LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN, June 6, 2024

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
Lithuanian PM vows to nominate candidate for educmin next week
Ruling coalition in agreement on key parts of Defense Fund – Lithuanian PM
Lithuanian MPs to vote on expanding credibility criteria for NATO procurement
Mediaskopas to present study on Russian propaganda coverage of Lithuanian energy sector
Almost 1,500 foreigners lose residence permits in Lithuania in May
European TSOs positive about Baltics' preparedness for synchronization – Lithuanian PM
Inspectors get into Russian businessman Borisov's suspected firing range near Trakai
MET Group confirms plans to buy controlling stake in Lithuania's Achema Group
Jehovah's Witnesses fail to get state recognition in Lithuania
Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT's director to be elected by open ballot – Seimas
Baltic energy in Kremlin's propaganda spotlight – Mediaskopas
MET Group confirms plans to buy controlling stake in Lithuania's Achema Group (further expands)
Lithuanian parlt ratifies CoE Convention on Manipulation of Sports Competitions
Lithuanian president nominates Vaiksnoras for chief of defense
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, June 7, 2024

Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus

VILNIUS, Jun 06, 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 16 attempts at illegal border crossings on Wednesday, and 251 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Tuesday, according to the latest available information.

A total of 226 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.

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Lithuanian PM vows to nominate candidate for educmin next week

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS – Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte vows to submit the nomination of a new education minister to the president next week, but says it is not a matter of high priority.

"I think I will be ready to present it next week, but I don't think it is a very critical issue," she told the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Thursday.

On Tuesday, the prime minister met with President Gitanas Nauseda for the first time since the presidential election.

Nauseda told the LRT's Dienos Tema last week it could be difficult to find a candidate for education minister who would only work for a few months before a new government is formed in the fall after the Seimas election.

Simonyte has voiced a similar position in the past.

Lithuania has not had a permanent education minister since April when Gintautas Jakstas stepped down following disagreements with the prime minister's team on how to deal with the problems of intermediate exams for 11th graders.

Social Security and Labor Minister Monika Navickiene is not an acting education minister.

Ministers in Lithuania are appointed by the president on the prime minister's nomination.

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Ruling coalition in agreement on key parts of Defense Fund – Lithuanian PM

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS – The ruling coalition is in agreement on the government's key proposals on ways to increase national defense funding, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte. For her part, Speaker of the Seimas Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen says the Defense Fund package contains many measures that have not been agreed upon within the coalition.

"There may be some individual elements, but they are certainly not essential. The essential elements that have been agreed upon are the change in the corporate income tax and the change in excise duties. Those changes are included as the main ones," Simonyte told the Ziniu Radijas news radio on Thursday.

Cmilyte-Nielsen, the leader of the Liberal Movement, part of the ruling bloc, said on Wednesday that "it would have been simpler" for the government "to present only those measures of the Defense Fund package that had been agreed by the coalition" as they would have to be adopted during the ongoing parliament session, which ends in June. The package contains many measures that have not been agreed in the coalition, she said.

According to the prime minister, there are "some disputes" among the coalition partners regarding the government's proposal to take 25 million euros each year from the share of the personal income tax given to municipalities and spend it on civil protection, but these disagreements can be resolved.

"I don't think these disputes are dramatic," the prime minister said. "We will probably have discussions to see what else can be changed as there were some other suggestions from individual colleagues during the Cabinet meeting. Let's move the debate to the Committee on Budget and Finance and hopefully find an optimal solution there."

The government, which is asking the parliament to discuss the package as a matter of urgency, is proposing raising raise additional funds for defense by increasing the corporate tax rate by 1 percent from the existing 15 percent, and also upping the existing reduced corporate tax rate for small companies by 1 percentage point to 6 percent, scrapping special corporate tax breaks for the insurance and health sectors, and removing the limitation of car deductions linked to greenery.

In addition, it is proposing getting back to government's previous initiative to more than halve the annual income threshold for those with a business license from 45,000 to 20,000 euros. Those earning more than 20,000 euros would be required to register a sole proprietorship, with no change in the latter's taxation.

Moreover, the plan is to raise excise duties on alcohol and tobacco over the upcoming three years, and also introduce a 6 percent (5 percent excise duty and 1 percent VAT) "defense component" per liter of all types of fuel.

The government is also proposing borrowing through defense bonds and notes from natural persons and legal entities but the cost of borrowing must not exceed 2 percent.

Also, it is proposed to allocate 25 million euros from the share of residential income tax received by local municipalities to civil protection.

The Defense Fund would also include the existing temporary bank solidarity levy, which was extended for another years on Thursday.

The package also includes a proposal to introduce a 10 percent contribution on insurance contracts without applying it to life insurance and civil liability insurance of natural persons.

For the full Defense Fund package to enter into force in January, it needs to be adopted by the Seimas at least half a year earlier, i.e., during the current session.

According to the Finance Ministry, once adopted by the parliament, the changes could result in additional revenue for the state budget of 297.8 million euros in 2025, 421.2 million euros in 2026 and 436.5 million euros in 2027.

Lithuania aims to increase its defense funding to 3 percent of GDP to step up the establishment of an army division, to accommodate the German brigade assigned to Lithuania, and to prepare for the universal conscription.

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Lithuanian MPs to vote on expanding credibility criteria for NATO procurement

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS – The Lithuanian parliament is expected to decide on Thursday whether to uphold President Gitanas Nauseda's veto and expand the criteria for declarations of assurance for NATO procurement.

