LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Lithuania's defense budget could reach 3 pct of GDP this year – Landsbergis 
2. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 11, 2024
3. Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
4. Lithuanian president to take part in Bucharest Nine summit in Riga
5. Lithuanian PM to attend Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin
6. Defense Fund package to be presented to Lithuanian parliament
7. Social media reveals iSun's links to convicted German brothel owner (media)
8. Future EU commissioner should strengthen Europe and Lithuania within it – Landsbergis
9. Lithuania's defense budget could reach 3 pct of GDP this year – Landsbergis (expands)
10. Kaunas decides to erect monument to former President Brazauskas, yet to choose location 
11. Lithuanian formin calls French EP election results 'clear call' from voters
12. Lithuania's defense budget could reach 3 pct of GDP this year – Landsbergis (expands)
13. Lithuanian customs officers seize firearms parts from Russian citizen
14. NATO summit's success to be gauged by progress on Ukraine – Lithuanian president 
15. German, Polish, Latvian citizens were most active EP election voters in Lithuania
16. Nominee for Lithuania's defense chief supports phasing in of universal conscription
17. Military exercise involving 1,000 troops kicks off in northern Lithuania  
18. Lithuanian court adjourns in EP-elected Grazulis LGBTIQ contempt case
19. Lithuanian, Dutch PMs talk support for Ukraine, response to Russian aggression
20. Lithuanian army chief to discuss defense plans, brigade deployment during German visit
21. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 12, 2024
22. SSD calls Minsk court's guilty verdict for Lithuanian woman 'baseless insinuations'

Lithuania's defense budget could reach 3 pct of GDP this year – Landsbergis 

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – Lithuania's defense budget could reach 3 percent of GDP as early as this year, Gabrielius Landsbergis, leader of the ruling conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (HU-LCD), said on Tuesday.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we reach 3 percent this year. There are such options," the foreign minister told reporters.

By Augustas Stankevičius

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 11, 2024

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to attend the Bucharest Nine Summit in Riga.

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to continue her visit to Poland.

PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte to pay a working visit to Berlin, to attend the Ukraine Recovery Conference.

CULTURE MINISTER Simonas Kairys to pay a working visit to Berlin.

FOREIGN MINISTER Gabrielius Landsbergis to attend a celebration of the US Independence Day at 4.15 p.m.

OTHER EVENTS

A professional solidarity rally in support of lawyer Maxim Znak, imprisoned in Belarus, to take place outside the Belarusian Embassy in Vilnius at 2 p.m.

A celebration of the US Independence Day, organized by the US Embassy, to take place in the courtyard of the Old Arsenal of the National Museum of Lithuania at 4.15 p.m.

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

Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus

VILNIUS, Jun 11, 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 Tuesday morning.

Latvia reported 34 attempts at illegal border crossings on Monday, and 106 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Sunday, according to the latest available information.

A total of 231 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year.

The influx of irregular migrants to the EU's eastern member states from Belarus began in 2021 and is blamed by the West on the Minsk regime.

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.

Lithuanian border guards have prevented a total of almost 22,000 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.

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

Lithuanian president to take part in Bucharest Nine summit in Riga

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is heading to Riga on Tuesday to take part in the summit of the Bucharest Nine group of NATO's eastern flank countries.

The gathering will focus on preparations for NATO's summit in Washington, D.C.  in July, support for Ukraine, and strengthening the Alliance's eastern flank, Nauseda's office has said.

The Lithuanian president is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings on the margins of the summit.

The Bucharest Nine format was launched in 2015 in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 239 64 16, Vilnius newsroom

Lithuanian PM to attend Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte is taking part in the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin on Tuesday.

Simonyte is to address a roundtable discussion of heads of state and government on Ukraine's reconstruction and the conference's session on the war-torn country's European integration, and to deliver the national statement outlining Lithuania's support for Ukraine, the government's press office has said. 

The Ukraine Recovery Conference is an international format that was known as the Ukraine Reform Conference before the war.  It was hosted by Lithuania in 2021.

