LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Lithuania's MG Grupe pays EUR 1.1 mln fine in political corruption case
2. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, November 24, 2023
3. Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
4. Lithuanian formin, parlt speaker to meet Baltic counterparts in Tallinn
5. Lithuanian defense chief, NATO rep to visit units preparing for parade
6. Nearly 2,000 consumers in Lithuania still without power due to winds, snowfall 
7. Lithuania reports 817 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death
8. 2nd bank solidarity levy installment to exceed EUR 100 mln – c.bank
9. Germany, Baltics to collaborate on innovation
10. Germany, Baltics to collaborate on innovation (expands)
11. Lithuanian PM, in Kyiv, pays tribute to Ukrainians killed in war with Russia
12. Formin calls on Lithuania to wake up from 'peacetime stagnation'
13. Lithuanian president, NATO general discuss implementation of regional defense plans
14. Lithuanian MP Gapsys appeals sentence in political corruption case
15. Construction of most modern car park near Via Baltica begins in Lithuania
16. Ukraine's victory is existential issue for the Baltics – Landsbergis in Tallinn
17. Lithuania made right decisions in responding to threats – NATO corps commander
18. Minister asks president to strip Liepa of Lithuanian citizenship
19. Convicts in MG Grupe corruption case in Lithuania transferred to Kaunas prison
20. Lithuanian PM meets with Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv, vows energy sector support

Lithuania's MG Grupe pays EUR 1.1 mln fine in political corruption case

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – MG Grupe has paid a fine of 1.1 million euros imposed by the Court of Appeal in a high-profile political corruption case centering around the business group. 

"Yesterday we received a letter from the lawyer and a bank statement on the payment of the fine," Lina Nemeikaite, spokeswoman for Vilnius Regional Court, told BNS.

MG Grupe, one of Lithuania's biggest manufacturing, trading, real estate and media groups, was fined for bribery and influence peddling. The court's verdict became final on Wednesday. 

The Court of Appeal stated in its judgment that the evidence in the case allows a reasonable conclusion that MG Grupe (formerly MG Baltic) sought favorable decisions in legislation or in other areas significant to it "not only through legal means, but also by deliberately using the influence of its board member Raimondas Kurlianskis in the media (and) his connections in various groups of society, including politics, as well as its financial capacity as a large business operating in Lithuania". 

According to the court, the criminal acts caused significant damage to the Lithuanian state and its political system.

 

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, November 24, 2023

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Thursday, November 24, 2023:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to meet with Lieutenant General Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart , commander of NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast at 10 a.m.

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to attend a meting of the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly and the speakers of the national parliaments of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in Tallinn at 9 a.m.

CULTURE MINISTER Simonas Kairys to attend a meeting of EU culture ministers in Brussels,

FOREIGN MINISTER Gabrielius Landsbergis to pay a working visit to Tallinn to attend a meeting of the Baltic Council of Ministers.

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Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus

VILNIUS, Nov 24, 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 Friday morning.

Latvia reported 10 attempts at illegal border crossings on Thursday, and 28 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Wednesday, according to the latest available information.

A total of 2,473 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year.

Lithuanian border guards have prevented a total of over 21,800 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 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.

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Lithuanian formin, parlt speaker to meet Baltic counterparts in Tallinn

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, speaker of the parliament, are meeting with their Baltic counterparts in Tallinn on Friday to discuss regional security.

Landsbergis and Cmilyte-Nielsen are in the Estonian capital for the 29th meeting of the Baltic Council.

Landsbergis will present the priorities of the Lithuanian presidency of the Baltic Council for the coming year, the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry has said.

Cmilyte-Nielsen will also take part in the 42nd Baltic Assembly events.

"‘Russia's aggression against Ukraine and the emerging threat particularly demand attention to the security situation in the Baltic region," the speaker said in a press release. 

"In this critical environment, it is crucial for the Baltic states to maintain unity and further strengthen their integration with each other in order to get rid of their dependence on Russian influence and solidify their voice within the European Union and NATO," she said.  

The Lithuanian delegation in Tallinn also includes Andrius Mazuronis, deputy speaker of the Seimas, and MPs Andrius Kupcinskas, Orinta Leipute, Vytautas Juozapaitis, Ligita Girskiene, Kestutis Masiulis, Audrius Petrosius, Linas Slusnys, Romualdas Vaitkus, Valdemaras Valkiunas, Juozas Varzgalys and Antanas Vinkus.

The Baltic Assembly is a platform for cooperation among the parliaments of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia established on November 8, 1991.  

The Baltic Council, a cooperation format between the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers, the coordinating body for cooperation among the governments of the three countries.  

 

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Lithuanian defense chief, NATO rep to visit units preparing for parade

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – Chief of Defense Valdemaras Rupsys and Juergen-Joachim von Sandrart, commander of NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast, will inspect the units preparing for Saturday's parade marking the Lithuanian Armed Forces Day.

Von Sandrart has come to Vilnius to congratulate the Lithuanian Armed Forces on their 105th anniversary of restoration and to participate in the parade of Lithuanian and allied military personnel and equipment, the Lithuanian Armed Forces have said. 

The lineup of military equipment participating in the parade, including the Lithuanian Armed Forces' Vilkas infantry fighting vehicles and PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers, the US Army's Abrams tanks, Bradley IFVs and Paladin self-propelled howitzers, and the Bundeswehr's Leopard tanks, and Puma and Marder IFVs, can been seen in the capital's Upes Street starting from Tuesday, according to the military.  

The parade will take place on Konstitucijos Avenue. 

 

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Nearly 2,000 consumers in Lithuania still without power due to winds, snowfall 

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – Around 2,000 consumers in Lithuania are still without electricity on Friday morning following Thursday's heavy snowfall and winds that knocked down trees and broke branches, and cut power lines, Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius (ESO) told BNS. 

Rasa Juodkiene, the power distribution company's spokeswoman, said that the most affected are consumers in the Klaipeda and Siauliai regions.

"The situation is already stabilizing. Less than 2,000 consumers are without electricity," she said.

 

By Sniegė Balčiūnaitė

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Lithuania reports 817 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – Lithuania has recorded 817 new coronavirus infections and one death from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, official statistics showed on Friday morning.

