Last week, President proposed change of name of Taiwan’s Vilnius representation; ex-MP hatred incitement case reached court
Lithuanian, Latvian foreign ministers discuss support for Ukraine, security
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis hosted his new Latvian counterpart Baiba Braze in Vilnius on Friday, the 10th of May. The ministers discussed ensuring the mobilization of support to Ukraine in the fight against Russia’s military aggression, the importance of supporting Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration, the security situation in the Baltic Sea region, the significance of unified application of sanctions against Russia, and the items on the Lithuanian-Latvian bilateral and regional cooperation agenda.
Seimas okays amendments on commandant’s office system
Lithuanian lawmakers on Thursday, the 9th of May, gave their initial backing to amendments necessary for the operation of the commandant’s office system, providing for the possibility to call up more reserve troops for army drills. In all, 51 lawmakers voted in favour of the tabled amendments to the law on the organization of the national defence system and military service, and 12 abstained. The amendments provide for the possibility to call up conscripts from the ready reserve who have not been assigned to the active reserve, and those from the non-ready reserve, which includes civic-minded and patriotic people and those willing to contribute to national defence in specific familiar locations, to take part in exercises and undergo training. Such exercises would last up to ten days a year.
Seimas eases alcohol sale, advertising restrictions
The Seimas of Lithuania on Thursday, the 9th of May, adopted amendments to the Law on Alcohol Control, easing alcohol sale and advertising restrictions. In all, 59 lawmakers voted in favour of the amendments tabled by the Economy and Innovation Ministry, 25 voted against and 11 abstained. The Seimas allowed the sale of alcoholic beverages with alcohol content of up to 15% at fairs, exhibitions and mass events, and not only beer and cider with alcohol content of up to 7.5%, as has been the case until now. Right now, the sale of low-alcohol cocktails, wine, sparkling wine, liqueurs, and mead is currently also not allowed at such events. The amendments also ease the requirement for alcohol licenses as they will not be issues until a person’s criminal record has expired. Until now, convicted persons have not been able to obtain them at all. The Seimas also legalized alcohol as a representation gift and created a more competitive environment for alcohol sellers at events.
Nausėda calls for tighter sanctions for Russia
President Gitanas Nausėda on Thursday, the 9th of May, urged the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who paid visit to Vilnius, to further tighten the existing sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine and to also strengthen the bloc’s defence industry. Nausėda stressed the need to continue the EU’s sanction policy against Russia and to further tighten them, adding that the 14th sanction package should target the most painful areas of the Russian economy. The president also welcomed the EU agreement on the transfer of proceeds from frozen Russian funds to Ukraine. The two leaders also talked about the fight against disinformation spread by Russia as Nausėda said it was important to pay particular attention to historical memory and to strengthen the resilience of European societies.
Vilnius police on standby duty at Antakalnis Cemetery
As Russia commemorated victory in World War II on the 9th of May, Vilnius Police stepped up surveillance of public spaces and officers were on standby at Antakalnis Cemetery to prevent any provocations. However, no incidents were reported. Police officers also kept a close watch on public spaces, including monuments, squares, bridges, and other sites, and monitored the situation regarding the display of banned symbols. Earlier this week, Lithuanian intelligence warned of possible provocations as Russia and some other former Soviet countries mark WWW II victory on the 9th of May, saying that the likelihood of attacks or provocations against anti-Soviet monuments and various sites in Lithuania remained elevated.
Ex-MP hatred incitement case reaches court
The chief prosecutor of Vilnius Regional Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, the 8th of May, drafted an indictment and handed over ex-MP Remigijus Žemaitaitis criminal case to court. Žemaitaitis, who is now running for president, is accused of inciting to hatred against a group of people on the grounds of their nationality, and of publicly condoning, denying, or grossly trivializing international crimes, the prosecution service said. Evidence collected during the pre-trial investigation allow prosecutors to reasonably believe that in posts on his personal social media accounts the 9th of May, the 13th and 14th of June 2023, Žemaitaitis, an MP at the time, publicly ridiculed, expressed contempt and incited to hatred against Jewish people. In late April, the Constitutional Court ruled that the MP had broken his oath as MP. Žemaitaitis renounced his MP mandate.
President against suspension of Georgia’s EU candidate status
President Gitanas Nausėda said on Tuesday, the 7th of May, that he does not support calls by some members of the European Parliament to suspend Georgia’s EU candidate status, arguing that such a move would let down the civic society opposing the government. Protests have recently been ongoing in Georgia against a controversial “foreign influence” bill. If adopted, the law will require all media outlets and NGOs that receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as an “organization acting in the interests of a foreign state”. The opposition warns that the law could derail Georgia’s efforts to join the EU.
Customs thwarts export of two Tesla Cybertrucks to Belarus
Lithuanian customs officials on Tuesday, the 7th of May, detained two Tesla Cybertrucks on suspicion that the electric pick-up trucks were being smuggled to Russia via Belarus in violation of EU sanctions. The two trucks, manufactured in 2023 and valued at over 200 000 euros each, were detained at the Šalčininkai border checkpoint with Belarus on the 7th of May, the Customs said on Wednesday. Customs officials refused export procedures for the vehicles allegedly bound for Belarus and opened a pre-trial investigation for breach of international sanctions and smuggling. They suspect that the Tesla Cybertrucks were meant to be transported and registered in Russia. EU sanctions on the export of passenger cars to the country have been in place since 2014. Both vehicles are currently held in the Lithuanian Customs’ premises. Their drivers were released after questioning.
President proposes that Taiwan change name of its Vilnius representation
The Taiwanese Representative Office said on Wednesday, the 8th of May, it was “looking forward” in bilateral relations amid Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda’s proposal to change the name of the Taiwanese representation. As part of the presidential campaigning, Nausėda said on Tuesday, the 7th of May, that “while welcoming in principle the establishment of such a representative office in Lithuania, in the context of the stabilization of relations with China, I would see the need to change its name.” He stressed the need for respectful dialogue with both Taiwan and China, and pointed to experts’ assessment that, in Chinese, the name of the office sounds like a Taiwan mission, not a Taiwanese mission. Beijing sees this as an attempt by Taiwan to act as an independent state. In other countries, such representations operate under the name of Taipei. The adjustment (of the name) could serve as Lithuania’s signal to normalize diplomatic relations with China,” Nausėda added.
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Week in Lithuania | Seimas okays amendments on commandant’s office system, eases alcohol sale restrictions