Speakers at the conference in Berlin also include German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska, and others.

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

Defense Fund package to be presented to Lithuanian parliament

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – The so-called Defense Fund package, which aims to increase Lithuania's defense funding to 3 percent of GDP in the coming years, is being presented to the parliament on Tuesday.

The government is asking the parliament to debate the proposed draft amendments to the laws on corporate and personal income taxes, and excise duties under a fast-track procedure. 

The aim is to raise additional funds for defense by increasing the corporate income tax by one percentage point to 16 percent, raising the reduced corporate tax rate for small-sized businesses from 5 percent to 6 percent, introducing a so-called "defense component" of 6 euro cents (5-cent excise duty and 1-cent VAT) on automotive fuel, and further hiking excise duties on alcohol and tobacco.

The package also suggests lowering the annual income threshold, from 45,000 euros to 20,000 euros, for those working under a business license, which would result in higher taxes for some self-employed individuals.  

Other proposals include abolishing special corporate income tax regimes for the insurance and health sectors. 

The package also calls for scrapping the limitation of car cost deductions linked to environmental friendliness. The amendments provide for deducting from income 75,000 euros in expenses for the purchase and rental of passenger vehicles if their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are zero and 10,000 euros if their CO2 emissions exceed 200 grams per kilometer. 

President Gitanas Nauseda last week called on politicians to find the will to make timely decisions on boosting defense funding.

Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, speaker of the parliament and leader of the Liberal Movement, has said that the Defense Fund package contains a number of measures that have not been agreed in the coalition, while Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte has said that the ruling coalition partners agree on the government's key proposals. 

Issues that caused controversy within the coalition include the government’s proposal to channel 25 million euros from municipalities' share of personal income tax into civil protection annually.   

The Finance Ministry estimates that the proposed measures could raise an additional 297.8 million euros in state budget revenue in 2025, 421.2 million euros in 2026, and 436.5 million euros in 2027.

Politicians want to boost defense funding to 3 percent of GDP to speed up the establishment of a military division, to host a German brigade, which is expected to be stationed in the country by 2027, and to prepare for universal conscription.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 239 64 14, Vilnius newsroom

Social media reveals iSun's links to convicted German brothel owner (media)

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS - Marcus Prinz von Anhalt, a Dubai-based German brothel owner with several past convictions for illegal activities, has promoted the Swiss iSun group's projects on social media, the vz.lt business news website reports on Tuesday. 

According to the website, one of such projects was Swissmoney, an iSun-owned company previously run by Mindaugas Navickas, the husband of Lithuanian Social Security and Minister Monika Navickiene.

Moreover, the German man's account also features information on Bitandpay, which is run by Alfonsas Ambrazas, a former iSun employee. Bitandpay has been mentioned in an illegal e-casino service scheme.

One of the videos uploaded by Prinz von Anhalt on Instagram also shows Vilhelmas Germanas (formerly Vilius Zidelis), the partner of Ieva Trinkunaite, the founder and board chair iSun Group, on a private plane. Germanas has served several prison sentences for financial crimes in Lithuania.

When approached by vz.lt, both Germanas and Trinkunaite denied that they had any business relations with the German and said they had only ever spoken to him "in a large company".

Last Friday, the Lithuanian government aid it had already approved the conclusion of its commission vetting transactions of strategic companies on whether Trinkunaite, the Foxpay shareholder, was in line with national security interests.

The central Bank of Lithuania is carrying out an investigation into Fox activities, and a separate probe is being conducted by the Financial Crime Investigation Service at the prosecutor general's request. 

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

Future EU commissioner should strengthen Europe and Lithuania within it – Landsbergis

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – Lithuania's future representative to the European Commission should strengthen Europe and Lithuania within it, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis says.

"I think the person who can do the best job in the European Commission is the one who can not only represent Lithuania, because this is not Lithuania's position later, it is the European Commission's position, but who can do the best job of strengthening Europe and Lithuania within it," the minister told reporters at the Seimas on Tuesday, adding that he sees people in Lithuania who can do this, without mentioning specific names. 