The 14-day primary infection rate has risen to 329.7 cases per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests at 36.1 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.

COVID-19 incidence in Lithuania took an upward turn in mid-September after having stayed at a low level since May. 

Two-thirds of the country's population have received at least one coronavirus vaccine jab so far, according to the statistics.

 

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2nd bank solidarity levy installment to exceed EUR 100 mln – c.bank

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – Lithuania's commercial banks will soon transfer the second installment of the new solidarity levy for the third quarter of this year, with the central Bank of Lithuania estimating it to exceed 100 million euros.

The first installment of 56 million euros for the second quarter was paid by banks in late August., and the second installment is due by November 30.

The central bank says the total levy 2023 could be around 250 million euros, and the money will be used for military mobility and dual-use transport infrastructure.

The levy is calculated on net interest income that exceeds the average of the last four years by more than 50 percent. The levy was introduced as the country's banks are expected to make three times as much profit this year as they did last year – more than 1 billion euros, which is seen as a windfall as they benefit from the European Central Bank's interest rate hikes.

The banking sector's fist-half profits amounted to 515 million euros, up by 2.5 times more than last year.

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Germany, Baltics to collaborate on innovation

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS - Germany will collaborate with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in the field of innovation through the new Innovation Club, an initiative launched by German Minister for Digitaland Transport Volker Wissing. 

"We have signed an agreement, the first declaration of this Innovation Club and together with representatives from the business society, from the civil society, we want to discuss the content of this and have specific recommendations," Wissing told a press conference on Friday after signing the declaration.

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Germany, Baltics to collaborate on innovation (expands)

New paras 3-9

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS - Germany will collaborate with Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in the field of innovation through the new Innovation Club, an initiative launched by German Minister for Digitaland Transport Volker Wissing. 

"We have signed an agreement, the first declaration of this Innovation Club and together with representatives from the business society, from the civil society, we want to discuss the content of this and have specific recommendations," Wissing told a press conference on Friday after signing the declaration. "We want to be in position where we can say "This is what we expect from the new (European – BNS) Commission".

Lithuanian Economy and Innovation Minister Ausrine Armonaite says cooperation with Germany is crucial for the Baltic states to compete with China and other innovation giants, which set lower standards for workers' welfare and health.

"To compete with that, it is not like we have to go to that level. We have to be even more open, even more proactive and take a more open approach. Regarding the infrastructure, the national security some of providers of services that perhaps draw some concern for liberal democracies and obviously we have to take measures," she told the press conference.

Latvia's Minister for the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Inga Berzina says the agreement is the start of a long-term growth of innovation in the Baltic States.

"Joint efforts and collaboration are key, we can see the fruits of it today. (...) To further grow the innovation and digitalization sector, this is not a sprint, it is a marathon. A lot of challenges are ahead of us," she said.

"It is not just a nice club that happened yesterday for the first time physically, but it is the beginning of a bigger movement," Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Information Technology Tiit Riisalo added.

By Goda Vileikytė

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Lithuanian PM, in Kyiv, pays tribute to Ukrainians killed in war with Russia

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte in Kyiv on Friday paid tribute to those who lost their lives defending Ukraine against Russia.  

"At my first stop in Kyiv today, I paid respects to men and women who sacrificed their lives defending the most fundamental rights of a nation: to exist and to live in freedom," Simonyte posted on the X social platform. 

"They gave their lives to also defend all of us. The only way to achieve lasting and just peace is by helping Ukraine win as soon as possible, regain its full territorial integrity, serve international justice, and rebuild stronger," she added. 

The prime minister's visit to Kyiv is scheduled for Friday and Saturday. She said earlier that she was planning to meet with Ukrainian leaders and attend an event of the Ukrainian Grain initiative.

In Kyiv, Simonyte is also to meet with the community of the Center for Baltic Studies at Taras Shevchenko National University and attend a ceremony to commemorate the victims of the Holodomor.

 

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Formin calls on Lithuania to wake up from 'peacetime stagnation'

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS - The existing support provided to Ukraine may not be enough to win against Russia, and the latter could rebuild its forces for a new offensive within a few years, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, leader of the ruling conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, warns.

In this context, he said, Lithuania must wake up from its "pleasant peacetime stagnation" and take urgent steps to boost its defense.

Moscow awaits negotiations

"We need to speak frankly. What has been provided to Ukraine may not be enough to win the war. Yes, escalation towards the West may be avoided in the short term, but it will simply not be enough for Ukraine to regain the occupied territories," he said in an article published on news websites on Friday.

"There is not the slightest doubt today that Moscow hopes, perhaps even more firmly than a year ago, that the day will come when Ukraine will have to negotiate. Even if they do so, they would do that not by choice, but only because of too little Western support. And yes, it will be a victory for Putin. And yes, that will be the day we start counting down to the next war. Russia's war against another neighbor," Landsbergis writes.

As crises have spread more widely around the world, he said, it has become increasingly difficult for Western powers to maintain even the attention they have paid to Ukraine since the start of the war in February 2022. As another threat, the minister pointed to the US's increasingly isolationist stance, which could prevail.

"We already hear talk of a potential change in NATO, or at least in the US role within it. All of this should at least promote a discussion on whether we are doing enough. Are we preparing for all scenarios?" Landsbergis writes.

Today, he argues, it is necessary to prepare for the worst-case scenarios and to prepare for "a new qualitative turning point in Lithuania's national security strategy".

"We can no longer remain silent. For Lithuania to move out of the pleasant peacetime stagnation, we all need to move together," the Lithuanian foreign minister stressed.

US, Germany as security pillars

In his article, Landsbergis outlined ten points he believes Lithuania's security strategy should be based in and they should be given the most attention right now.

In his words, the US has been and must remain the main pillar of NATO and Lithuania's security, while Germany is becoming the European strategic pillar of Lithuania's security.

"Minister (Boris) Pistorius' promise to deploy a heavy brigade in Lithuania is a historic one. The minister's words must be engraved on the wall of the Town Hall in Vilnius," Landsbergis said.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has promised to deploy a brigade of almost 5,000 troops with weaponry in Lithuania within the next few years. A concrete deployment plan is to be signed in December.

