A protest in front of Norway's embassy in Vilnius
CORPORATE

Controversy over Lithuanian children seized in Norway prompts hard look inwards

Protests have sprung up across a number of countries against the actions of Barnevernet, the Norwegian children’s welfare service that has removed numerous children from migrant families in Norway. Last Thursday, one such protest sprang up in front of the Norwegian embassy in Vilnius but Linas Linkevičius, the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said “only a legal path, not populist protests and rallies, can be used to negotiate with Norway for the children that were taken from those Lithuanians”. […]

Linas Linkevičius
Foreign affairs

Snow Meeting discusses new threats and NATO summit

Lithuanian and foreign security policy experts are discussing mounting security threats and the upcoming NATO summit at the traditional Snow Meeting in Trakai district. […]

A memorial
Society

15-year-old Lithuanian boy killed in Sweden may have been targeted for dispute with refugee

The tragic stabbing on 12:45 Monday of Arminas Pileckas, a 15-year-old Lithuanian boy living in Sweden, by a 14-year-old boy while the two were at school may potentially bring the discussion about refugees back to the forefront of the Lithuanian public’s attention. Though the Swedish police have yet to confirm the 14-year-old suspect’s name or identity, several Swedish media sites, as well as what is allegedly a video of the altercation that led to the stabbing, indicate that the suspect may have been a Syrian refugee. […]

Kęstutis Lančinskas
Foreign affairs

Selection of Lithuanian officer is honour for country, says foreign minister

Lithuanian Foreign Affairs Minister Linas Linkevičius said the appointment of Chief of Vilnius district Police Headquarters, Kęstutis Lančinskas as the new head of the European Union advisory mission in Ukraine was an honour for the country. […]

Linas Linkevičius
European Union

Divisions emerging on keeping EU sanctions on Russia, says Lithuanian minister

Although the European Union recently agreed to extend sanctions on Russian companies until July of this year, divisions among EU members states are beginning to emerge, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius said. […]

Global Lithuania Awards winners with President Grybauskaitė
Society

Lithuanian innovators and leaders honoured by president at Global Lithuanian awards

There was a feel-good atmosphere in the Lithuanian Presidential palace in Vilnius on Tuesday afternoon as Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė hosted a ceremony honouring the Global Lithuanian Awards. The annual awards are presented to individuals who, in one way or another, have contributed to Lithuania’s welfare domestically or abroad. The President and Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius praised the initiative and made it a point that a country is more than its geographical and demographic size. […]

EC President Jean-Claude Juncker and foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini
European Union

Lithuania and Poland slam EU Commission for seeking closer Russia ties

Poland and Lithuania have expressed concern over the EU Commission’s plans to seek closer economic ties with Russia while it continues to engage in a war with Ukraine. […]