Lithuania's former ministers of defence and foreign affairs, Raimundas Karoblis and Linas Linkevičius, have returned to the diplomatic service after the Foreign Ministry restored their diplomatic ranks.
It is yet unclear what posts at the ministry or the country's diplomatic representations they will assume, the Foreign Ministry told LRT.lt in a written statement.
Several Lithuanian embassies are currently without ambassadors: the representation to the EU, embassies in the United States, and Australia. Several more ambassadors are nearing the end of their appointments.
Another former politician, Egidijus Vareikis who was not reelected to the parliament in general elections last October, has also returned to his former career at the Foreign Ministry.
He is currently an adviser in its EU Department. Last autumn, the ministry's Certification Commission recommended to restore Vareikis' diplomatic rank and appoint him to the Department of the UN, International Organisations and Human Rights. The move attracted criticism, because Vareikis had campaigned against the ratification of the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention aimed at fighting gender-based violence.
As a conservative MP, Vareikis gained notoriety in 2013 drunk driving and for abusing his wife while intoxicated. Last year, Vareikis assured he had dealt with his drinking problems.
Karoblis served as Lithuania's defence minister in 2016–2020. Before that, he had been the country's ambassador to the EU.
Linkevičius was foreign minister for two terms in 2012–2020. Previously, he had served as Lithuania's representative to NATO, ambassador on special assignments.
In an interview with LRT.lt last year, Linkevičius said he would be open to resuming a diplomatic career, but did not give any specific details.
CORRECTION: Ireland was incorrectly added to the list of countries without an appointed Lithuanian ambassador.
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