Lithuania expects negotiations on Moldova’s EU membership to begin in March 2024, President Gitanas Nauseda said, BNS reports. Speaking after a meeting with Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Recean on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Nauseda called on Moldova to “mobilise on reforms.” He added that Lithuania was ready to help Moldova…
Russian President Vladimir Putin has increased efforts to create the information conditions for a future escalation against the Baltic States, according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), LRT reports. Putin asserted that Latvia’s moves to expel Russian citizens “directly affected Russia’s security.” Earlier, Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP)…
The Lithuanian Migration Department (LMD) has found several Lithuanian citizens with family ties to persons under EU sanctions, BNS reports. LMD started the investigation after media reported that two of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich’s children have Lithuanian citizenship and may have helped him evade sanctions. LMD is now checking thousands of people and plans to…
The last leader of the Communist Party of Estonia (EKP), Vaino Väljas, has died at the age of 92, ERR reports. President Alar Karis offered his condolences, noting the important role that Väljas played during Estonia’s Singing Revolution in the late 1980s, leading to the restoration of independence in 1991. Väljas was born on Hiiumaa…
Lithuania’s Justice Minister, Ewelina Dobrowolska, warned against “populism” over the issue of Russian schools, BNS reported. Earlier, Education Minister Gintautas Jakstas suggested that Lithuania follow Estonia and Latvia in closing Russian schools. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Dobrowolska conceded that minority education faced challenges but insisted that they be dealt with by ensuring…
Lithuania’s ruling coalition has failed to secure enough votes to pass the law on civil union, Ausrine Armonaite, chairwoman of the Freedom Party, conceded, BNS reports. She said that legalising same-sex unions did not receive sufficient support from Freedom Party’s coalition partners, Homeland Union (TS-LKD) and the Lithuanian Liberal Movement (LLS). Armonaite estimated that 66…
A delegation of 11 members of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, will visit Taiwan on 20-27 January 2024, BNS reports. Freedom Party MP Vytautas Mitalas said that the Lithuanian delegation would be the first to meet with Taiwan’s newly elected president, William Lai. Mitalas noted that the visit would help bring Lithuania and Taiwan closer. Meanwhile,…
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said that there was “nothing personal” in his decision not to invite Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis to a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Presidential Palace on 10 January 2024, BNS reports. He said that the meeting focused on military aid and defence industry cooperation, and that Defence Minister…
Lithuania’s relationship with Ukraine is growing increasingly sensitive, sincere, and close, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said, BNS reports. Speaking to a large crowd outside the Presidential Palace in Vilnius after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Nauseda stressed that Ukraine must emerge victorious in the war with Russia because the security of the whole…