Landsbergis also stressed that it was time to complete strategic connectivity projects and significantly strengthen military cooperation with Poland, to strengthen regional partnerships with the Nordic and Baltic countries, and to learn from Ukraine on a daily basis, not only from a distance, but also from being there.

Calls for 4 percent defense spending

Lithuania's top diplomat also believes it is necessary to introduce universal conscription in Lithuania, for the country to build up significant capabilities in the coming years, and to put itself "at the front, not at the back of the line" in terms of weaponry acquisition, pointing in particular to the advantage provided by drones and electronic warfare.

"All of this raises the fundamental question of how much funding is needed for strategic change. (...) As we look at the new defense needs, we must be prepared to fund them accordingly, and we must not be afraid to talk about allocating not just three, but also four percent of GDP for defense," Landsbergis said, adding that it is necessary to agree on how this will be financed.

The Lithuanian government plans to spend 2.71 percent of GDP on national defense next year. Of this, 2.52 percent will comes from the regular budget appropriations and the rest will come from the existing temporary banking solidarity levy that will be used to fund only the infrastructure to host allies.

Some experts say that Lithuania should spend at least 3 percent of GDP on defense, while President Gitanas Nauseda says that next year's budget should allow for borrowing up to this level.

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Lithuanian president, NATO general discuss implementation of regional defense plans

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda met with Commander of NATO Multinational Corps Northeast, Lieutenant General Jurgen-Joachim von Sandrart in Vilnius on Friday and discussed the implementation of NATO's regional defense plans agreed at the Vilnius NATO summit, the presidential press service said.

They also discussed the development of tactical plans and the assignment of troops to them.

The agreement reached at the NATO summit in Vilnius on the strengthening of NATO's eastern flank, the rotational air defense model and the regional defense plans is of great importance for strengthening Lithuania and the whole region's defense capability, Nauseda said.

In his words, Lithuania is interested in the fastest and most effective possible adaptation and combat readiness of the regional defense plans, with the necessary allied capabilities, infrastructure and exercises.

"We are NATO's front line. The Alliance is only as strong as its most vulnerable points are, so strengthening NATO's eastern flank must be our top priority. An aggressive neighbor in our neighborhood understands only one language – force, so we need to be as strong and united as ever and to be as ready as we can be. This is the best deterrent," the Lithuanian leader said.

Nauseda and Sandrart also discussed Lithuania's contribution to the Alliance's force structures and the capabilities of the Multinational North-East Corps.

The meeting was also attended by Lithuania's Chief of Defense General Valdemaras Rupsys.

The commander of the NATO Multinational North-East Corps came to congratulate the Lithuanian army on its 105th restoration anniversary and to take part in the parade of Lithuanian and allied military equipment and troops on Saturday.

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Lithuanian MP Gapsys appeals sentence in political corruption case

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS – MP Vytautas Gapsys on Friday appealed to the Supreme Court of Lithuania against the sentence handed down to him by the Court of Appeal in the so-called MG Grupe political corruption case. 

"The appeal has already been filed," he told BNS. 

The MP asks for a full acquittal and a stay of execution of the Court of Appeal's sentence until the case is heard by the Supreme Court.

On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal reversed the ruling of the first instance court and convicted all defendants in the high-profile political corruption case centering around MG Grupe (former MG Baltic), one of Lithuania's biggest business groups.

The court found Gapsys, a member of the Labor Party's political group in the parliament, guilty of influence peddling and bribery, and sentenced him to four years and six months in prison. 

It also imposed a five-year ban on Gapsys on holding any elected or appointed position in state or municipal institutions and bodies, companies, and non-state organizations, and ordered him to pay 8,000 euros.

The court found that Raimondas Kurlianskis, a former MG Baltic vice-president, had asked Gapsys to use his position as an MP and his influence on his fellow Labor Party members to influence other public officials.  

In exchange, Gapsys received bribes disguised as an additional 12,100- euro discount for the Labor Party's political advertising and a 15,000 donation to Meno ir Sporto Projektai (Art and Sport Projects), a limited liability public legal entity, according to the court's press release.

Also convicted in this case are Kurlianskis, Eligijus Masiulis, a former MP and chairman of the Liberal Movement, former MPs Sarunas Gustainis and Gintaras Steponavicius, and MG Baltic, the Liberal Movement and the Labor Party as legal entities.

 

 

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Construction of most modern car park near Via Baltica begins in Lithuania

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – The construction of a modern parking and rest area of about 11 hectares has started on the section of the Via Baltica motorway, which is being reconstructed, near the Marijampole-Kybartai road junction, the Lithuanian Road Administration said on Friday, adding hat this will be the most modern rest and parking area in the country.

The new site will have separate areas for goods vehicles, cars, electric vehicles, camper vans, four charging stations for electric vehicles, a building with toilets and showers, and a recreation area. 

The site will be installed by the middle of next year by Fegda and Tilsta, part of the Fegda business group that is reconstructing the Via Baltica section from 56.83 to 72.5 km. The Lithuanian Road Administration signed a contract worth 223.6 million euros, including VAT, with the two companies in June.

This section is the longest and the most technically complex, the LRA said.

Another site is scheduled to be installed next year when the Via Baltica section from 85 to 97 km will be reconstructed. The tender for the contractor is currently under way.

The Via Baltica between Marijampole and the Polish border is one of the busiest sections in Lithuania as almost 14,000 cars a day drive along it every day and half of them are freight vehicles.

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Ukraine's victory is existential issue for the Baltics – Landsbergis in Tallinn

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS - Ukraine's victory is an existential issue not only for the Baltic states but also for the West, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said at the 29th Baltic Council meeting in Tallinn on Friday.

"In 2024, we will have to continue devoting a lot of time and effort to managing crises and preventing their consequences and aftermath. But even worse scenarios are possible, which could directly affect the security of the Baltic states. Today, they no longer seem unrealistic," Lithuania's top diplomat said. "At the moment, the rules-based order is being defended in Ukraine. Therefore, Ukraine's victory is an existential issue not only for the Baltic states but also for the West, and our support for Ukraine's fight is a top priority in the short term."

The signs of war fatigue are becoming more visible in the West's posture, he added.