A new European Commission is being formed after Sunday's European Parliament election where the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats won three out of Lithuania's 11 seats in the EP. The opposition Social Democrats came in second with two seats.

Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said on Monday she has no plans to to apply to become an EC member.

Politico also mentioned Landsbergis as one of the potential candidates for this position. However, asked whether he would be willing to take it, the HU-LCD leader on Tuesday avoided giving a straight answer, as he has done in the past.

"I have never been involved in discussions on whether someone wants it or not, it's not a beauty contest," Landsbergis told reporters.

One commissioner is nominated by each European Union member state. Currently, Lithuania is represented by Virginijus Sinkevcčius who is responsible for environment, oceans and fisheries. 

In Lithuania, the government, the Seimas and the president have to approve the country's candidate for a European commissioner, and then the European Parliament decides on all the candidates.

By Greta Zulonaitė

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

Lithuania's defense budget could reach 3 pct of GDP this year – Landsbergis (expands)

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – Lithuania's defense budget could reach 3 percent of GDP as early as this year, Gabrielius Landsbergis, leader of the ruling conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (HU-LCD), said on Tuesday.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we reach 3 percent this year. There are such options," the foreign minister told reporters.

"Additional funding for this year is under consideration," he added.

Landsbergis' comment came after the so-called Defense Fund package, which aims to boost Lithuania's defense funding in the coming years, was tabled in the parliament on Tuesday. 

"The package under consideration, in its entirety, would put us significantly above 3 percent of GDP," the foreign minister said. 

"I think we are approaching 3.5 or 3.2 percent of GDP. That would place Lithuania among the top three NATO countries," he said. 

The proposed legislative amendments aim to raise additional funds for defense by increasing the corporate income tax by one percentage point to 16 percent, raising the reduced corporate tax rate for small-sized businesses from 5 percent to 6 percent, introducing a so-called "defense component" of 6 euro cents (5-cent excise duty and 1-cent VAT) on automotive fuel, and further hiking excise duties on alcohol and tobacco.

The package also suggests lowering the annual income threshold, from 45,000 euros to 20,000 euros, for those working under a business license, which would result in higher taxes for some self-employed individuals.  

Other proposals include abolishing special corporate income tax regimes for the insurance and health sectors. 

The package also calls for scrapping the limitation of car-related deductions linked to the environmental impact. The amendments provide for deducting from income 75,000 euros in expenses for the purchase and rental of passenger vehicles if their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are zero and 10,000 euros if their CO2 emissions exceed 200 grams per kilometer. 

Landsbergis said the proposed measures would allow Lithuania to make significant purchases in the coming years.

In response to some MPs' criticism of the government's proposals, the minister said that the military would lose some planned additional acquisitions if certain parts of the package were voted down.

"While voting against certain parts, we have to understand that there's a specific acquisition attached to a certain part," the conservatives' leader said.

Politicians want to boost defense funding to speed up the establishment of a military division, to host a German brigade, which is expected to be stationed in the country by 2027, and to prepare for universal conscription.

By Augustas Stankevičius

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

Kaunas decides to erect monument to former President Brazauskas, yet to choose location 

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – The Kaunas City Council on Tuesday approved an initiative to erect a monument to former Lithuanian President Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas, with the exact location to be decided later.

The motion was passed in a vote of 25 to seven with seven abstentions.  

Saulius Rimas, head of the municipality's cultural heritage division, said that a competition will be held to select the monument's design. Participating artists will propose specific locations, which will be evaluated by a municipal commission.

There has been some discussion about placing the monument in the courtyard of the Historical Presidential Palace in Kaunas, but this idea has faced criticism from some politicians and cultural figures.

Rimas told BNS that this would be hardly possible legally "because the municipality is neither the owner or the user" of the courtyard. 

The Historical Presidential Palace with its courtyard is a division of the National M.K. Ciurlionis Museum of Art, which is owned by the Culture Ministry.