The parliamentary Committee on National Security and Defense approved Nauseda's proposals on the eve of the vote.

The president suggests including a condition that a declaration of assurance is issued only if the company seeking to participate in NATO tenders or persons related to it have not been found in violation of international sanctions or restrictive measures in the last three years.

"The president's proposed wording would cover all cases where legal entities, their managers or chief accountants have violated international sanctions," Simonas Mirksys, an advisor in the president's legal team, told the committee on Wednesday.

The parliament last month amended the Framework Law on the Issuance of Declarations of Assurance to Legal Entities to Participate in NATO Tenders to clarify the criteria for issuing such declarations.

However, Nauseda vetoed the amendments, saying that they limit the possibility of banning entities that have violated international sanctions from bidding for NATO contracts.

The president noted that the declaration of assurance is an important document that confirms the financial, technical, professional, and security reliability of a legal entity seeking to participate in NATO tenders.

However, the amendments "essentially narrow the grounds on which a declaration of assurance can be withheld from entities that have violated international sanctions", the president's office has said in a press release.

The declaration of assurance confirms the financial, technical, professional and security credibility of a legal entity, allowing it to participate in NATO tenders. These declarations can only be issued to legal entities that meet strict reliability criteria, including impeccable reputation, transparent operations, and loyalty to Lithuania.

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Mediaskopas to present study on Russian propaganda coverage of Lithuanian energy sector

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS – Mediaskopas, a media monitoring company, is to present on Thursday a study analyzing Russian propaganda reports on Lithuania's energy independence efforts.

Mediaskopas says it selected and analyzed 3,760 reports from Russian news websites between January 2021 and April 2024, which mentioned Lithuania and the other two Baltic countries in the context of energy issues.

"The study identified five narratives developed in the Russian media over the last three years," the company said in a press release.

"The reports consistently push the idea that the Baltic countries themselves are to blame for the surge in electricity and gas prices in 2022 due to their decision to withdraw from Russia's sphere of influence and synchronize their electrical systems with Western Europe," it said.

According to Mediaskopas, the Kremlin is trying to undermine confidence in green energy by claiming that it "will not save" the Baltic states.

The reports also portray Baltic politicians as implementing Washington's agenda and aiming to "impoverish their citizens and ruin businesses." This image stands in contrast to that of a "wealthy, generous Russia that has only benefited from Western sanctions against it".

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Almost 1,500 foreigners lose residence permits in Lithuania in May

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS – Some 1,483 foreigners were stripped of their Lithuanian residence permits by the country's Migration Department in May, mainly due to the failure to conclude or termination of an employment contract, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday.

12 persons lost their residence permits due to threats to state security or public order.

The Migration Department refused to issue or change temporary residence permits for 484 persons, including 31 cases having to do with threats to national security. In addition, 1,216 foreigners were refused entry to Lithuania.

As a result of identified abuses of immigration procedures, 42 companies are currently not allowed to provide mediation letters for the entry of foreigners, the ministry said.

The authorities checked 1,471 foreign nationals as part of tighter migration controls in May. Border guards carried out 61 inspections in May, 12 of which were carried out jointly with the police, the Migration Department, the State Labor Inspectorate and the State Tax Inspectorate.

During the inspections, 17 persons were found in breach of the Law on the Legal Status of Aliens.

A further 14 persons from Belarus, Pakistan, Georgia, Ukraine and other countries were sanctioned under the administrative procedure.

Currently, 219,506 foreigners have valid residence permits in Lithuania, including 115,790 temporary residence permits issued on the basis of employment.

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European TSOs positive about Baltics' preparedness for synchronization – Lithuanian PM

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS – With the Baltic states set to announce in August their plans to exit the common energy system with Russia and Belarus next February and connect to Western Europe, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte says that the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) has given positive feedback on the preparations.

"Coordination is ongoing with ENTSO-E because we not only want to join, but we need to be accepted. That preparedness is also considered good," Simonyte, who heads the government's commission overseeing the synchronization with the Continental European grid, told the Ziniu Radijas radio station on Thursday.

Lithuanian Energy Minister Dainius Kreivys has told BNS recently that there are no more obstacles for the Baltic countries to synchronize their power grids with the Continental European system early next year and to notify Moscow by August 7 of their withdrawal from the so-called BRELL ring, which also includes Belarus.

Simonyte said that the process is going "very much according to plan", with the necessary grid development projects being implemented without delays.

"There are many projects that are important for synchronization, and they being implemented on schedule," the prime minister told the radio station.

"I believe we are on the right track and will be able to make all the necessary decisions on time," she added.

Under the terms of the BRELL contract, notice of non-renewal must be given by August 7, six months before the synchronization and disconnection from the Russian IPS/UPS electricity system.

In August 2023, the Baltic prime ministers signed a declaration committing to synchronize the Baltic electricity grids with Western Europe by February 2025. The commitment was confirmed in December in a declaration signed by the European Commission and the Baltic and Polish ministers in charge of energy.

Earlier, synchronization with Europe was scheduled for the end of 2025.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Inspectors get into Russian businessman Borisov's suspected firing range near Trakai

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS - Building inspectors on Thursday entered a building in Lithuania's Trakai District, belonging to Russian businessman Yuri Borisov, where an underground firing range is allegedly located.

The State Territorial Planning and Construction Inspectorate plans to order the company managing the building to demolish it next week.

"The management of Geovika complied with the mandatory order…, we entered the building an measured it," Albertas Stanislovaitis, the head of the STPCI, told journalists on Thursday.

