Lithuania: Thousands protest against populist control of Culture Ministry

Thousands of people in Lithuania protested on 5 October 2025 against the new government’s move to hand control of the Ministry of Culture to the far-right populist party, Dawn of Nemunas (PPNA), BNS reports. The protest manifesto urged citizens to defend culture, democracy, and freedom of expression. Cultural institutions across the country played Lithuanian composer…

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Lithuania: Cultural sector readying for nationwide protests

Cultural activists in Lithuania are preparing for a nationwide “warning strike” on 5 October 2025 to protest against control of the Ministry of Culture by the far-right populist party, Dawn of Nemunas (PPNA), LRT reports. Earlier, protests across the country contributed to the hasty resignation of PPNA’s newly-appointed Culture Minister, Ignotas Adomavicius. Cultural leaders fear…

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Lithuania: New culture minister refuses to resign amid protests

Lithuania’s newly-appointed Culture Minister, Ignotas Adomavicius, has refused to resign despite mass protests across the country against his appointment, BNS reports. Adomavicius is a member of the far-right Dawn of Nemunas party. Cultural workers have held protests in several cities, insisting that Adomavicius is unfit to head the Ministry of Culture as he has no…

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Estonia: Refugee status granted to over 43,000 people in 2022

Estonia granted international protection to altogether 2,107 foreigners in 2022, which was up from the usual yearly average of around 50, according to data from the Ministry of Culture, ERR reports. The number of applications for international protection totalled 2,940, which was up from the usual 100. Also, Estonia granted temporary protection to 41,639 Ukrainian…

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Estonia: Proactive legislation needed to protect media space: official

Estonia needs proactive legislation to restrict “harmful foreign media outlets,” in addition to sanctions imposed on Russia, Andres Jõesaar, media adviser at the Estonian Ministry of Culture, stated, ERR reports. He conceded that the recent controversial proposal by the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) to monitor media bias was “badly worded.” However, Jõesaar…

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Estonia: Media association opposes TTJA’s proposal on media regulation

The Estonian Association of Media Enterprises (EML) strongly opposes a proposal for the Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) to function as an independent media regulator for the entire media market, ERR reports. The Ministry of Culture has shared the draft proposal with over 40 organisations and institutions, seeking their feedback. EML emphasised…

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