be allowed into the EU.

Among other things, the document says that the ban also covers personal belongings, which prompted Lithuanian politicians to ask the EU's executive body for further clarification.

"I think that we, the Foreign Ministry, the Interior Ministry and the Customs, will sit down and review how this is can be implemented and how this can be set out in a working procedure," Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters before the Cabinet meeting.

"I wouldn't rule out that there might be further inquiries to the European Commission," he added.

Landsbergis said it is not surprising that the implementation of sanctions raises so many questions, given that the scope of restrictions on Russian citizens and their property.

"I know that many wonder why there are so many clarifications, but I want to point out that the EU has never had a sanctions regime of this scope," the minister said.

"We are learning along the way, both our institutions in informing about certain issues and the European Commission, which needs to adapt to the actual situation," he added.

Landsbergis admitted that there is currently a "gap between those making decisions to fine-tune the sanctions and those implementing them at the border".

Following last Friday's clarification by the Commission of the implementation of the sanctions, cars with Russian registration plates are not allowed into Lithuanian territory as of Monday, except for those transiting the country on their way to or from the Kaliningrad exclave.

A total of 36 Russian cars turned around at the Lithuanian border in the past two days when their drivers were informed that their vehicles could be confiscated if they crossed the border.

These EU sanctions are designed to restrict the entry of goods from Russia into the bloc.

Lithuania, together with the other Baltic states and Poland, has also imposed restrictions on the entry of Russian citizens both into the country and the EU.

Russian citizens can also transit through Lithuania by train to and from the Kaliningrad exclave.

The Lithuanian parliament's resolution declaring a state of emergency on the borders with Russia, in force at least through December 16, also bans the entry of Russian citizens.

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Lithuania concerned over threats to Russian war crimes investigators

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS - Not only the judges who heard the high-profile January 13th case and were subsequently convicted in absentia in Russia but also officers investigating Russia's existing war crimes are under threat, say representatives of Lithuania's prosecution service, judges and Laurynas Kasciunas, chair of the Seimas Committee on National Security and Defense.

"Let's keep in mind the fact that Russia wants to intimidate us, and it has to do not only with the January 13th and Medininkai cases, but we have new proceedings, war crimes in Ukraine, child abduction in Ukraine. In other words, Russia is intimidating our officers by starting trials, by putting them on trial in absentia," Kasciunas told reporters after the committee meeting on Wednesday.

The committee held a closed-door meeting today to look into how Lithuania ensures the protection of the judges and other officers linked to the January 13th case and convicted in absentia. The meeting was attended by Prosecutor General Nida Grunskiene, Sigita Rudenaite, president of the Judicial Council, as well as representatives of ministries.

According to Kasciunas, one of the measures Lithuania has taken to protect current and former officers persecuted by Russia is issuing them with diplomatic passports He noted, however, that a diplomatic passport "does not provide full protection, but it is already seen differently in another country".

Kasciunas could not disclose the exact number of officers at risk but said it has to do with several dozen people.

Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says a diplomatic passport "is not protection in itself" as he recommends against relaying on it alone and says potential destinations should be also assessed.

"I would not advise relying on a passport alone, and I would consider whether the circumstances really allow one to travel," he warned.

For her part, Prosecutor General Nida Grunskiene noted that prosecutors currently investigating Russian war crimes do not feel safe.

An investigation is ongoing in Lithuania into the possible criminal relocation of Ukrainian children to Belarus, and the country is also investigating Russian aggression, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

"Prosecutors cannot feel safe because we know that the prosecutors (who were involved in the January 13th case - BNS) are being persecuted and warrants for them may have been issued. Neither can those prosecutors who are now investigating war crimes in Ukraine feel safe. Every prosecutor is following these recommendations, people are provided with information on where they can and cannot go, and everyone has to choose, and we have to consider what trips and to what countries we should refrain from," Grunskiene said.

Rudenaite, for her part, says the threat of detention not only restricts judges' private life but also has impact on their professional life, including their participation in EU projects.

"We have not only Russia. We also have grey states, and you never know whether they will comply with Russia's demands or not. Our judges are actively involved in EU projects and also in rule of law projects in other non-EU countries, and there are countries where the question is whether these people can really feel safe and travel," the president of the Judicial Council said.

Nevertheless, she said she learned during the committee meeting of the measures taken by Lithuania but could not comment on them in public. Still, she can tell the judges that they "are not abandoned and their safety is being taken care of".