The building watchdog ordered Geovika to excavate the building by June 6, show it to the inspectors and submit all documents related to its construction.

"There is a 320 meter-long, concrete, two-meter high and two meter-wide structure underground. It is an elongated concrete structure that Geovika will have to legalize or demolish," Stanislovaitis said.

Back in 2016, the Environment Ministry said the STPCI had found an illegal underground structure in Trakai Distict, presumably a shooting range, on one of the plots of land owned by a company linked to Borisov. The latter was then obliged to demolish it by mid-May 2017.

The STPCI then turned to Vilnius Regional Court where in 2019 it failed to prove that Borisov had illegally installed an underground firing range in Trakai District.

The area in question is managed by Geovika, a company linked to Borisov. Its representatives say Irina and Yuri Borisov, the former owners of the plots in the villages of Vainiai and Zerebenai, did the construction work there.

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MET Group confirms plans to buy controlling stake in Lithuania's Achema Group

Updated version: updates throughout

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS - MET Group, a-Swiss-based energy company, has confirmed its plans to acquire a controlling stake in Achema Group, one of Lithuania's largest business groups.

MET Group will buy a 54.07 percent stake in the Lithuanian group, the company said on Thursday.

Such a stake is owned by Lyda Lubiene, Achema Group's main shareholder, and he daughter Viktorija Lubyte.

"We want a new prosperous era for Achema, and we are committed to developing solutions that are acceptable to all the stakeholders, based on a partnership philosophy," Benjamin Lakatos, chairman and CEO of MET Group, said in a statement.

To close the transaction, customary due diligence and regulatory approvals are required. Additionally, MET plans to reach an agreement with the minority shareholders.

"As a result, a longer process involving several legal and procedural steps is expected," the statement reads.

Citing unnamed sources, the Lithuanian delfi.lt news website reported in May that Lubiene would sell the controlling stake to MET Group. MET Group was reportedly more interested in Klasco, the largest stevedoring company in Klaipeda, rather then in the fertilizer business.

Lubiene owns 41.59 percent of Achema Group, her daughter has a 12.47 percent stake, and the rest is owns by 13 naturals persons.

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Jehovah's Witnesses fail to get state recognition in Lithuania

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS – Lithuanian lawmakers on Thursday denied state recognition to the Lithuanian Jehovah's Witnesses Religious Community after 88 MPs voted for such a decision, two were against and three abstained.

According to the Seimas, this community does not comply with the Constitution and the law's requirement that its teachings and rituals be in accordance with the law and integrity.

The resolution says that Jehovah's Witnesses' religious teaching prohibiting blood transfusions is incompatible with the constitutional right to life of a human being and the right to state guaranteed medical aid.

It also says that Jehovah's Witnesses' religious teaching prohibiting participation in the defense of the state with weapons or contribution to the defense of the state by non-military means, including military or alternative national defense service, encourages non-compliance with the Constitution and its requirements to defend the state against a foreign armed attack.

The resolution was drafted based on the conclusions of the Justice Ministry and experts.

The religious community, for its part, believes that it meets the requirements of the law and that the Justice Ministry's conclusions about its activities are untrue.

Before the vote, Jean-Benoit Smolarek, a representative of the community, told BNS that amendments to the Law on National Conscription are already being discussed in Parliament, which would provide for alternative civilian service.

"This measure, which stems from an obligation imposed on Lithuania by the European Court of Human Rights (Teliatnikov v. Lithuania, June 7, 2022, No. 51914/19), essentially refutes the Justice Ministry's argument that refusal to perform military service on the grounds of religious beliefs is unconstitutional," he said.

In his words, the European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly declared that the religious beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses, including those relating to the choice of medical treatment, are protected by the fundamental right to freedom of religion guaranteed by the Constitution and the European Convention, and, therefore, "these beliefs are in accordance with the law and are compatible with the values protected by the Constitution".

The community submitted its application for the status of a state recognized religion to the parliament back in 2017.

Under the Law on Religious Communities and Associations, non-traditional religious associations can be recognized by the state as part of Lithuania's historical, spiritual, and social heritage if they have public support and their teachings and rites do not contradict the law and morality.

State recognition means that the state supports the spiritual, cultural, and social heritage of the religious associations.

Jehovah's Witnesses' activities in the territory of present-day Lithuania started in the Klaipeda Region, or Memel Territory, back in 1912.

According to the 2021 census, 2,118 individuals, or 0.075 percent of Lithuania's population, identified themselves as adherents of this religion.

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Lithuania's public broadcaster LRT's director to be elected by open ballot – Seimas

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS - The Seimas of Lithuania on Thursday adopted amendments stating that the Council of the Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) will elect the public broadcaster's director general by an open ballot.

Under the old procedure, the LRT director is elected if at least seven of the 12 members of the Council vote for the candidate during a secret ballot.

The LRT Council is made up of 12 well-known public, scientific and cultural figures. Four members are appointed at different times by the president and the Seimas, and one member each is appointed by the Research Council of Lithuania, the Lithuanian Education Council, the Lithuanian Art Creators' Association and the Lithuanian Bishops' Conference.

The amendments also stipulate that Council members will have to resign from their positions in municipal councils and the European Parliament, and that mayors, the inspector of journalist Ethics, and members of the Ethics Commission for Public Information will not be allowed to become members of the Council.

Last year, the LRT Council managed to elect the director general after three attempts, sparking criticism. Culture Minister Simonas Kairys said at the time he would resign if the Council failed to appoint the director general after the third attempt.

