Lithuania fell to 15th place in the annual World Press Freedom Index, slipping one position from last year, Reporters Without Borders said Thursday.
“Despite legal framework shortcomings, economic challenges, and tensions with the government, journalists work in relatively favourable conditions,” the report’s section on Lithuania said.
However, RSF noted that verbal attacks against the media, which began during the Covid-19 pandemic, have become commonplace.
Elsewhere in the region, Latvia ranked 17th in this year’s index, while Estonia secured third place.
The index authors also pointed to developments involving public broadcaster LRT. According to the report, proposed legislative amendments have raised concerns about potential political pressure and weakened guarantees of independence.
Last year, the ruling majority failed to pass amendments related to the dismissal of the LRT head. A working group later drafted a new governance model, which is now under parliamentary debate and continues to draw criticism.
The RSF report said relations between the government and journalists are marked by tension that intensifies during crises, although political attacks against journalists remain rare. It added that media outlets often face unexplained refusals from state institutions to provide information.
The report also found that the public generally respects journalists, though conspiracy theorists remain an exception. It highlighted the participation of thousands of people in protests supporting LRT and media freedom.
RSF warned that funding cuts to the Media Support Fund could negatively affect regional and vulnerable media, as well as media pluralism. The report also criticised an occasionally ambiguous legal framework and instances in which courts prioritise data protection over press freedom.
Lithuania ranked 13th in the index two years ago and reached a record high of seventh place in 2023.
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