"However, war fatigue is a phenomenon characteristic of societies living in peace. If war fatigue were to overwhelm Ukraine, it would cease to exist. We have to fight this as the West has the structural power to give Ukraine the support it needs to win," Landsbergis said.

The presence of US and NATO forces in the Baltic sates is a key element of the Baltic region's security and defense, he said. 

"We must work towards a permanent US military presence in the Baltic region. But alliances must be mutually beneficial. Therefore, we must be where the US has its eyes on. We need to strengthen cooperation with like-minded partners in the India-Pacific region," Lithuania's top diplomat said.

He also stressed the need to continue putting pressure on Russia through sanctions and to remain active shapers of the EU sanction policy.

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Lithuania made right decisions in responding to threats – NATO corps commander

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – Lithuania has made the right decisions in responding to increased threats, Lieutenant General Jurgen-Joachim von Sandrart, commander of NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast, said in Vilnius on Friday.  

"Lithuania is a nation that is well prepared (and) has taken, from my point of view, the right decisions to get even more prepared in close coordination with all Baltic states, with the neighbor Poland and the nations that are engaged there, for example, Germany, which I'm happy about, but also the Americans, the Dutch, the Norwegians, they are all here," von Sandrart told reporters.

The Multinational Corps Northeast commander, accompanied by Lithuania's Chief of Defense General Valdemaras Rupsys, on Friday inspected the military equipment being prepared for Saturday's parade marking the 105th anniversary of the Lithuanian Armed Forces.  

The Lithuanian Armed Forces' Vilkas infantry fighting vehicles and PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers, the US Army's Abrams tanks, Bradley IFVs and Paladin self-propelled howitzers, and the Bundeswehr's Leopard tanks, and Puma and Marder IFVs have already been lined up for the parade.

"That shows how far we have come with regard to the integrated, collective cooperation that is built on trust and friendship," the NATO general said, pointing to the military equipment. 

"Lithuania is a front nation. You have a common border with Kaliningrad, which is Russia, you have a common borderline with Belarus, which we consider being highly influenced by Russia, so you have a completely different threat perception that is real and you have reacted properly," he said.

Rupsys said that the military parade has to send a message of deterrence to the enemy by showing that "we are strong, we are united and NATO is strong", and a message of security to the people. 

"Our message to the people is, first and foremost, that they are safe," the chief of defense said. 

"Let's build houses and have children, big families, so that we live in joy, students study and schoolchildren are happy and calm, knowing that we, the Armed Forces, soldiers and allies, are committed to defending our state," he said. 

Von Sandrart came to Vilnius to congratulate the Lithuanian Armed Forces on their 105th anniversary and to participate in the parade of Lithuanian and allied military personnel and equipment. 

Headquarters Multinational Corps Northeast is responsible for Allied Land Command operations, including the deployment of the NATO Response Force in the northeastern part of the Alliance. It provides coordination to NATO capabilities deployed in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

 

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Minister asks president to strip Liepa of Lithuanian citizenship

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite on Friday formally asked President Gitanas Nauseda to strip Ilze Liepa, a Russian ballet dancer, of her Lithuanian citizenship granted by way of exception.  

In Lithuanian authorities' assessment, Liepa, through her actions and public statements, poses a threat to Lithuania's security interests and openly expresses support for the aggressor state Russia, the Interior Ministry said in a press release.   

The initiative to deprive Liepa, who holds both Lithuanian and Russian passports, of her Lithuanian citizenship comes after the ballet dancer's interview with Russian media in which she condemned the Baltic states for their behavior and expressed her support for President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.

After Lithuania launched the procedure for revoking her citizenship, the ballet dancer said she had no intention of changing her stance.

The Migration Department, which was instructed by the Interior Ministry to start the citizenship revocation procedure, has received a response from the State Security Department (SSD) that by denying and publicly justifying Russia's war against Ukraine, Liepa openly denounces the Baltic states for their policies that are not in line with the Kremlin regime's interests.

"Liepa thus clearly expresses support for the international crimes committed by the Russian Federation and its aggressive foreign policy, which poses a threat to Lithuania's national security," according to the press release.

The SSD also says that Liepa is loyal to the Russian regime and could be used by Russian state institutions or intelligence services that operate against Lithuania.

In the Foreign Ministry's assessment, Liepa's statements and public information shared on social media platforms bolster the Russian regime's power, aiding in the spreading of the narrative of Russia as a "world savior", disparaging the Western world and its values, and emphasizing Russian "cultural superiority" over the West, which is fully in line with the Kremlin's propaganda.

In the Migration Department's assessment, in her public statements, Liepa identifies herself only as a Russian citizen and declares her allegiance to only one country, which is Russia.

According to the Interior Ministry, Liepa violates her oath of allegiance to Lithuania through her actions and discredits the name of Lithuania and poses a threat to national security interests by collaborating with a regime hostile to Lithuania.  

Under the Law on Citizenship, a person granted Lithuanian citizenship by way of exception may lose it if their actions pose a threat to Lithuania's security interests and if the person publicly express support for a state that poses a threat to the security interests of Lithuania or other EU member states, or of their allies.

Based on this provision, Nauseda has stripped Margarita Drobiazko of her Lithuanian citizenship. The Russian ice dancer, together with her Lithuanian husband Povilas Vanagas, participated in projects organized by the wife of Russian president's press secretary.

Regarding the revocation of Liepa's citizenship, Nauseda said previously that he was waiting for the Interior Ministry's formal request and the Citizenship Commission's recommendations.

The daughter of Maris Liepa, a Soviet-era Latvian-born ballet dancer, was granted Lithuanian citizenship by way of exception in 2000.

It was stated at the time that the Moscow Bolshoi Theater soloist had been granted citizenship for her collaboration of more than a decade with Lithuanian ballet performer Petras Skirmantas.

 

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Convicts in MG Grupe corruption case in Lithuania transferred to Kaunas prison

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – The three convicts in the high-profile MG Grupe (formerly known as MG Baltic) political corruption case – Raimondas Kurlianskis, Vytautas Gapsys and Eligijus Masiulis – were transferred to a prison in Lithuania's second-largest city of Kaunas on Friday afternoon.

From there, they will be moved to specific places of serving their prison terms, a law enforcement source told BNS.