According to Rimas, the cost of the project will be known after the competition.

The idea of erecting a monument to Brazauskas was put forward by Kaunas Mayor Visvaldas Matijosaitis, who said that 15 years after the former president's death, his memory has not been properly honored. 

"We will try to do this in Kaunas," the mayor said in an earlier statement.

He suggested the monument could be placed in the courtyard of the Historical Presidential Palace.

Brazauskas, a signatory of Lithuania's 1990 Independence Act, served as speaker of the Lithuanian parliament from 1992 to 1933, as president from 1993 to 1998 and as prime minister from 2001 to 2006.

During the Soviet era, Brazauskas headed the Lithuanian branch of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union for some time. He was elected leader of the Lithuanian Communist Party after it split from the Soviet Communist Party under his leadership in 1988. He later became chairman of the Lithuanian Democratic Labor Party, which merged with the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party in 2001. 

The former president passed away on June 26, 2010, after a serious illness.

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

Lithuanian formin calls French EP election results 'clear call' from voters

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS - Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has called the European Parliament election results in France, where the far-right party won a majority of seats, a clear call from the voters.

"It’s a clear call from the voters. That is obvious. Perhaps it is also part of a broader pan- European signal when we see that the center parties are not withstanding the pressure in many countries," Lithuania's top diplomat told journalists at the Seimas on Tuesday.

In France, the far-right National Rally got the majority of votes and secures 30 seats in the European Parliament. Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Renaissance party won 13 seats. Just as the exit-polls were coming out, Macron announced that he was dissolving the parliament and called a snap election on June 30, acknowledging that the EP election results were not good for the pro-European parties.

In Germany, the Conservatives came in first in the EP election, followed by the far-right Alternative for Germany and Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats. In Italy, Giorgia Meloni's far-right Brothers of Italy party won a landslide victory in the election, making it one of the few European Union leaders to strengthen its position after the vote.

"However, if we look at the bigger picture, the only centrist party that has withstood the pressure and got more seats in the European Parliament is the European People's Party – a conservative party the HU-LCD belongs to," Landsbergis pointed out.

"Despite some European indications, we see that there is probably more of a crumbling of the left and a strengthening of the right. I am happy that the center-right, while also holding the center, is withstanding that pressure and securing a solid number of votes in the new EP", the minister said.

The ruling conservative HU-LCD won Sunday's EP election in Lithuania, securing three out of Lithuania's 11 seats in the European Parliament, according to preliminary data from the Central Electoral Commission.

The opposition Lithuanian Social Democratic Party came in second with two seats. And the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, the Freedom Party, the Democratic Union "For Lithuania", the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania-Christian Families Alliance, the Liberal Movement, and the People and Justice Union got one eat each.

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

Lithuania's defense budget could reach 3 pct of GDP this year – Landsbergis (expands)

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – Lithuania's defense budget could reach 3 percent of GDP as early as this year, Gabrielius Landsbergis, leader of the ruling conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (HU-LCD), said on Tuesday.

"I wouldn't be surprised if we reach 3 percent this year. There are such options," the foreign minister told reporters.

"Additional funding for this year is under consideration," he added.

Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste has confirmed to BNS that the government is considering the possibility of additional borrowing for defense this year.

"Right now, the planned defense funding in the state budget is about 2.76 percent of GDP, and there's still some way up to 3 percent (...), and the we would need some 200 million euros extra," she said.

According to the finance minister, the state budget includes a clause allowing borrowing to finance defense needs, provided the budget deficit does not exceed 3 percent of GDP.

"The Finance Ministry is now in the process of updating its economic projections and we will have new economic data in late June and we will see how the state budget revenues are collected and we will have more precise data on what the budget deficit is most likely to look like at the end of the year. If the updated projections show that there is room for a deficit of up to 3 percent of GDP, the government will definitely use that option (to borrow - BNS)," Skaiste said, adding that the government will be able to decide on this as soon as the economic projections are updated.