Monika Garbaciauskaite-Budriene was then re-elected for her second term.

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Baltic energy in Kremlin's propaganda spotlight – Mediaskopas

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS – The energy sector in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia is constantly in the Kremlin's propaganda spotlight, Aidas Petrosius, head of business development at Mediaskopas said on Thursday while presenting the media monitoring company's study on Russian electronic media.

"Every economic difficulty (in the Baltic countries) or political disagreement is exploited and blown out of proportion," he said.

Mediaskopas selected and analyzed 3,760 reports from Russian news websites between January 2021 and April 2024, which mentioned Lithuania and the other two Baltic countries in the context of energy issues.

According to Petrosius, the study shows that reports on events in Lithuania or in the Baltic countries are usually republished with a change of tone and no mention of the war in Ukraine.

For example, Delfi's report in 2022 that the energy crisis had made people feel worse off was exaggerated into "a much bigger news story that a famine was about to hit Lithuania".

Petrosius noted, however, that out of nearly 4,000 reports analyzed, only 200 were identified as complete disinformation, but these spread much more widely.

"In other words, I assume that when the Kremlin wants disinformation to spread, it employs all methods," he said.

The study identified five narratives developed in the Russian media over the last three years.

Of these, three are more targeted at internal audiences, claiming that Lithuania is one of the main instigators of the dismantling of the energy system shared with Russia and Belarus, of the so-called BRELL ring, that it and other countries are suffering direct losses as a result of their anti-Russian policies and that Russia still has leverage to punish the Baltic states for hostile decisions.

The remaining two narratives are aimed at external audiences, claiming that the Baltic countries' energy policies are driven by political motives that go beyond economic logic and that consumers in these countries are paying dearly for politicians' decisions, which are causing energy prices to keep rising.

Russian influence behind failure of European Energy's green fuel plans

Economist Marius Dubnikovas highlighted the impact of Russian propaganda on Lithuania, citing as an example local opposition to plans by Denmark's renewable energy company European Energy to build a hydrogen and methanol plant Darbenai, in the western district of Kretinga.

"I'm afraid we've lost it (the investment), because the process isn't developing there," Dubnikovas said.

"Hopefully, it will turn around, but we see that countries compete for such factories. If we start to show indecision and allow ourselves to reject or even doubt a 400-million-euro investment, which is twice the amount of 200 million euros that is usually invested in Lithuania a year, then any state would do anything to take such producers in," he said.

According to the economist, energy is one of the Kremlin propagandists' main targets because it brings significant security to Lithuania and reduces dependence on Russia.

"If we have our own production, we are more secure just because of logistics. We don't need to import something; we have it here locally. The same goes for electricity and green energy. Why are they targeting green energy? Because we produce it here; we don't need to import it," he said.

Dubnikovas noted, however, that Russia has already lost the energy war.

"Gas costs almost the same as it did ten years ago, and there is practically no Russian gas in Europe anymore. Russia has lost this war," he said.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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MET Group confirms plans to buy controlling stake in Lithuania's Achema Group (further expands)

(updates throughout)

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS - MET Group, a Swiss-based energy company, has confirmed its plans to acquire a controlling stake in Achema Group, one of Lithuania's largest business groups.

MET Group on Thursday announced "interest to acquire 54.07 percent of the shares" in the Lithuanian group. Such a stake is currently held by Lyda Lubiene and her daughter Viktorija Lubyte.

The Swiss company also says it will seek an agreement with minority shareholders to buy their shares as well.

"We want a new prosperous era for Achema, and we are committed to developing solutions that are acceptable to all the stakeholders, based on a partnership philosophy," MET Group Chairman and CEO Benjamin Lakatos said in a statement.

"We don't yet understand the legal nuances of the acquisition; we didn't want to spoil the election for you; we waited," the Vz.lt business news website quoted Lakatos as telling Lithuanian journalists at the company's headquarters in Switzerland.

"Minority shareholders have the right of first refusal; we know that some may have already expressed interest, so we're waiting. The biggest mistake we can make is to buy and become hated shareholders," he said.

Lakatos said that a dialogue with Achema Group's minority shareholders will be established.

According to the CEO, fertilizer manufacturers in Europe are experiencing numerous problems and facing difficult times.

"Only 10 percent of LNG is produced in Europe. When gas prices are high, fertilizer manufacturers suffer; when prices are low, fertilizers can be produced cheaply. The key is to expand our value chain and create a fertilizer trading platform," he told Lithuanian journalists.

In the statement, MET described Achema Group as "the ideal partner for its growth".

"Achema is an outstanding company, with an experienced management and skilled employees – a company that perfectly fits into MET's value chain," it said.

MET said in the statement that the transaction is subject to customary due diligence and regular approvals.

"Further updates will be provided as the process advances," it said.

Citing unnamed sources, the Lithuanian news website Delfi reported in May that Lubiene would sell the controlling stake to MET Group and that the Swiss-based group's main interest was not in the fertilizer business but in Klasco, the largest stevedoring company in Klaipeda.

Achema, the group's fertilizer factory in Jonava, and Klasco, its stevedoring business in the port of Klaipeda, are currently facing challenging times.

Achemos Group has reported 17.05 million euros in consolidated net losses for 2023, versus 73.07 million euros in net profits in 2022. It paid out 24.358 million euros as dividends to shareholders last year.