All three convicts reported themselves to the police on Friday after the Lithuanian Court of Appeal earlier this week overturned the decision of the court of first instance and handed them ral prison sentences.

Raimondas Kurlianskis, a former MG Baltic vice-president, was sentenced to six years in prison and fines more than 18,800 euros. 

Gapsys, a Labor Party MP, was guilty of influence peddling and pribery and sentenced to four years and six months in prison and a fine of 8,000 euros.

Masiulis, a former leader of the Liberal Movement, was sentenced to five years an six months in prison and was fined 241,500 euros. 

The Prison Service earlier told BNS that the convicts would be delivered to the Kaunas prison and then, within 10 days, relocated to specific incarceration facilities.

According to the service, Kurlianskis may be moved to the prison facilities in Pravieniskes, Alytus, Marjampole or Vilnius, and Masiulis and Gapsys will most likely remain in Kaunas.

According to the case materials, bribes were given to politicians both in the form of cash or donations to public establishments, and even an invitation to appear on a TV program was deemed bribery. The Court of Appeal also found that a bottle of vodka and a bottle box containing money were also bribes given to Masiulis.

By Ingrida Steniulienė

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Lithuanian PM meets with Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv, vows energy sector support

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte met with her Ukrainian counterpart Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv and vowed Lithuania's support to Ukraine's energy sector as the country continues to fight against Russian invasion.

Russia will again target Ukraine's energy facilities and other civilian infrastructure this winter, and Lithuania vows to continue supporting this sector, Simonyte said.

The two prime ministers also signed a joint declaration expressing support for Ukraine's European and Euro-Atlantic integration aspirations and stressing the need to hold Russia accountable for systemic war crimes and other crimes.

Simonyte also stated that Lithuania would continue supporting Ukraine's aspirations to join the its EU and NATO.

"We are ready to provide all available expertise, administrative capacity-building and other assistance to ensure that Ukraine's progress in implementing the necessary reforms, which is already significant despite the difficulties caused by the war, will allow it to start EU accession negotiations as soon as possible," Simonyte said.

The prime ministers also discussed Ukraine's current defense needs, the use of Russian assets frozen and immobilized by the existing Western sanctions for the reconstruction of Ukraine, and the importance of European solutions in this area.

Earlier in the day, Simonyte paid tribute to those who have died defending Ukraine against Russia.

"At my first stop in Kyiv today, I paid respects to men and women who sacrificed their lives defending the most fundamental rights of a nation: to exist and to live in freedom," Simonyte posted on the X social platform. 

"They gave their lives to also defend all of us. The only way to achieve lasting and just peace is by helping Ukraine win as soon as possible, regain its full territorial integrity, serve international justice, and rebuild stronger," she added. 

The Lithuanian prime minister will stay in Kyiv until Saturday. She is also to meet with the community of the Center for Baltic Studies at Taras Shevchenko National University and attend a ceremony to commemorate the victims of the Holodomor.

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LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, November 23, 2023
2. Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
3. Lithuanian PM to leave for Ukraine Thursday 
4. Germany to send around 4,800 troops, 200 civilian staff to Lithuania – ambassador
5. Lithuania reports 881 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death
6. Strong winds restrict shipping at Lithuanian seaport, trees block roads
7. 6 out of 10 people in Lithuania back citizenship retention – poll
8. Lithuanian MP Gapsys says not quitting, for now, after political corruption sentence 
9. Decision on Lithuanian MP Gapsys' impeachment depends on Supreme Court – speaker 
10. Lithuanian PM to travel to Ukraine to meet with its leaders  (updates)
11. Lithuanian parlt to approve 2024 state budget December 5
12. Lithuanian lawmakers discussed 2024 state budget for 2nd time
13. Bad weather causes two delays at Vilnius, Palanga Airports
14. Lithuanian MP Grazulis questioned as suspect in LGBTIQ contempt case
15. US, European committees condemn escalation of violence after Hamas attack
16. Ex-minister Linkevicius proposed for Lithuania's ambassador to Sweden 
17. Lithuanian president urges formin to 'calm down' after he warns of Russian threat
18. Guilty verdict in MG Grupe case will have political consequences – Lithuanian president
19. Lithuanian president: thieves of valuable 19th century books will be severely punished
20. Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, November 24, 2023

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Thursday, November 23, 2023

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Thursday, November 23, 2023: 

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to open the Transport Innovation Forum at the Litexpo Exhibition Centre at 9 a.m.; to attend an event marking the Lithuanian Armed Forces Day at 10 a.m.; to meet with Vilnius District Mayor Robert Duchnevic at 11:45, to be followed by comments to the media at 1:15 p.m. 

The SEIMAS to hold plenary sittings starting at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The Seimas to host at 9:30 an international conference on "The situation of young researchers in the Baltic States: Development or waste of future scientific potential?", preceded by a news conference at 9 a.m. 

The Labor Party's political group to meet with FOREIGN MINISTER Gabrielius Landsbergis at 1 p.m.  

PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte to participate in the so-called "government hour" at the Seimas at noon.

CULTURE MINISTER Simonas Kairys to attend a meeting of EU culture ministers in Brussels.

OTHER EVENTS

Vilnius officials to hold a news conference at 10 a.m. to present the program for the festive period in the capital.

 

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Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus

VILNIUS, Nov 23, 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 no attempts at illegal border crossings on Wednesday either. Seven irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Tuesday, according to the latest available information.

A total of 2,473 irregular migrants have been barred from entering Lithuania from Belarus at non-designated places so far this year.

Lithuanian border guards have prevented a total of over 21,800 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 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.

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Lithuanian PM to leave for Ukraine Thursday 

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte is set to leave for Ukraine on Thursday for a several-day visit.

The agenda of her visit has not yet been made public.

Simonyte is to depart for Ukraine on Thursday afternoon. Prior to that, she is scheduled to participate in the parliament's session.

According to the prime minister's decree, her visit to Ukraine is scheduled for Thursday through Sunday.

 

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Germany to send around 4,800 troops, 200 civilian staff to Lithuania – ambassador

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS – With Berlin planning to deploy a brigade in Lithuania, Cornelius Zimmermann, Germany's ambassador in Vilnius, said on Thursday that about 4,800 troops and 200 civilian personnel will arrive in the country.