Defense Fund package

Landsbergis' comment came after the so-called Defense Fund package, which aims to boost Lithuania's defense funding in the coming years, was tabled in the parliament on Tuesday. 

"The package under consideration, in its entirety, would put us significantly above 3 percent of GDP," the foreign minister said.

"I think we are approaching 3.5 or 3.2 percent of GDP. That would place Lithuania among the top three NATO countries," he said. 

The proposed legislative amendments aim to raise additional funds for defense by increasing the corporate income tax by one percentage point to 16 percent, raising the reduced corporate tax rate for small-sized businesses from 5 percent to 6 percent, introducing a so-called "defense component" of 6 euro cents (5-cent excise duty and 1-cent VAT) on automotive fuel, and further hiking excise duties on alcohol and tobacco.

The package also suggests lowering the annual income threshold, from 45,000 euros to 20,000 euros, for those working under a business license, which would result in higher taxes for some self-employed individuals.  

Other proposals include abolishing special corporate income tax regimes for the insurance and health sectors. 

The package also calls for scrapping the limitation of car-related deductions linked to the environmental impact. The amendments provide for deducting from income 75,000 euros in expenses for the purchase and rental of passenger vehicles if their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are zero and 10,000 euros if their CO2 emissions exceed 200 grams per kilometer. 

Landsbergis said the proposed measures would allow Lithuania to make significant purchases in the coming years.

Three additional contracts

"My goal is to reach 3 percent of GDP on defense this year, maybe a little more. It will depend on the consultations with the government, with the finance minister, with the prime minister. They are both very good-natured, both have defense as a priority. I have presented very specific projects on what could be done with the additional money," Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas told reporters at the Seimas on Tuesday.

The money would be used to finance additional purchases related to medium air defense and short-range air defense systems, as well as mechanization, the minister said, adding that the advance payments and new contracts related to the new army division and air defense are a priority.

"If we reach 3 percent, three contracts are possible in these areas," the minister noted.

"The rule here is when the money moves and you see the law still allows you to borrow more. Of course, we will borrow, but on a very limited scale," Kasiunas said when asked about the sources of additional funding.

However, he noted that the total amount is not yet clear and will be negotiated. The minister expects decisions to be made before July and announced in early July.

In response to some MPs' criticism of the government's proposals, Landsbergis said that the military would lose some planned additional acquisitions if certain parts of the package were voted down.

"While voting against certain parts, we have to understand that there's a specific acquisition attached to a certain part," the conservatives' leader said.

Politicians in Lithuania want to boost defense funding to speed up the establishment of a military division, to host the German brigade assigned to Lithuania and expected to be stationed in the country by 2027, and to prepare for universal conscription.

By Augustas Stankevičius, Jūratė Skėrytė, Paulius Perminas

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

Lithuanian customs officers seize firearms parts from Russian citizen

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – Lithuanian customs officials have seized suspected firearms parts from a Russian citizen who tried to bring in them from Belarus.

According to the Vilnius Territorial Customs Office, customs officers at the Medininkai road checkpoint detained a Jaguar car driven by a Russian citizen who had a Latvian residence permit and found 21 pistol grips, five adjustable folding stocks for automatic weapons, nine tactical stocks with adjustable cushion, nine rifle handguards, 21 rails for attaching special equipment to weapons. These parts were marked '83 OTK' and are possibly intended for firearms.

Officers are now looking into whether these can be classed as military or dual use goods.

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

NATO summit's success to be gauged by progress on Ukraine – Lithuanian president 

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – Ukraine is bound to take center stage during NATO's summit in Washington, D.C. in July, and the success of the gathering will be gauged by the progress made on this issue, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said in Riga on Tuesday. 

"Ukraine's victory is the only way to restore the destabilized international system and prevent the spread of war in Europe in the future," he said at the Bucharest Nine summit.

The summit in Riga focuses on preparations for NATO's summit and long-term support for Ukraine, Nauseda's office said in a press release.