Achema Group brings together around 40 companies engaged in fertilizer production, agribusiness, cargo and logistics, energy, gas production, and trade in the Baltic states, Poland, Germany, France, Belgium, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Croatia.

Lubiene owns 41.59 percent of Achema Group, her daughter has a 12.47 percent stake, and the remaining shares are held by 13 private individuals.

The Lithuanian business daily Verslo Zinios has reported that MET Group is linked to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and controversial Russian business people.

MET Group supplies natural gas and electricity. The group is headquartered in Switzerland and is present in 15 countries, mainly in Europe but also in Singapore and Turkey.

The group has reported selling 88 billion cubic meters of gas and 68 terawatt-hours of electricity, and generating 24.5 billion euros in consolidated revenue last year.

MET is 90 percent owned by its employees and 10 percent by Keppel Infrastructure, a subsidiary of Singapore-listed Keppel Corporation.

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Lithuanian parlt ratifies CoE Convention on Manipulation of Sports Competitions

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS - The Seimas of Lithuania on Thursday ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sports Competitions after 107 lawmakers voted in favor and one was against.

By ratifying the convention, Lithuania has legally completed the integration of the international instrument into national law and declared its intention to combat threats to the integrity and unpredictability of sport, the Seimas said.

The Council of Europe Convention on the Manipulation of Sporting Competitions, or the Makolin Convention, is the first international instrument to regulate manipulation in sport.

According to the Education, Science and Sport Ministry, the document focuses on international cooperation and prevention measures, risk assessment and management, exchange of information, protection of personal data, cooperation between law enforcement authorities, and the establishment of liability (criminal and administrative).

Following the ratification of this convention, the Lithuanian Anti-Doping Agency will carry out preventive informational and educational activities, draw up guidance and model documents for sports federations, assist sports organizations in conducting internal investigations into possible cases of manipulation of sports competitions, and carry out international cooperation, if necessary.

According to the ministry, the focus will be on collecting, analyzing, processing and promptly communicating information to stakeholders.

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Lithuanian president nominates Vaiksnoras for chief of defense

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has officially proposed dismissing General Valdemaras Rupsys as the country's chief of defense once his term expires, and has nominated Brigadier General Raimundas Vaiksnoras as Rupsys' replacement.

Under the president's proposal, Rupsys would be dismissed as of July 23, and Vaiksnoras would assume is new position on July 24.

According to the Constitution, the president appoints and dismisses the chief of defense with the Seimas' approval. In Lithuania, the chief of defense is appointed for five years.

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.

By Jūratė Skėrytė

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Friday, June 7, 2024

VILNIUS, Jun 06, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Friday, June 7, 2024.

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to receive the certificate of his re-election as Lithuania's president at 10 a.m.

CULTURE MINISTER Simonas Kairys to attend an international conference on rebuilding Ukraine's culture sector in Vilnius at 9 a.m.

JUSTICE MINISTER Ewelina Dobrowolska to attend a reception at the Norwegian Embassy in Lithuania at 6 p.m.

By Vilmantas Venckūnas

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Jun 18 2024

LITHUANIA DAILY NEWS BULLETIN

IN THIS ISSUE:

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 4, 2024
Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus
Early voting in Lithuania's European Parliament elections kicks off
Lithuania's mandatory military service reform returns for plenary debate
Commemoration for children killed in war staged outside Russian embassy in Vilnius
Lithuania's CC to rule on ban for those imprisoned for life to attend funerals
70th anniversary of Kengir Uprising commemorated in Kazakhstan
Lithuanian parlt approves SSD whistleblower report, deems president vulnerable
Lithuanian parlt approves SSD whistleblower report, deems president vulnerable (expands)
People had their say on SSD whistleblower commission during election – Nauseda
Lithuanian president calls for active voting in EP election to counterbalance extremists
Lithuanian Liberals say 2 seats in European Parliament would be a 'very good' result
Olympic Casino boosts 2023 profit as online gambling market expands
Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Upcoming events in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 4, 2024

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Tuesday, June 4, 2024.

PRESIDENT Gitanas Nauseda to meet with PRIME MINISTER Ingrida Simonyte at 9:30 a.m.

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

INTERIOR MINISTER Agne Bilotaite to present Lithuania's experience and discuss the adaptation of the EU's civil protection mechanism to threats at the 8th European Civil Protection Forum in Brussels at 10:45 a.m.

ELECTIONS

Early voting in the European Parliament elections to start at 7 a.m. and last for three days.

OTHER EVENTS

A commemoration event for the children who died as a result of Russian aggression to be held in front of the Russian embassy in Vilnius from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a minute's silence will be observed in their honor at 5 p.m.

By Dominykas Biržietis

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Lithuania records no illegal border crossings from Belarus

VILNIUS, Jun 04, 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 53 attempts at illegal border crossings on Monday, and 151 irregular migrants were not allowed into Poland on Sunday, according to the latest available information.

A total of 226 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.

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Early voting in Lithuania's European Parliament elections kicks off

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Early voting for the European Parliament elections got underway in Lithuania on Tuesday.

The Central Electoral Commission (CEC) has said early voting polling stations in all 60 municipalities will be open between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday.

Around ten voters were already in line at Vilnius' central Lukiskes Square, one of the capital's five advance voting sites, before voting began at 7 a.m.

Martinas Nyderis, a 36-year-old civil servant who was one of the first to arrive, told BNS that he had voted "for a progressive Europe".

"It wasn't hard to choose because I already knew who I would vote for. I don't expect any change in course, because I chose a party that has already been working in the majority in the European Parliament. We expect stability, and maybe some bolder decisions," he said.