"I can inform you that we are planning to send about 4,800 soldiers and 200 civilian staff," he told the Ziniu Radijas radio station on Thursday.

The deployment "will come in stages", according to Zimmermann.

"I think there's no use in having soldiers without housing, but there's no use in having housing without soldiers. So I think it makes sense to build, step by step, the presence of German soldiers in Lithuania," the diplomat said.  

"So, what you need is very good coordination between the two sides and I think that's just what's happening," he added. 

However, the ambassador emphasized that the negotiations are still ongoing and he cannot disclose further details.

Berlin intends to deploy its brigade in Lithuania over the next few years, with an interstate agreement on this matter expected to be signed next year.

The plan is to station a tank battalion, two maneuver battalions, an artillery battalion, and a logistics battalion in Lithuania.

Vilnius and Berlin are currently negotiating what infrastructure Lithuania will have to provide for the incoming German troops.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has said that Lithuania will have to put in place not only military infrastructure, but also social infrastructure, such as schools, kindergartens and leisure facilities.

The ambassador said that schools are needed because "we have to assume that our soldiers will not just stay for a couple of years". 

"This is a long-term investment. We want our soldiers and their families to feel at home. We also want them to create bonds with the Lithuanian people," he said.

Germany has also been leading NATO's multinational battle group in Lithuania since 2017. 

 

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Lithuania reports 881 new COVID-19 cases, 1 death

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS – Lithuania has recorded 881 new coronavirus infections and three deaths from COVID-19 over the past 24 hours, official statistics showed on Thursday morning.

The 14-day primary infection rate has risen to 317  cases per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests at 35.1 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.

COVID-19 incidence in Lithuania took an upward turn in mid-September after having stayed at a low level since May. 

Two-thirds of the country's population have received at least one coronavirus vaccine jab so far, according to the statistics.

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Strong winds restrict shipping at Lithuanian seaport, trees block roads

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS –  The Lithuanian seaport of Klaipeda is restricting ship traffic, and fire and rescue teams are working to clear trees blocking roads amid heavy snow and winds on Thursday morning.

The Klaipeda port authority told BNS that the restrictions had been in place since Wednesday evening, with winds of 30 m/s recorded at the port last night.

Thursday morning saw winds reaching 20 m/s at the port, with gusts up to 26 m/s. 

The authority said one vessel was waiting for permission to enter and one was waiting to leave it. 

Due to the high winds, fire and rescue services report having to clear trees blocking roads, mostly in the western part of Lithuania.

Meteorologists advise people to postpone non-essential travel on Thursday due to the challenging weather conditions.

Energijos Skirstymo Operatorius (ESO) told BNS that 7,800 consumers were without electricity at 8 a.m. on Thursday due to the strong winds and snow overnight.  

Rasa Juodkiene, the power distribution company's spokeswoman, said that more than 400 faults had been registered across the country.

She said the situation was worst in the Klaipeda region, where over 5,000 consumers were without power in the morning.

 

By Jurgita Andriejauskaitė

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6 out of 10 people in Lithuania back citizenship retention – poll

VILNIUS, No 23, BNS - Six out of 10 Lithuanian citizens support the retention of Lithuanian citizenship after acquiring citizenship of another friendly country, according to a poll by Baltijos Tyrimai for the public broadcaster LRT, conducted six months before the upcoming referendum.

People were asked whether they supported or opposed to the retention of citizenship by existing Lithuanian citizens after they acquire citizenship of countries friendly to Lithuania. This list includes countries of the European Union, NATO, the European Economic Area and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

According to the survey, 60 percent support the retention of Lithuanian citizenship by existing Lithuanian citizens after acquiring citizenship of a country friendly to Lithuania. 26 percent disagreed, while another 14 percent had no opinion or did not answer the question.

The poll involved 1,013 Lithuanian residents aged 18 and over between October 23 and November 7.

BNS reminds that the referendum on the legalization of multiple citizenship will take place on May 12, alongside the first round of the presidential election. People will be invited to vote on the following provision of the Constitution: "Citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania shall be acquired by birth and on other grounds and in the manner prescribed by the constitutional law. The constitutional law shall also lay down the grounds and procedure for loss of citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania."

This would remove the prohibition of dual citizenship from the country's basic law. 

The detailed conditions, procedures and other matters relating to the acquisition and loss of dual citizenship would be laid down by a constitutional law. A draft law has already been prepared and registered in the draft legislation database.

Lithuania held a referendum on dual citizen back in 2019 in conjunction with the presidential election and it sought to provide for more possibilities to have dual citizenship, but there were not enough votes for such a change. At that time, over 956,000 voters in total voted in favor of the proposed amendment.

Lithuanians who emigrated after the restoration of independence on March 11, 1990 are currently not eligible for dual citizenship, with some exceptions.

The Constitutional Court has clarified that only a referendum amending the Constitution can open the possibility of dual citizenship to Lithuanian citizens who have acquired citizenship of other countries since the restoration of Lithuania's independence.

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Lithuanian MP Gapsys says not quitting, for now, after political corruption sentence 

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS – Vytautas Gapsys, a Labor Party MP convicted in the MG Grupe political corruption case, said on Thursday that he is not stepping down, at least for now. 

"I'm not resigning from the Seimas for now," Gapsys told reporters at the parliament. 

"I've spoken with my lawyer. At this point, we're waiting for the first decisions of the cassation court, and then I think the situation will be clearer both for the parliament and myself," he said. 

The MP confirmed plans to file a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court of Lithuania on Friday and request a suspension of the execution of the judgment.

On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal reversed the ruling of the first instance court and convicted all defendants in the high-profile political corruption case centering around MG Grupe (former MG Baltic), one of Lithuania's biggest business groups.

Gapsys was sentenced to four years and six months in prison. The MP, along with the Labor Party as a legal entity, was convicted of accepting a bribe from Raimondas Kurlianskis, a former MG Baltic vice-president.

The discounts granted by the group's TV stations for the Labor Party's political advertising and support for Meno ir Sporto Projektai (Art and Sport Projects), a limited liability public legal entity, were deemed as bribes.

According to law-enforcement, Gapsys acted in the interests of MG Grupe in exchange for a 27,100-euro bribe.