The Lithuanian president said in Riga that the upcoming NATO summit must yield clear results and the necessary decisions to bolster security and defense across the Euro-Atlantic area, rather than being just a celebration of the Alliance's 75th anniversary.

"The Washington Summit will be an important milestone in shaping the future of the Euro-Atlantic area. We have to ensure that NATO remains the strongest defense alliance. We have to effectively implement the decisions taken last year in Vilnius and further strengthen NATO's eastern flank," he was quoted as saying in the press release.

Nauseda underlined the importance of implementing NATO's regional defense plans and the rotational air defense model.

The president also called for efforts to boost defense investment and invigorate the defense industry.

"Today we see that 2 percent of GDP is no longer sufficient as a minimum target – must aim for at least 3 percent to sustainably strengthen security and defense," he said.

Nauseda was to address the Bucharest Nine leaders' discussion on support for Ukraine on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bucharest Nine group brings together nine countries on NATO's eastern flank: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia. 

The format was launched in 2015 in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

German, Polish, Latvian citizens were most active EP election voters in Lithuania

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS - German, Polish and Latvian citizens voted in large numbers in Sunday's European Parliament election in Lithuania, the Central Electoral Commission said on Tuesday.

Some 228 EU citizens exercised their right to vote in Lithuania. In total, 7,060 people were eligible to vote. According to the CEC, 53 German, 46 Polish, 22 Latvian, 18 French, 17 Italian and 11 Dutch citizens voted to pick Lithuanian MEPs.

EU citizens were able to vote in Lithuania if they were 18 or over on the election day, had a residence permit in Lithuania and wished to vote here to elect Lithuanian representatives to the European Parliament. They need to file a request to the VRK to be added to the electoral register.

In comparison, some 300 EU citiens voted in Lithuania in the 2019 EP election.

The ruling conservative HU-LCD won Sunday's EP election in Lithuania, securing three out of Lithuania's 11 seats in the European Parliament, according to preliminary data from the Central Electoral Commission.

The opposition Lithuanian Social Democratic Party came in second with two seats. And the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, the Freedom Party, the Democratic Union "For Lithuania", the Electoral Action of Poles in Lithuania-Christian Families Alliance, the Liberal Movement, and the People and Justice Union got one eat each.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

Nominee for Lithuania's defense chief supports phasing in of universal conscription

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – Brigadier General Raimundas Vaiksnoras, President Gitanas Nauseda's nominee to become Lithuania's next chief of defense, said on Tuesday that he supports universal conscription, but believes that it should be introduced gradually. 

"As a candidate, I support universal conscription, but it should be done gradually," Vaiksnoras told the parliament. 

"It requires infrastructure and training fields, and requires training instructors, but gradually (...) we can increase the number of young draftees, thus increasing the reserve," he said.   

Under Nauseda's decree on Vaiksnoras' nomination, which the president signed last week, the brigadier general would take over as chief of defense from General Valdemaras Rupsys on July 24.

"The geopolitical situation today dictates that we don't have the luxury of wasting time, so the main focus must be on deterrence and the defense of the entire NATO alliance," Vaiksnoras told the parliament.

The brigadier general also said the reinforcement of the Armed Forces' capabilities must be balanced, ensuring the functioning of all operational battle systems.

The candidate sees ensuring the implementation of NATO plans as one of his tasks if he is appointed to the post.

According to Vaiksnoras, the deployment of the German brigade in Lithuania and its integration along with the US units currently stationed in the country will ensure maximum deterrence effect, but it will be a challenging task.

Other tasks mentioned by the brigadier general include interacting with the paramilitary Lithuanian Riflemen's Union, and assisting local governments and civilian institutions in preparing for emergencies.

The tasks also include forming a national division and achieving its full operational capability, which "will allow us to fill capability gaps and will be a clear signal to the Allies of our own contribution to the defense of the Alliance", he said. 

Kestutis Budrys, Nauseda's chief national security advisor, said while presenting the nomination to the parliament that the president had met with several candidates and that his requirements for them included a consistent military career, international experience, and clear leadership qualities.