The man said he was somewhat worried that anti-European political forces might secure more seats in the next European Parliament, "diluting" the traditional parties.

"I always vote, and I voted in advance because it's more convenient now," Raimonda Miseviciene, a 57-year-old sales specialist, told BNS.

Valdas Misevicius, her husband, said he did not miss the opportunity to vote because he believes that the European Parliament is an important institution that makes important decisions for each member country.

"We expect them (MEPs) to be united on Lithuanian issues and represent Lithuania well. I think foreign policy is the most important, but domestic policy and the economy should not be overlooked either," a 58-year-old programmer said.

CEC Chairwoman Lina Petroniene told reporters at Lukiskes Square that good weather and the fact that this year's European Parliament elections do not coincide with the presidential election might have an impact on voter turnout.

"Of course, this can have an impact. Lithuania negotiated for these elections to be held along with the presidential elections. But when we had the second round of the presidential election, most EU member states had public holidays, so they couldn't do it on the same day," Petroniene said.

"This time we didn't win the lottery, but we have much broader voting opportunities than before, because early voting is more popular, and there are more places to vote. Voters can vote at any polling station, so we hope they will come and express their will," she added.

On Sunday, election day, voters will also be able to cast their ballots in any polling station across Lithuania.

On Wednesday through Friday, voting will be organized in hospitals, social care establishments, military units and prisons.

People with disabilities and their caregivers, people who cannot come to their polling stations due to illness, and those aged 70 and older will be able to vote at home on Friday and Saturday.

Candidates fielded by 14 political parties and one coalition are vying for Lithuania's 11 seats in the European Parliament.

A total of 320 politicians are running for the European Parliament, with an average age of 52 years.

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Lithuania's mandatory military service reform returns for plenary debate

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – After half a year of deliberations in committees, the so-called conscription reform is returning to the full parliament for a plenary debate.

The latest version of the bill, approved by the Committee on National Security and Defense (CNSD), calls for drafting men aged 18 to 21 after school. The age limit for compulsory conscription is currently set at 18-23 years.

People aged between 18 and 39 years will be able to volunteer for enlistment in the Armed Forces.

The Defense Ministry's proposal did not allow deferring service for higher education students. The CNSD, however, decided to keep this exemption in place.

Under the latest version, young men who enroll in higher education before being included in the annual conscription list could defer their mandatory initial military service once per study period on an individual basis.

According to the new law, young men will be included in the conscription list at the age of 17 and will have their health checked, and, if they are fit, will be called up for service when they turn 18.

The draft reform also proposes varying the length of military service, offering options of three, six, or nine months.

Higher education students could do their military service by enrolling in the Junior Officer Command Training Program or by joining the National Defense Volunteer Force, thus combining their service with studies. They could also pause their studies to perform regular service.

The amendments also aim to provide opportunities for those willing to serve but unable to do mandatory military service due to health issues. They will have to declare their willingness to serve, and the duration and form of service will be decided by the chief of defense.

Additionally, it is proposed to extend the duration of alternative service from 10 to 12 months.

The CNSD suggests that the new law should come into effect in 2026, rather than next year.

The military estimates that up to 7,000 young men graduate from school each year and are fit for service.

Plans to reform military conscription in Lithuania were announced in February 2023. The relevant legislative proposals were registered in August and approved by the government in December.

Currently, about 4,000 conscripts are called up for mandatory military service annually.

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Commemoration for children killed in war staged outside Russian embassy in Vilnius

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Young Ukrainians are staging a commemoration event in front of the Russian embassy in Vilnius to honor the memory of children killed or injured in the war.

Participants will place toys, flowers and other signs of remembrance for the children, the Ukrainian embassy to Lithuania has said.

It cited UN figures showing that around 2,000 Ukrainian children have been killed or injured since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. Many children are missing.

In March 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and his commissioner for children's rights, accusing them personal responsibility for the abductions of children from Ukraine.

According to Ukraine, Russia has deported more than 19,000 Ukrainian children in the last two years.

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Lithuania's CC to rule on ban for those imprisoned for life to attend funerals

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Lithuania's Constitutional Court is set on Tuesday to rule on whether the existing legal provision that prevents persons sentenced to life imprisonment from attending funerals of their relatives is in line with the Constitution.

The Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania asked the CC to consider whether such a provision of the Code for the Execution of Criminal Penalties, which provides that only convicts serving terminated sentences may be allowed to leave the place of execution of their sentence in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania, with or without an escort, to attend the funeral of a relative or visit a dying relative.

Meanwhile, persons sentenced to life imprisonment are barred from attending the funeral of a relative.

The Supreme Administrative Court believes this may contravene the principles of equal treatment and protection of human dignity, enshrined in the Constitution.

This court had heard an administrative case in which a person serving a life sentence demanded non-pecuniary damages because he was refused permission to attend his father's funeral.

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70th anniversary of Kengir Uprising commemorated in Kazakhstan

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS - The 70th anniversary of the Kengir Uprising was commemorated last week in Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, on the occasion of the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Political Repression.

The memory of the Lithuanian and other political prisoners who took part in the uprising was honored at the Kengir Memorial, the Genocide and Resistance Research Center of Lithuania said on Tuesday.

"Not many people know about the special camps in Kazakhstan... Lithuania's society itself does not know enough about the Kengr Uprising," said Arunas Bubnys, director general of the GRRCL, who attended the ceremony.

