Politics
Group to collect signatures against refugee resettlement in Lithuania
A group wants to collect 50,000 signatures under a petition which would force parliament to reconsider refugee resettlement in Lithuania. […]
Articles by BNS
Defence
Russian invasion scenario a ‘good warning’ for allies, says Lithuanian minister
Analysis published by US analysts, suggesting that NATO should step up the military security of the Baltic states, is a “good warning for the Allies,” says Lithuania’s Defence Minister Juozas Olekas. […]
Politics
Indexing pensions and labour flexibility should be reform focus, president says
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė is somewhat sceptical about the so-called new social model, a package of reforms to the labour code and the country’s welfare system. […]
Politics
Change electoral laws to make campaigns more transparent, says Transparency International
The Lithuanian branch of Transparency International (TILS), an international anti-corruption watchdog, has proposed a range of new measures to make Lithuanian political parties more transparent. They include requirements to publish more information about their financing and to impose stricter sanctions for political campaign financing violations. […]
Foreign affairs
US to extradite former MP and judge Venckienė to face charges in Lithuania
The US Justice Department has announced it has accepted Lithuania’s request for extradition of former MP and former judge Neringa Venckienė, said Lithuanian Prosecutor General Evaldas Pašilis. […]
Foreign affairs
Lithuanian president calls off trip to conference on Syria aid in London
Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė cancelled a planned trip to London where she was to attend an international high-level conference on humanitarian aid to Syria. Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius will take part in the event instead. […]
Uncategorized
International community expresses dismay over Abromavičius’ Ukraine resignation
The ambassadors of Western countries in Kiev have expressed their regret over the recent resignation of Ukraine‘s Economic Development and Trade Minister Aivaras Abromavičius, praising him for his efforts in fighting corruption and implementing reforms necessary for Ukraine’s economy. […]
Economy
Big winter storm forces Klaipėda port to close to ships
A large winter storm that is battering the coast of Lithuania has forced Klaipėda port to stop ships from entering and leaving the port. […]
Foreign affairs
Lithuanian parliament speaker pushes Poroshenko to continue reforms
Lithuanian Parliamentary Speaker Loreta Graužinienė urged Ukraine to push on with the reforms at a meeting of parliamentary speakers of the Nordic and Baltic States (NB8) with Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko in Kiev. […]
Politics
Conservatives call for impeachment of Labour MP Gapšys
The opposition Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (conservatives) intend to call an extraordinary session of the Seimas (parliament) on February 17 to launch impeachment procedures against Labour Party MP Vytautas Gapšys. […]
Culture
Politics
President wants ‘serious conversation’ with prime minister
President Dalia Grybauskaitė is to have a “serious conversation” with Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius about corruption suspicions that have plagued his cabinet over the last week. The meeting is scheduled for next week, after Butkevičius comes back from vacation. […]
Politics
Lithuanian PM will not cut short Caribbean holiday despite cabinet turmoil
Lithuania’s Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius is not planning to cut short his vacation in the Caribbean despite several of his cabinet ministers becoming embroiled in controversy. […]
Society
Lithuanian prosecutors ‘should look into list of Holocaust perpetrators’
The leader of the Jewish Community of Lithuania, Faina Kukliansky, says that the Genocide and Resistance Research Centre should submit the list of Holocaust perpetrators to prosecutors for scrutiny. […]
Defence
Bigger US military budget means more troops for Lithuania, Olekas says
After official announcement of the US plans to quadruple its defence budget for Europe, Lithuania’s Defence Minister Juozas Olekas says this would mean deployment of a larger number of US troops and equipment in Lithuania. […]
Politics
PM and environment minister to be interviewed in construction fraud investigation
The Special Investigation Service (STT) intends to interview Lithuania’s Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius and Environment Minister Kęstutis Trečiokas as part of an investigation into construction in the territory of Druskininkai Vijūnėlė Manor, southern Lithuania. […]
Economy
Major pharmacy retailer named in hospital corruption investigation
Suspicions have been brought against two staff members of the Eurovaistinė drug store network as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected corruption at Šiauliai Hospital. […]
Society
Propaganda must be fought with democratic methods – OSCE representative
The fight against the propaganda in democratic countries must adhere to democratic principles and governments should refrain from blocking contrarian opinions where possible, said Dunja Mijatović, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) representative for media freedom, who is visiting Lithuania. […]
Society
Energy
Energy Minister claims Veolia allegations ‘are unfounded’
Most of Veolia‘s allegations against Lithuania seem to be unfounded, said Lithuanian Energy Minister Rokas Masiulis on Monday. Masiulis was commenting on the French group’s request for arbitration in which it is seeking around €100 million in compensation from the Lithuanian state for allegedly unfair treatment and expropriation of its Lithuanian assets. […]