Thursday, May 28, 2026

Via Baltica

Read Less, Know More.

Via Baltica

Read Less, Know More.

Headlines

Free press

Lithuania: Parliament committee approves changes to public broadcaster law

Via Baltica01 mins

Lithuania’s parliamentary committee on culture has approved amendments to the controversial draft law governing the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), LRT reported. The committee approved a new management board, an expanded governing council, shorter four-year council terms, and tighter eligibility requirements for council member candidates. The committee dropped proposals to let…

Read More

Lithuania: Venice Commission urges to rectify public broadcaster law

Via Baltica01 mins

The Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional law, the Venice Commission, urged the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, to improve draft amendments to the law governing the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), BNS reports. The commission said that the draft law may violate the European Convention on Human Rights and the…

Read More

Latvia: Opposition wages culture war ahead of elections

Via Baltica01 mins

Opposition parties in Latvia have seized on culturally divisive issues to garner support ahead of the parliamentary elections in October 2026, New Eastern Europe reports. Earlier, the Latvian parliament, the Saeima, voted to withdraw from the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention on preventing violence against women. Opposition parties claim that the human rights treaty is…

Read More

Lithuania: Venice Commission warns against ad personam law

Via Baltica01 mins

The Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional law, the Venice Commission, is warning Lithuania against legislation that could appear to target the current top management of the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), BNS reports. The commission recommended that planned new rules on dismissing LRT’s director general only apply to office…

Read More

Lithuania: Government pursues control over public broadcaster

Via Baltica01 mins

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…

Read More

Lithuania: Coalition to push forward disputed public broadcaster law

Via Baltica01 mins

Lithuania’s ruling coalition plans to go ahead with legislation that would make it easier to dismiss the director general of the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), BNS reports. Juozas Olekas, speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, said that the coalition intended to submit a new version of draft amendments after…

Read More

Lithuania: Parliament postpones vote on public broadcaster law

Via Baltica01 mins

The ruling coalition in Lithuania has decided to postpone consideration of proposed amendments to the law governing the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), BNS reports. Juozas Olekas, speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, said that discussion on the legislation would continue in the beginning of 2026, “possibly involving members of…

Read More

Lithuania: PM backs down on public broadcaster legislation

Via Baltica01 mins

Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene called on the country’s parliament, the Seimas, not to approve controversial amendments that would make it easier to dismiss the director general of Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT), BNS reported. Ruginiene said that legislation should ensure LRT’s editorial independence, protect freedom of speech, and improve governance. At the same…

Read More