Journalists and cultural figures began a three-day protest in Vilnius on Tuesday as Lithuania’s parliament moved to consider amendments that would make it easier to dismiss the head of the country’s public broadcaster, LRT.
In a call to protest, the Association of Professional Journalists said it would not remain silent while “the foundations of our state and independent media are quietly dismantled”, urging supporters to gather for continuous demonstrations outside the parliament, Seimas.
As part of the protest, LRT RADIO will broadcast its programs for three days from Independence Square, outside the parliament building. Bonfires are planned in the evenings.
An installation titled Park of Spineless Air Dancers is to be displayed from Tuesday through Friday in Daukanto Square, outside the Presidential Office. Protest organisers are calling on President Gitanas Nausėda to veto the amendments if they are adopted.
A separate protest is also planned Tuesday outside LRT’s headquarters, where the LRT Council is scheduled to meet. The meeting is expected to include LRT Director General Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė, who accused “the majority” of council members on social media of seeking to take control of the broadcaster.
After her remarks, the council said it wanted to clarify how the director general views her future role at LRT.
LRT journalists and other employees renewed protests last Thursday after parliament began fast-tracking the proposed amendments. Both LRT management and the journalists’ association say the bills were submitted urgently and without broad consultation, posing a threat to the broadcaster’s independence and to media freedom.
The proposed changes, which passed a first reading with support from the ruling coalition, would allow the LRT director general to be dismissed by secret ballot backed by at least seven of the 12 council members.
Under the amendments, the director general could be removed in a no-confidence vote if found to be improperly performing statutory duties or if the council rejects LRT’s annual activity report.
Parliament is scheduled to vote on the amendments on Thursday.
Under current law, the director general can be dismissed only if the council cites public interest grounds and at least eight of the 12 members support the motion in an open ballot.
Several tens of thousands of people rallied outside parliament last week to protest what organisers described as a threat to freedom of speech.
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