There are plans to launch research and archival studies to establish as many identities of the Lithuanians who were imprisoned in Kazakhstan's special camps as possible, he said.

In 1954, more than 20,000 political prisoners from all over the Soviet Union were imprisoned in one of the special gulag camps in the Kazakh steppes, Steplag. The majority of the prisoners - about 9,000 - were Ukrainians and Lithuanians. The latter numbered around 3,000.

The uprising began on May 16, 1954, when criminal prisoners brought to one of the units of the Steplag Kengir camp broke down the fence separating the camp's units and began to force their way into the women's area. Political prisoners then rushed in to defend the women.

18 prisoners were killed and 70 injured during this incident and this led to protests demanding better conditions. After more than a month, the protest was suppressed by force. According to official figures, 37 prisoners were killed and nine others later died of their injuries.

According to historians, this uprising shook the Gulag system to its foundations. The uprising led to the abolition of the special camps, the relaxation of the prison regime, and improved working and prison conditions.

In 1956, a mass release of political prisoners from the camp began.

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Lithuanian parlt approves SSD whistleblower report, deems president vulnerable

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Lithuanian lawmakers on Tuesday endorsed the conclusions of the temporary Seimas commission that looked into the State Security Department's whistleblower case.

64 Seimas members voted in favor of the conclusions, 42 against and 10 abstained.

The temporary parliamentary commission, headed by Democratic MP Vytautas Bakas, concluded after its five-month inquiry that Nauseda is vulnerable and may have broken his oath of office by refusing to answer the panel's questions.

According to the findings, SSD Director Darius Jauniskis was aware of links between Nauseda's inner circle and certain persons posing a risk, "but he withheld this information from the commission and decision-makers".

The findings also say that five years ago, Jauniskis helped Nauseda by collecting intelligence on members of his team and his supporters, and that the intelligence agency received the list of people to be background-checked either from Nauseda himself or from someone instructed by him.

The document also alleges that Linas Pernavas, director of the Lithuanian Special Investigation Service (SIS), abused his duties by withholding information from parliamentarians about a criminal intelligence investigation related to the SSD whistleblower's case and that Jauniskis provided misleading information to the inquiry commission.

The adoption of these conclusions was initially planned for mid-May but was postponed twice - once because of the presidential election, to avoid criticism that it was intended to undermine President Gitanas Nauseda's re-election bid, and again because of a lack of votes.

On May 26, Nauseda was re-elected for a second term.

The heads of the Prosecutor General's Office, the SSD and the SIS accuse the commission of bias, of overstepping its authority and of exerting pressure.

The heads of the services therefore lodged a complaint against the inquiry panel with the parliamentary Commission for Ethics and Procedures. The latter found that the Statute of the Seimas and the Code of Conduct for State Politicians had been violated during the parliamentary inquiry.

Also, the legality of the establishment of the commission has been challenged in the Constitutional Court.

Nauseda called the commission's establishment and its conclusions politically motivated and said they had to do with the presidential election.

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Lithuanian parlt approves SSD whistleblower report, deems president vulnerable (expands)

Updated version: updates throughout

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Lithuanian lawmakers on Tuesday endorsed the conclusions of the temporary Seimas commission that looked into the State Security Department's whistleblower case.

64 Seimas members voted in favor of the conclusions, 42 against and 10 abstained.

"I would like to thank both the commission and the Seimas for allowing this very important investigation to take place," Bakas said before the vote. "The Seimas must take the side of the rule of law and moral politics. I call on us not to create a precedent where the aim is to destroy confidence in the whistleblower institution and the practice of the special services to ignore parliamentary scrutiny and to interfere in political processes."

Failed Seimas project

Before the vote, HU-LCD MP Vilija Aleknaite-Abramikiene, who voted against, said she considered the work of the temporary commission to be "one of the most failed projects of the Seimas", adding that the commission's activities were "openly directed" against the president.

In he words, the Constitution gave the president the right not to answer the commission's questions and not to testify against himself.

"I have the bad impression that my current coalition will, after the next Seimas election, continue this fight against the person who won the (presidential – BNS) election, instead of fighting the real threat," she said.

MP Agne Sirinskiene, a member of the non-attached groups, urged her fellow lawmakers not to approve the commission's conclusion, saying that it was contradictory and pointing out that the parliamentary Commission on Ethics and Procedures had also acknowledged that the comision exceeded its powers.

Conclusion: SSD chief helped Nauseda

On May 26, Nauseda was re-elected for a second term.

The heads of the Prosecutor General's Office, the SSD and the SIS accuse the commission of bias, of overstepping its authority and of exerting pressure.

Also, the legality of the establishment of the commission has been challenged in the Constitutional Court.

The commission was set up following the publication of The Whistleblower and the President" in early 2023, and part of this book is based on the accounts of SSD whistleblower Tomas Gailius.

Nauseda earlier called the commission's establishment and its conclusions politically motivated and said they had to do with the presidential election.

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People had their say on SSD whistleblower commission during election – Nauseda

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – The people of Lithuania clearly showed what they think about the so-called whistleblower commission during the recent presidential election, President Gitanas Nauseda said on Tuesday after the country's parliament approved the commission's findings.

"The people of Lithuania made their opinion on the Bakas commission's efforts very clear in the last election. It is a bit funny and sad that an institution with the lowest level of public trust in Lithuania evaluates an institution with the highest level of public trust, so draw your own conclusions," he told journalists in Lukiskes Square in central Vilnius on Tuesday.