The advisor outlined the president's expectations, including achieving the division's full operational capability by 2030. 

Vaiksnoras is currently serving as deputy chief of staff for military training at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE).

His has in the past served as commander of the Lithuanian Land Force, the force's deputy chief of staff for operations, chief of the Operations Department at the Defense Staff, and commander of the Iron Wolf brigade.

The five-year term of office of Rupsys, the incumbent chief of defense, is set to expire in July.

According to the Constitution, the president appoints and dismisses the chief of defense with the parliament's approval.

Both ruling and opposition MPs interviewed by BNS last week said they were in favor of the nomination.

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

Military exercise involving 1,000 troops kicks off in northern Lithuania  

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – The National Defense Volunteer Force's exercise involving about 1,100 Lithuanian and NATO allied troops and members of the paramilitary Riflemen's Union got underway in northern Lithuania on Tuesday.

Troops from the National Defense Volunteer Force and other Land Force units will be training along with allied soldiers from the United Kingdom, the United States, Latvia, France, Denmark, and Germany in a number of northern districts until Sunday. 

The exercise will take place during both daylight and nighttime hours: troops will move on foot or in wheeled military vehicles, using simulated ammunition and explosives, special equipment, and smoke grenades.

A large part of the tasks will be carried out in civilian areas, the military said in a press release.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

Lithuanian court adjourns in EP-elected Grazulis LGBTIQ contempt case

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – A Lithuanian court has decided to adjourn in controversial ex-MP Petras Grazulis' LGBTIQ contempt case after he was elected to the European Parliament on Sunday.

On Tuesday, Vilnius Regional Court also ordered, Jurgita Jasiuniene, the prosecutor in this case,, to ask the Central Electoral Commission for permission to prosecute Grazulis.

"The court adjourned and told me to ask the CEC for permission to prosecute Petras Grazulis. (...) He has been elected (to the EP – BNS), but it is not officially confirmed, the official data will be available in about a week and until Grazulis receives his MEP mandate he may be prosecuted," Jasiuniene told reporters.

If the CEC allows Grazulis to be prosecuted, the court will have about a month to deliver its verdict. The EP will hold its first sitting in mid-July and then Grazulis will get legal immunity.

Grazulis is accused of publicly ridiculing and expressing contempt for a group of persons or a person on grounds of their sexual orientation.

Prosecutors launched an investigation against him on May 26, 2022 after Grazulis' statement in a parliament corridor.

On May 26, 2022, after the Seimas gave its initial backing to the civil union bill legalizing same-sex unions, Grazulis met several representatives of the LGBTIQ community as he was leaving the plenary session hall and called them degenerates spreading STDs, and said they should get treatment.

Last year, the Lithuanian Seimas stripped Grazulis, 65, of his mandate for breaking his oath as a lawmaker, after he voted for another MP.

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

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

Lithuanian, Dutch PMs talk support for Ukraine, response to Russian aggression

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte met with her Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte in Berlin on Tuesday and discussed support for Ukraine, the response to Russia's hybrid aggression, the forthcoming NATO summit in Washington, and EU current affairs.

"We have neither the reason nor the luxury to assume that the long-term Russian threat to Europe and to transatlantic security will fade," Simonyte was quoted as saying in a statement released by the government press service. "Our priority must be the victory of Ukraine and investment in our own defense and deterrence, vigilance on all fronts where Russia is targeting the democratic world, including through acts of hybrid aggression which must not go unanswered."

Ukraine's future membership in NATO must also remain one of the alliance's priorities, and bringing the country closer to membership at the next NATO summit in Washington would send an important signal to both Ukrainians and the aggressor Russia, the Lithuanian prime minister aid after the meeting.

Rutte is the leading contender to replace Norway's Jens Stoltenberg as NATO secretary general as he has already secured backing from the UK, Germany, the US and Lithuania.