Other defendants in the case were handed prison sentences and fines of thousands of euros.

 

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Decision on Lithuanian MP Gapsys' impeachment depends on Supreme Court – speaker 

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS – The decision on the impeachment of MP Vytautas Gapsys will depend on whether the Supreme Court of Lithuania accepts his cassation appeal and delays the execution of his sentence, Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, speaker of the parliament, said on Thursday. 

"It will depend on the Supreme Court's decision on whether to accept and grant the request to suspend the sentence's execution. It's impossible to foresee this now," she told reporters. 

On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal reversed the ruling of the first instance court and convicted all defendants in the high-profile political corruption case centering around MG Grupe (former MG Baltic), one of Lithuania's biggest business groups.

Gapsys was sentenced to four years and six months in prison. The MP, along with the Labor Party as a legal entity, was convicted of accepting a bribe from Raimondas Kurlianskis, a former MG Baltic vice-president.

The discounts granted by the group's TV stations for the Labor Party's political advertising and support for Meno ir Sporto Projektai (Art and Sport Projects), a limited liability public legal entity, were deemed as bribes.

According to law-enforcement, Gapsys acted in the interests of MG Grupe in exchange for a 27,100-euro bribe.

Gapsys, a member of the Labor Party's political group in the Seimas, said on Thursday that he was not resigning as MP, at least for now.

He confirmed plans to file a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court of Lithuania on Friday and request a suspension of the execution of the judgment. 

Cmilyte-Nielsen also said that the parliament had not yet received the court's verdict, which it would need to initiate the impeachment procedure against Gapsys. 

Other defendants in the case were handed prison sentences and fines of thousands of euros.

Among those convicted is the Liberal Movement, led by the speaker of the Seimas. 

 

By Augustas Stankevičius

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Lithuanian PM to travel to Ukraine to meet with its leaders  (updates)

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte is leaving on Thursday for a several-day visit to Ukraine, where she will meet with the country's leaders. 

The agenda of her visit has not yet been made public.

Simonyte is to depart for Ukraine on Thursday afternoon. Prior to that, she is scheduled to participate in the parliament's session.

"I'll meet with Ukrainian leaders, and on Saturday, I'll participate in the Ukrainian Grain initiative inaugurated last year by President (Volodymyr) Zelensky," she told reporters on Thursday.

When asked what she plans to discuss in Ukraine, Simonyte said that "all topics" will be covered.

According to the prime minister's decree, her visit to Ukraine is scheduled for Thursday through Sunday.

 

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Lithuanian parlt to approve 2024 state budget December 5

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS – The Seimas of Lithuania plans to approve the country's 2024 state budget on December 5 after 79 lawmakers in favor of that on Thursday, four were against and 29 abstained.

The increase in funding for roads and other needs raises budget spending by 111 million euros to 20.6 billion euros. As a result, its deficit will go up from the initially planned 2.9 to 3 percent of GDP, the limit of the Maastricht criterion.

872 million euros will be allocated for roads next year, 157 million euros more than previously planned.

By Sniegė Balčiūnaitė

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Lithuanian lawmakers discussed 2024 state budget for 2nd time

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS - The Seimas of Lithuania on Thursday discussed the 2024 state budget bill for the second time.

"The key priorities remain unchanged, which is increasing people's incomes, strengthening national security and promoting investments that contribute to higher added value," Finance Minister Gintare Skaiste told lawmakers, presenting the bill that was slightly adjusted by the government on Wednesday.

Certain needs are being met "at the expense of increased public borrowing," she said.

"After a fair assessment of the available possibilities, the improved bill provides additional funds for investments into roads, for cultural and educational needs and for raising people's incomes," the minister said.

Following the adjustment, budget revenue dropped by 30 million euros to 16.98 billion euros and expenditure rose by 111 million to 20.6 billion euros, compared to the initial version. This has led to the increase in the budget deficit from 2.9 to 3 percent, the upper limit of the Maastricht criteria, meaning that spending can no longer be increased.

The government has allocated an additional 157 million euros for roads, taking into account the conclusions of MPs and committees.

By Sniegė Balčiūnaitė

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Bad weather causes two delays at Vilnius, Palanga Airports

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS – Despite bad weather conditions, airports in Lithuania operate normally on Thursday, but two flights have been delayed, Tadas Vasiliauskas, a spokesman for Lietuvos oro Uostai (Lithuanian Airports, LTOU), told BNS.

A flight from Riga to Vilnius was delayed on Thursday and a flight from Copenhagen could not land in Palanga.

"The flight from Riga to Vilnius just didn't arrive, but now the flight has arrived. And a plane from Copenhagen did not land due to the wind after midnight at Palanga Airport, but it will land at a later time," Vasiliauskas told BNS. 

According to the Palanga Airport website, the SAS flight from Copenhagen landed shortly after 11 a.m.

Despite bad weather, there are no major disruptions, Vasiliauskas said.

"We have not had major disruptions, no major challenges since this morning, and we operate as usual," he said.

By Valdas Pryšmantas

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Lithuanian MP Grazulis questioned as suspect in LGBTIQ contempt case

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS – Formal suspicions of expressing contempt for members of the LGBTIQ community have been brought against Lithuanian PM Petras Grazulis. 

Grazulis has confirmed to BNS that he was questioned by the police as a suspect on Thursday. 

 

By Jūratė Skėrytė

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US, European committees condemn escalation of violence after Hamas attack

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS - The chairs of the Foreign and European Affairs Committees of the parliaments of more than 20 countries have signed a joint statement on anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim bigotry, the Lithuanian parliament's press service said on Thursday.

In the statement, the chairs of the 24 committees from the US and European countries, including Lithuania, condemn the spread of hatred and violence in their countries and around the world following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.

"We are witnessing an alarming rise in anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim bigotry and violence that has included acts of online hate, verbal assaults, vandalism, desecration of Holocaust memorials and cemeteries, intimidation, death threats, and physical attacks," the joint statement reads.

Antisemitic hate crime investigations have tripled in New York and London over the past month, in comparison to last year. In France, the Interior Ministry documented 1,040 antisemitic incidents in the month following the October 7 attack. Jewish and Muslim community organizations have reported even more incidents throughout our countries, the document states.

