“Realizing the importance of transparency of LRT operations and the fact that the national broadcaster functions as part of the democratic system that serves the citizens and the society, the council the Lithuanian National Radio and Television is turning to the State Audit Office of the Republic of Lithuania with a request for state audit of LRT in an effort to use legal instruments to solve the issue of excessive attempts by political institutions to control LRT’s operations,” LRT said in a press release on Wednesday.
The council decided at its meeting on Tuesday to answer questions from more than half of Lithuania’s parliamentarians about employee salaries, contracts with producer companies and property lease within 20 days.
The questions to the national broadcaster were sent in response to LRT’s earlier answers to questions from 66 of Lithuania’s 141 parliamentarians. Some MPs then said the answers were not satisfactory.
According to the press release, the council also authorized the administration of the national broadcaster to hold negotiations with external producers for their consent to publicity of confidential contractual information.
On Monday, LRT published a statement from the European Broadcasting Union, which said that publishing parts of the costs of the Lithuanian radio and television could affect its position in commercial negotiations, and the demand from some MPs to disclose confidential information could threaten editorial independence and autonomy.