LRT English Newsletter – October 3, 2025.
Nemunas Dawn populists taking charge of the Culture Ministry has sparked a chain reaction across the country’s cultural sector, which is staging a “warning strike” and launching demonstrations in Vilnius and other cities on Sunday. A committee has been set up to coordinate the protests, with dozens of organisations declaring they want nothing to do with the president, the current government and/or the culture minister.
So what’s the deal? We covered it briefly in last week’s newsletter, but in short, the Culture Ministry – which oversees media and culture freedom and funding – has been handed over to the populists.
For many, this is more than just about the culture sector, with critics from across the country’s civil society spectrum saying this follows in the footsteps of countries like Georgia and Hungary. There, they say, the rollback of democratic institutions and foundations began with the culture sector.
Apparently, the Ukrainian flag was also removed from parts of the Culture Ministry on Thursday. After the news first broke, the ministry and the party stepped back, saying it was temporarily removed “for cleaning”. Another contrasting version of the events was also released by officials.
DRONES, DRONES, DRONES
Following drone incidents in the summer, as well as suspicious commercial drone overflights delaying and grounding flights at the Vilnius Airport, the public is now much more reactive to the drone threat, according to the police. “We immediately receive a series of calls from people who see drones in the air and react quite sensitively,” Police Commissioner General Arūnas Paulauskas told LRT RADIO.
Meanwhile, Lithuania has been seeking to up the NATO capabilities by changing the air policing mission to an air defence mandate. Mind you, the talk of this happening has been going on for years and years, but there might be a breakthrough following the ongoing incidents involving Russian drones and fighter planes across Europe. The potential beefing up of NATO’s air defence presence was hinted by Lithuanian officials at the opening of a logistics hub for the German brigade earlier this week. Lithuania also plans to purchase additional air defences on its own.
GAZA FLOTILLA
Several dozen people protested in Vilnius in support for the activists sailing toward the Gaza Strip. As of Thursday, most of the ships have been intercepted, potentially including one carrying the only Lithuanian activist taking part in the flotilla action.
ECONOMY UPDATES
Here are some economy updates from the past week:
– The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is urging Lithuania to increase taxes.
– Lithuania’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 3% in 2024, reaching €79 billion at current prices.
– Apartment values in Lithuania have roughly doubled over the past five years.
– Lithuania is still weary of Chinese tech, despite wanting to rebuild ties with Beijing.
– Lithuania’s new government has pledged to raise pensions and child benefits.
BORDERS
Poland has extended checks on the Lithuanian border, citing irregular migration. Since they were first put in place earlier this year, dozens of people smugglers have been detained. Meanwhile, Lithuania has extended airspace closures on the border with Belarus placed in the wake of the Russian drone incidents this summer.
NEW RULES FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS?
The Lithuanian parliament is moving toward tightening requirements for foreign workers and students. One of the ways, the lawmakers say, is to establish a language proficiency benchmark for those who stay in the country.
GERMAN SCHOOL OPENS
A German school has opened in Vilnius, with the aim of helping arriving German soldiers settle in Lithuania with their families. This marks a new milestone in the ongoing preparations for Lithuania to host the German brigade – infrastructure called for by Berlin is more than just bunkers and barracks, but also places for the children and families of the soldiers.
EDITOR’S PICKS;
– Lithuanian entrepreneur in the UK builds million-pound translation business.
– Finding parallels between Korean and Lithuanian stories of oppression.
– Learn about Lithuania’s rave culture.
– Lithuania picks hospitals to prep for wartime and crisis response.
– The civilian-paramilitary Riflemen’s Union is booming.
– You seem to love boats.
– And take a look at some rare fossils.
Written by Benas Gerdžiūnas
Edited by Justinas Šuliokas
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