The Lithuanian government is pressing ahead with legislative proposals that would impose political control over the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), LRT reports. Earlier, opposition MPs as well as representatives of the Lithuanian Association of Professional Journalists (ZPA) and LRT staff withdrew in protest from a parliamentary working group set up to propose changes to LRT’s management. Academics from three Lithuanian universities warned that the proposed changes showed signs of censorship and threats to democracy. Meanwhile, the Council of Europe’s advisory body, the Venice Commission, said that the proposals created risks of politicisation. Also, the European Broadcasting Union, several European public broadcasters, and media organisations expressed concern over the proposed changes. The heads of eight public broadcasters called on the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, to reject the draft amendments. ZPA and civic activists will hold another protest rally in front of the parliament on 8 April 2026.
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