Earlier in the day, Lithuanian lawmakers endorsed the conclusions of the temporary Seimas commission that looked into the State Security Department's whistleblower case.

A Vilmorus poll shows in March that 40 percent of respondents trusted the presidential institution. Meanwhile, almost 11 percent had trust in the parliament.

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Lithuanian president calls for active voting in EP election to counterbalance extremists

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has urged people to actively vote in the European Parliament election to fight back against extremist forces.

As observers and analysts predict a lower voter turnout, the president says this election is as important as the presidential and general elections.

"The future of not only Lithuania, but that of Europe as a whole will depend on it," Nauseda told reporters on Tuesday in Lukiskes Square in central Vilnius after he cast his vote early on Tuesday.

"It is especially important in these times when various extremist political forces are emerging, when Russian narratives are sometimes very smoothly enter Western democracies."

"It is important to fight back, to build truly resilient Western democratic societies," he added.

The president has previously voiced his support for Ursula von der Leyen as a candidate to lead the European Commission.

The president did not disclose which party he voted for in Lithuania.

"You want me to answer your question?" the president. "In this case, I cannot o any campaigning."

He said he could vote "based on my conscience" because he was not affiliated to any political party.

"First, I looked at the list, then I looked at which party or party representatives could represent Lithuania properly, effectively and, most importantly, with the right experience. There are a number of such parties, I chose one and gave it my vote," Nauseda said.

The three-day early voting in the EP election started on Tuesday.

Voters can vote at any early voting site in all 60 municipalities in Lithuania, regardless of where they declare their place of residence.

Lithuania is electing 11 MEPs, with 14 parties and one coalition list vying for seats.

By Augustas Stankevičius

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Lithuanian Liberals say 2 seats in European Parliament would be a 'very good' result

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS – Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, leader of the Lithuanian Liberal Movement, said on Tuesday that she would consider winning two seats in the next European Parliament a very good result for the party.

"A good scenario is to maintain continuity and have one MEP, but a very good scenario is to have two," the speaker of the parliament said after casting her early vote at Lukiskes Square in Vilnius.

Currently, Petras Austrevicius is the only MEP representing the Liberal Movement.

Cmilyte-Nielsen believes that the anticipated low voter turnout is one of the biggest challenges in the European Parliament elections.

"We see some voter fatigue following the recent (presidential) elections, but I do invite everyone to participate as actively as possible, because these elections are very important, probably the most important in the past few decades," she said.

According to Cmilyte-Nielsen, the European Parliament's role is growing and it is in Lithuania's "vital interest" to maintain the body as "an important safeguard of liberal democracy".

The Liberal Movement's leader believes that radical forces, which are gaining strength in Europe, are not strong in Lithuania.

"There's no such trend in Lithuania, in the parliament, but perhaps we see the beginnings of it," the speaker of the Seimas said.

"This is another incentive for those parties that clearly support European values, the protection of liberal democracy, human rights, and the rule of law to convey this message to the people as clearly and vividly as possible," she added.

Early voting in the European Parliament elections began in Lithuania on Tuesday morning and will continue until late Thursday.

Voters can cast their ballots at any early voting location in all 60 Lithuanian municipalities.

Candidates fielded by 14 political parties and one coalition are vying for Lithuania's 11 seats in the European Parliament.

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Olympic Casino boosts 2023 profit as online gambling market expands

VILNIUS, Jun 04, BNS - Olympic Casino Group Baltija, a Lithuanian gambling company, saw its net profit rise 35 percent to 6.9 million euros last year, from 5.1 million euros in 2022, as the online gambling market expanded and revenue rose 20 percent to 39.4 million euros, from 32.7 million euros.

The online gambling market, which grew strongly last year, will continue expanding moderately this year, the company said in its 2023 report submitted to the Register Centre, adding that its goal is to increase its market share by improving its platform, offering new products and introducing new ways of accessing and paying for the system.

"The online gambling market is expected to continue growing, but at a more moderate pace compared to last year (...), while the land-based market is expected to be at the same level as in 2023, or even might shrink slightly," the company said.

Olympic Casino Group Baltija has no plans to invest in new branches this year and will aim to operate more efficiently the existing current ones, but it does plan to upgrade several casinos.

In 2023, Olympic Casino Group Baltija paid 5.1 million euros in dividends to its sole shareholder, Estonia's OB Holding 1, after paying 6.4 million euros in 2022.

As reported earlier, several companies owned by the BaltCap Infrastructure Fund filed a lawsuit against Olympic Casino and its shareholder OB Holding 1, demanding the return of 26 million euros in financial assets and 3.5 million euros in damages. This is the amount the fund's former partner Sarunas Stepukonis gambled away at casinos owned by the two companies.

According to a ruling by the Court of Appeal in April, Stepukonis had transferred 31.6 million euros to OB Holding 1's account in Lithuania. BaltCap representatives believe some 40 million euros may have disappeared from the fund's companies.

Editor: Roma Pakėnienė

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Upcoming events in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 5, 2024

VILNIUS, Jun 05, BNS – The following events are scheduled in Lithuania for Wednesday, June 5, 2024.

SPEAKER OF THE SEIMAS Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen to attend a reception on the occasion of Denmark's Constitution Day at 4 p.m.

JUSTICE MINISTER Ewelina Dobrowolska to meet with Polish Foreign Vice Minister Henryka Moscicka-Dendys at 3.15 p.m.

INTERIOR MINISTER Agne Bilotaite attending the 8th European Civil Protection Forum in Brussels.

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Jun 18 2024

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