Georgia’s new parliament is not entirely legitimate, Asta Skaisgiryte, chief foreign policy adviser to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, stated, LRT reports. If the parliament elects a new president, then the legitimacy of the president would be under question as well, she noted. Speaking in an interview with LNK, Skaisgiryte announced that Lithuania would offer refuge to…
The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, has voted to strip MP Remigijus Zemaitaitis, leader of the far-right Dawn of Nemunas party, of his parliamentary immunity, BNS reports. The motion passed with 101 votes in favour and none against or abstaining. Dawn of Nemunas MPs boycotted the vote. The move allows the court to continue hearing a…
The congress of Lithuania’s liberal Freedom Party has elected former MP Tomas Vytautas Raskevicius as the party’s new chairman, BNS reports. Raskevicius replaces Ausrine Armonaite, who resigned after the party failed to win any seats in the recent elections to the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas. Raskevicius chaired the parliament’s human rights committee in 2020-2024. Freedom…
The crash of Spanish air carrier Swiftair’s cargo plane in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, on 25 November 2024 may have been caused by a technical fault or pilot error, LRT reports. One crew member perished in the incident. Surviving crew members had no indication of foul play, and investigators have found no evidence of terrorism….
The three Baltic states have agreed to impose national sanctions against those who suppressed legitimate protests in Georgia, Civil Georgia reports. In their joint statement, the Baltic foreign ministers said that “opponents of democracy and violators of human rights are not welcome in our countries.” Meanwhile, all three Baltic presidents phoned their Georgian counterpart, Salome…
Trucks crossing Lithuania’s borders with Belarus and Russia will have to register in advance as of 1 December 2024, BNS reports. Drivers of heavy duty vehicles must now pre-register on the online booking system (EVIS) to cross the border through the remaining three checkpoints on the borders with Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad region. The new…
Lithuania has introduced stricter rules on residence permit applications through external service providers as of 1 December 2024, BNS reports. From now on, only citizens of countries with an office of the external service provider can use their services. Citizens of other countries can apply for temporary residency permits at an office in another country…
The foreign ministers of the eight Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) will pay a visit to Moldova on 15 October 2024, BNS reports. The delegation will meet with Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean and Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi. The ministers will visit several regions in Moldova to show their support for Moldova’s EU accession, reform…
Lithuania’s main opposition party, the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP), hopes to form a new coalition government with two other opposition parties, the Union of Democrats for Lithuania (DSVL) and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union (LVZS), LRT reports. The three parties won 33 out of 70 seats in the first round of parliamentary…