Lithuania: Ekspress Grupp’s deadline to sell news site postponed again

Lithuania’s Competition Council has again postponed a deadline for the Estonian media group, Ekspress Grupp, to sell off the Lithuanian news website, lrytas.lt, to new owners, BNS reports. The council gave Ekspress Grupp until 7 January 2026 to sell the website. In February 2025, the competition authority ordered the group to sell one of its…

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Lithuania: Opposition urges LSDP to reject coalition with far right

The Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, must impeach MP Remigijus Zemaitaitis, leader of the far-right Dawn of Nemunas (PPNA) party, if an appeals court upholds a lower court ruling finding him guilty of antisemitic hate speech, opposition leaders stated, Lietuvos Rytas reports. Saulius Skvernelis, chairman of the Union of Democrats for Lithuania (DSVL), and Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen,…

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Lithuania: Interior Ministry proposes emergency over Belarusian balloons

Lithuania’s Interior Ministry has proposed declaring a nationwide state-level emergency in response to an increased incursion of smuggler balloons from neighbouring Belarus into Lithuanian airspace, BNS reports. The government is expected to decide on the proposal next week. According to the Interior Ministry, altogether 599 smuggler balloons and 197 drones have entered Lithuanian airspace so…

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Lithuania: Government may declare emergency over smuggler balloons

The Lithuanian government may declare an emergency due to the growing security threat posed by smuggler balloons launched from neighbouring Belarus, Interior Minister Vladislav Kondratovic announced, BNS reports. He said that the government was assessing the impact on public safety and border security and was considering several options. Earlier, MEP Aurelijus Veryga, chairman of the…

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Lithuania: EU to impose new sanctions on Belarus after balloon attacks

The EU is preparing new sanctions against Belarus, following repeated incursions of smuggler balloons from Belarus into Lithuania, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced, BNS reports. Earlier, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys urged the EU not to allow the Belarusian regime to blackmail and escape its international isolation and have sanctions lifted, ELTA…

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Lithuania: Vilnius Airport reopens after another balloon attack

Lithuania has lifted flight restrictions after disruptions caused by smuggler balloons from neighbouring Belarus, BNS reports. Saulius Batavicius, CEO of air navigation provider Oro Navigacija, said that around 60 balloons were detected during the shutdown, practically blocking access to Vilnius International Airport. The airport was shut down for almost 11 hours. Batavicius noted that the…

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Lithuania: DELFI hosts inaugural Most Influential People awards

Lithuanian news outlet DELFI hosted its inaugural Most Influential People awards in Vilnius on 2 October 2025, ELTA reports. President Gitanas Nauseda won the award for the most influential politician. Other winners included journalist Edmundas Jakilaitis (media), construction entrepreneur Arvydas Avulis (business), public commentator Andrius Tapinas, Prosecutor General Nida Grunskiene (civil service), and discus thrower…

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