The signatories are urging their governments to intensify all efforts to safeguard Jewish and Muslim communities, to condemn these actions when they occur, and to implement our national strategies to combat the dark tide of bigotry and hatred.

The joint statement was initiated by Ben Cardin, the chair of the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, in cooperation with Zygimantas Pavilionis, chair for the Lithuanian Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs. The document was also signed by the chairs of the Foreign or European Affairs Committees from Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, the European Parliament, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Moldova, Norway, Spain, Iceland, Sweden, the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Ukraine.

"The axis of evil is the same today, so both Hamas and Putin must lose and we must all focus accordingly. I am pleased that the new chair of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Cardin, who initiated the first Magnitsky sanctions against the Putin regime back in 2012, has been on the side of liberty and democracy with Lithuania for decades," Pavilionis said.

On October 7, the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack against Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking around 240 hostages, according to local officials.

Israel retaliated with massive bombardments and ground operations in the Gaza Strip, which have already killed 14,100 people, including thousands of children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.

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Ex-minister Linkevicius proposed for Lithuania's ambassador to Sweden 

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS – Linas Linkevicius, a former Lithuanian foreign minister, is proposed for the post of the country's ambassador to Sweden, according to a draft government resolution registered by the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday.

If appointed, he will take office on January 15.

The process of appointing an ambassador usually becomes public after the government registers draft legal acts on their formal nomination for the position. 

Back in 2021, there were plans to send Linkevicius to the US, but President Gitanas Nauseda then said that he could not appoint former foreign and defense ministers as ambassadors to Washington and Brussels, because they needed a period of "political cooling-off". 

The president said in mid-September that Linkevicius had "cooled off" enough to head an embassy. 

The position of Lithuania's ambassador to Sweden has been vacant since diplomat Giedrius Cekuolis completed his term on August 31.

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 as 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 parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs.

 

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Lithuanian president urges formin to 'calm down' after he warns of Russian threat

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda on Thursday called on Gabrielius Landsbergis to "sit down and calm down" after the foreign minister said recently that efforts to stop Russia in Ukraine are failing and Moscow may take military action against NATO countries.

"Nothing has happened in recent weeks or days that we did not know before. However, (...) suddenly things started to be exaggerated," Nauseda told reporters. 

"I'd suggest that the foreign minister just sit down and calm down," he added. 

The minister has said recently that Lithuania's should prepare for a scenario where Russia is not stopped in Ukraine and will continue its fight against NATO countries, underlining the need for immediate strategic decisions to bolster the country's security.

 

By Augustas Stankevičius

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Guilty verdict in MG Grupe case will have political consequences – Lithuanian president

VILNIUS, Nov, 23, BNS – The guilty verdict in the high-profile political corruption case will have political consequences, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says, adding that it will help to clean up the political system and help people to believe in justice in Lithuania again.

"Indeed, yesterday's court judgment, I respect it and it is a matter of the court's competence, will undoubtedly have political consequences," Nauseda told reporters in Nemencine on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the Court of Appeal reversed the ruling of the court of first instance and convicted all defendants in the high-profile political corruption case centering around MG Grupe (former MG Baltic), one of Lithuania's biggest business groups. Some of the defendants were given prison terms.

Raimondas Kurlianskis, a former MG Baltic vice-president, was sentenced to six years in prison and he was fined 25,000 euros. Eligijus Masiulis, the former leader of the Liberal Movement, which is now part of the ruling block, was given a prison term of five years and six months.

MG Grupe, the Liberal Movement and the opposition Labor Party, whose member was one of the defendants, were fined more than 1.1 million euros, almost 377,000 euros and more than 301,000 euros respectively.

 According to the case materials, bribes were given to politicians both in the form of cash or donations to public establishments, and even an invitation to appear on a TV program was deemed bribery. The Court of Appeal also found that a bottle of vodka and a bottle box containing money were also bribes given to Masiulis.

Nauseda likened the situation to the European spruce bark beetle, a pest that causes great damage to forests, saying that "a European spruce bark beetle has made its way through our political forest", but he hopes that stability in the state will be preserved.

The president also hopes that this would help clean up "in the medium and long term".

As the opposition earlier on Thursday called on the leader of the Liberal Movement, Speaker of the Seimas Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, to check whether she still has the confidence of the parliament, Nauseda said that "this is a matter of the ruling coalition".

The Court of Appeal's verdict entered into force immediately, on the day of its publication, but can still be appealed to the Supreme Court of Lithuania. Some of those convicted in the political corruption case have already said they will do so.

By Austėja Masiokaitė-Liubinienė

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Lithuanian president: thieves of valuable 19th century books will be severely punished

VILNIUS, Nov 23, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda hopes book thieves will be severely punished after seventeen valuable 19th century books were stolen from Vilnius University's reading rooms.

"Oh God. This is really big news and I hope the guilty will be punished. Such things should be punished severely," Nauseda told reporters in Nemencine on Thursday.

"Is this really what happened?" the president asked.

Lithuania's prosecution service, which is investigating the theft, told BNS earlier in the day that a pre-trial investigation found that Russian-language books of great historical and cultural value were stolen from several reading rooms at Vilnius University between May 11 and 17. They included works of Alexander Pushkin, Taras Shevchenko, Mikhail Lermontov and Nikolay Gogol.

The total value of the stolen books could be around 440,000 euros, prosecutors say.

Experts believe the stolen books ended up in Russia where at least some of them were sold in hastily organized auctions in Moscow.

It was reported earlier on Thursday that 19th-century Russian literature works, worth millions of euros worth, had been stolen in Poland and other Baltic countries over the past two years as thieves replaced the originals on library shelves with forgeries.

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, November 24, 2023

VILNIUS, Nov 24, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Thursday, November 24, 2023:

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to meet with Lieutenant General Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart , commander of NATO's Multinational Corps Northeast at 10 a.m.

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to attend a meting of the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly and the speakers of the national parliaments of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in Tallinn at 9 a.m.

CULTURE MINISTER Simonas Kairys to attend a meeting of EU culture ministers in Brussels,

FOREIGN MINISTER Gabrielius Landsbergis to pay a working visit to Tallinn to attend a meeting of the Baltic Council of Ministers.

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