On Friday, Lithuanian Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovič signed an order to postpone for a year his predecessor’s decision to abolish driving exams in the Russian language.
The implementation of the new policy, originally set to take effect in January 2025, has been delayed until 2026 to give Regitra, the state enterprise in charge of driving tests and licenses, and interested parties time to prepare for the change, the Interior Ministry said in a press release.
Under the decision of former Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė, driving tests will only be allowed to take place in Lithuanian or other official EU languages. An exception will apply only to Ukrainian citizens.
“A longer preparation period and deeper discussions are crucial to implementing this change effectively, as emphasised by all involved parties,” Kondratovič said in the press release, adding that the goal is to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangement.
Earlier this week, Kondratovič met with representatives from the Transport and Economy Ministries, Regitra, driving schools, and haulage companies.
The meeting highlighted significant challenges with enforcing the ban on driving tests in Russian starting in January 2025, calling for a longer transition period and further discussions on possible exceptions, according to the press release.
Under the order signed by Kondratovič, starting in 2026, the theoretical driving test will only be available in Lithuanian or other official EU languages. During practical tests, people who do not speak Lithuanian will be allowed to bring an interpreter.
Bilotaitė has criticised the decision to delay the ban as unjustified and incomprehensible. She said the original plan was based on her personal stance and the previous government’s policy to reduce the use of Russian language in public life and respond to hybrid threats.
She added that her order was prepared following an analysis showing a rise in the number of people taking driving tests in Russian.
Citing data from Regitra, the former minister noted that more than 11,000 driving theory tests were taken in Russian during the first 11 months of this year, compared to over 10,000 in 2023.
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