Simonyte also thanked the Dutch prime minister for his country's participation in the NATO Forward Presence in Lithuania, the Rotational Air Defense Model and NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, which "significantly contribute to the security of NATO's eastern flank and the Alliance as a whole".

The meeting also discussed EU issues, Community incentives for the development of the defense industry, and the implementation and strengthening of sanctions against Russia and Belarus.

The Netherlands will send its Patriot long-range air defense system to Lithuania for several weeks of army drills in July.

Simonyte is on Tuesday attending the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

Lithuanian army chief to discuss defense plans, brigade deployment during German visit

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – Lithuania's Chief of Defense General Valdemaras Rupsys is visiting Germany to discuss NATO regional defense plans and the deployment of the German brigade assigned to Lithuania.

During the visit, the general is scheduled to meet with his German counterpart Carsten Breuer, and representatives of the federal Ministry of Defense, the Lithuanian army told BNS on Tuesday.

"The chiefs of defense will discuss military cooperation in the bilateral and NATO context, NATO's regional defense plans, their implementation through the generation of assigned capabilities and military exercises," the army said.

"The Lithuanian and German chiefs of defense will also discuss relevant aspects of the permanent deployment of he 45th Brigade Lithuania of the Bundeswehr in Lithuania," the statement added.

Lithuania and Germany have been cooperating closely in the field of security in recent years.

Since 2017, Berlin has been leading the NATO multinational battalion deployed in Lithuania. Also, Germany intends to deploy its army brigade in Lithuania by 2027 to enhance regional security mid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 12, 2024

VILNIUS, Jun 12, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 12, 2024.

CULTURE MINISTER Simonas Kairys to continue his working visit to Berlin.

JUSTICE MINISTER Ewelina Dobrowolska to attend the General Assembly of the Council of the Notariats of the European Union (CNUE) at 10 a.m.; to meet with Poland's Deputy Justice Minister Maria Ejchart at 4 p.m.

By Greta Zulonaitė

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., +370 5 205 85 08, Vilnius newsroom

SSD calls Minsk court's guilty verdict for Lithuanian woman 'baseless insinuations'

VILNIUS, Jun 11, BNS – As a Belarusian court on Tuesday found a Lithuanian woman guilty of spying, Lithuania's State Security Department has called the verdict 'baseless insinuations'.

"The KGB, one of the key pillars of the Belarusian regime, made absurd accusations that she had undermined Belarus' national security while living in Lithuania," the SSD said in a statement on Tuesday.

According to Belarusian media, Elena Ramanauskiene was found guilty of spying by a Minsk city court and sentenced to six years in prison.

"The charges against Ramanauskiene are untrue," the SSD states. "Ramanauskiene has not engaged in any activity that could in any way harm Belarus, and therefore these charges are baseless insinuations."

The opposition news website afn.by and the ONT TV cannel reported earlier in the day that Ramanauskiene, an employee of Belorus, a Belaruina-owned sanatorium in Lithuania's southern city of Druskininkai, had been found guilty of agent activities.

The trial took place behind closed doors. The 59-year-old woman was accused of repeatedly passing on information about incoming guests, including high-ranking Belarusian officials.  

She was allegedly recruited by Lithuanian special services more than 10 years ago.

The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry told BNS it’s aware of the situation, but stressed it had no reason to believe the allegations were substantiated.

The ministry also once again reiterates its recommendation not to travel to Belarus, warning that Lithuanian citizens may be illegally detained in Belarus, face false accusation, and be interrogated by Belarusian security officers.

The 15min news website reported earlier that Ramanauskiene may have been detained by Belarusian officers last year when she was on her way back to Lithuania from Belarus where she was visiting family members.

In the summer of 2023, Belarusian media reported that Andrei Kobel, the former head doctor of the Belorus sanatorium in Lithuania's southern resort town of Druskininkai, would be tried for spying for Lithuania. He was detained by the Belarusian KGB in late 2022.

Afn.by points out now that he was earlier sentenced to nine years in prison. According to ONT, he is already serving his sentence.

By Augustas Stankevičius

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