As debates over the use of Russian in public intensify, Lithuania’s Department of National Minorities has called for a balanced approach that encourages the learning of the Lithuanian language while respecting the rights of ethnic minorities.
In a statement released Friday, the department emphasised that Russian is not only spoken by recent arrivals but is also the native language of Lithuania’s longstanding Russian minority.
“Russian is the mother tongue of both foreign nationals who have settled in Lithuania and members of the Russian national minority who have lived here for generations,” said department director Dainius Babilas.
While the department acknowledged that long-term residents should be expected to learn Lithuanian, Babilas urged public figures, officials, NGOs and the media to communicate responsibly on the issue.
“We encourage society’s opinion leaders […] to ensure that the well-intentioned goal of strengthening the national language does not become a vehicle for inciting hatred or creating social divides, which would weaken the resilience of the state and civil society,” he said.
Lithuania’s Constitution guarantees the rights of ethnic minorities to preserve their language, culture, and customs. The Law on National Minorities, along with the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, further protects these rights.
The department’s comments follow widely-discussed concerns about the increased use of Russian in public spaces, especially after the arrival of refugees from Ukraine and migrants from Central Asia. Babilas noted that speakers range from Lithuanian citizens of Russian descent – including Old Believers who have lived in the country for centuries – to tourists and recent immigrants.
“Some people choose to speak Russian not because they don’t know Lithuanian, but because it is more convenient at that moment,” he said. “We can and sometimes must be more demanding of long-term residents who haven’t learned Lithuanian, but we must do so without hostility or insults – for their own benefit and for the broader goal of language integration.”
Last October, the Lithuanian parliament, Seimas, passed amendments to the State Language Law requiring foreign workers in customer-facing roles to know basic Lithuanian. The rule was set to take effect in 2025. However, earlier this month, the government postponed enforcement for Ukrainian refugees for at least six more months, or as long as their temporary protection status remains in effect, currently through March 4, 2026.
The Education Ministry has acknowledged practical challenges in providing Lithuanian language instruction and administering official exams to foreigners.
Linguists and university representatives have urged authorities not to delay implementation and to better utilise academic institutions for language training and certification.
Currently, the only accredited agency authorised to administer Lithuanian language exams to foreigners is the National Education Agency.
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