Vitalij Dmitrijev, an interior vice minister, says Interpol has been informed at all levels, both managerial and tactical, about possible politically motivated persecution of Lithuanian officers, and individual officers have also been warned of the threats they face.

The threats Lithuanian officers are facing cannot be linked to Russia only, Dmitrijev said, adding that officers investigating the forced landing of a Ryanair plane in Belarus and migrant smuggling are also at risk.

Russian investigators accused the Lithuanian judges of delivering a "deliberately wrongful sentence", a charge that carries a prison sentence in Russia.

Russia opened criminal cases against all three judges in the spring of 2019 after the Vilnius Regional Court in March of that year convicted more than 60 former Soviet officers and officials of war crimes and crimes against humanity for their roles in the bloody Soviet crackdown on unarmed civilians in Vilnius in January 1991. The majority of the defendants were sentenced in absentia.

Russia earlier announced that it had also opened criminal cases against Lithuanian prosecutors involved in the so-called January 13th case.

By Milena Andrukaitytė

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Lithuania sets heat record for 2nd consecutive day

VILNIUS, Aug 13, BNS - Lithuania has set a heat record for the second day in a row as the highest temperature for September 13 was recorded in the southern city of Birstonas on Wednesday, data from the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service shows.

The air warmed up to 30.4 degrees Celsius in the city today.

"The temperature is really very high and we can even call it hot," the Gytis Valaika, a spokesman for the service, told BNS.

The previous record was set 64 years ago and has not been surpassed by two degrees, he said, adding, however, that the data is preliminary and the recorded temperature can be even higher.

The heat record for September 12 was set in Sakiai where the mercury rose to 29.3 degrees.

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Ex-Foreign Minister Linkevicius mentioned among future ambassadors in Lithuania

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS - The so-called "cooling-off" period imposed by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda a few years ago on former Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius is coming to an end and he is already mentioned among candidates for ambassadorial positions.

Linkevicius was approved as a candidate by the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, according to the information available to BNS.

Neither committee member, nor the Foreign Ministry, nominates ambassadors, however, have officially confirmed that the ex-minister is among potential candidates.

Zygimantas Pavilionis, who leads the parliamentary committee, told BNS today the law does not provide for the disclosure of such information as this data is classified until the country where the ambassador is being sent to gives its consent.

Pavilionis only welcomed Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis' attitude towards the appointment of new ambassadors.

"If we really want to achieve the depoliticization of the diplomatic service through deeds, not words, we should introduce such a political cooling-off period," Nauseda said in January 2021.

Linkevicius is now being considered for the position of Lithuania's ambassador to Sweden, according to the information available to BNS.

The position has been vacant since diplomat Giedrius Cekuolis left the post August 31.

The process of appointing ambassadors usually becomes public after the government registers bills on the nomination of candidates to the president.

In Lithuania, ambassadors are appointed and dismissed by the president on the nomination of the government and with the approval of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs.

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Seimas prepares to express Lithuania's support for Ukraine's NATO membership

VILNIUS, Sep 13, BNS - The Seimas of Lithuania on Wednesday registered a draft resolution expressing the country's support for Ukraine's accession to NATO.

"Ukraine is a security provider, therefore, its membership of NATO will make the Alliance stronger, will be much more effective and will cost less than the support currently being provided to Ukraine for its defense," the document reads. "With full support for Ukraine through practical means, including NATO's political support, it is right to invite Ukraine to join NATO."

The motion was tabled by over 30 MPs from both the ruling majority and the opposition.

The text of the resolution stresses that Ukraine's possible accession to the Alliance is supported by the "overwhelming majority of the public", while the NATO summit in Vilnius stated that such a move would be possible "when the Allies agree and the conditions are met".

"Inviting Ukraine to become a NATO member will clearly confirm that Russia does not have a veto on NATO enlargement and cannot create grey security zones in Europe," the document states.

The draft resolution also calls on the parliaments of other Alliance countries to take appropriate decisions expressing support for Ukraine's membership of the bloc.

At NATO's Vilnius summit in July, allies pledged to invite Ukraine to join the Alliance once all the bloc's members have agreed and the country has met the conditions set for it in terms of military and other domestic policy reforms.

Ukraine is seeking NATO membership to ensure its long-term security as the country is fending of a Russian invasion for more than 18 months.

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, September 14, 2023

VILNIUS, Sept 14, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Thursday, September 14, 2023:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to pay a working visit to Poland.

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Sep 19 2023

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