Last week, Tripartite Council failed to hammer out an accord on minimum wage, the state of emergency to be prolonged until mid–December, and starting from Monday, 19 September, Russian citizens won’t be allowed to enter the country.
Border guards deter 64 migrants on the border with Belarus
Lithuanian border guards turned away 64 migrants over Thursday, 15 September, attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Friday, 16 September.
The SBGS says that illegal migration to Lithuania and the EU is being facilitated by Belarusian officials who transport migrants to the state border and lead them to the neighbouring country’s territory.
Lithuanian border guards have sent more than 14 800 people back to Belarus since 3 August, 2021, when they were given the right to deny entry to irregular migrants.
The number includes repeated attempts by the same people to cross the border. Almost 4,200 irregular migrants crossed into Lithuania from Belarus illegally last year.
Vilnius-based non-governmental organisation receives European Citizen’s Prize
Blue/Yellow, a Vilnius-based non-governmental organisation, on Friday,16 September, was presented with the European Parliament’s European Citizen’s Prize for its support to Ukraine.
Blue/Yellow has been supporting Ukraine’s armed resistance since 2014, when Russia occupied Crimea, by sending non–lethal supplies to the country’s troops and volunteers.
The organsiation uses the money raised to buy helmets, bulletproof vests, medicines, clothing and other supplies.
The organization was founded and is headed by Jonas Ohman, a Swedish-born filmmaker.
Brussels Airlines to halt Vilnius-Brussels flights during winter season
Brussels Airlines, the only carrier operating direct flights from Lithuania to Brussels, announced it is suspending its service between Vilnius and the Belgian capital from October 28, but is planning to relaunch it at the start of its next summer season in late March, Lietuvos Oro Uostai (Lithuanian Airports, LOU) confirmed on Thursday, 15 September.
Ryanair offers direct flights between Kaunas and Charleroi Airport, more than 50 kilometres from the centre of Brussels.
Lithuania dumps Russia–glorifying textbook from circulation
A Russian language textbook portraying Russia as an attractive democratic state and inviting Lithuanian high–school students to visit Crimea has been withdrawn from circulation, and schools have been informed that it cannot be used for teaching, Education, Science and Sport Minister Jurgita Šiugždinienė said on Thursday, 15 September.
According to the minister, other Russian textbooks will also be reviewed.
LRT Radio has recently reported that textbooks used to teach Russian as a foreign language invite 6–12 graders to travel around Russia, and visit the annexed Crimean Peninsula and present the country as an attractive democratic country. In Lithuania over 110 000 students, or 75% of all 6–12 graders, chose Russian as their second foreign language this academic year.
Lithuania reports 1 526 new COVID-19 cases, two deaths
Lithuania recorded 1 526 new coronavirus infections and two deaths from COVID-19 over Wednesday, 14 September, official statistics showed on Thursday, 15 September. Of the new cases, 1 090 were primary, 414 were secondary and 21 were tertiary. The number of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 now stands at 147, including nine ICU cases.
The 14–day primary infection rate has edged up to 467 cases per 100 000 people, with the seven–day percentage of positive tests up to 45.7%.
More than 1.2 million people in Lithuania have tested positive with COVID-19 at least once. Some 70% of the Lithuanian population have received at least one coronavirus vaccine jab so far.
Football clubs face suspension over LFF’s direct management
If the Lithuanian Seimas adopts a proposed law on the introduction of temporary direct management of the Lithuanian Football Federation, the country’s national teams and Lithuanian football clubs would face suspension from FIFA and UEFA-organised tournaments, the LFF said on Thursday, 15 September.
Moreover, the LFF could see the suspension of all of its powers as a FIFA and UEFA member, as well as the termination of FIFA and UEFA’s financial assistance to Lithuanian football.
Earlier this week, 82 Lithuanian lawmakers registered a special bill on the introduction of the LFF’s direct management.
The LFF is criticized for employing convicted persons, also for possible shade management of the finances.
The Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats party on top of party rating in Lithuania
Lithuania’s ruling conservative party – the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (HU–LCD) – continues to lead the party rating in the country, followed by the Democratic Union «For Lithuania» and the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania, according to the latest public survey by Spinter Tyrimai for the delfi.lt news website.
Survey was published on Wednesday, 14 September. In all, 12.5% t of respondents would have voted for the HU–LCD in August, compared to 11.2% in July, the survey shows. 9.5% would have voted for the Democratic Union “For Lithuania”, down from 11.2%t in July.
The opposition Social Democratic Party of Lithuania is next in line with 8.3%, down from 10.1% in July. Down the list is the opposition Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union 7.1%(7.4 % in July), followed by the Liberal Movement, part of the ruling block, with 6.4%(6.6 %t in July), the Freedom Party, another ruling coalition member, with 5.1% (4.5%), the Freedom and Justice party with 4.2% (4.8 %) and the Labor Party with 2.4 percent (2.5 %).
Tripartite Council fails to hammer out accord on minimum wage
Lithuania’s Tripartite Council representing the country’s government, employers and employees, has failed to reach agreement on raising the minimum monthly wage from next year and will submit different opinions to the government, Aurelija Maldutytė, a member of the Presidium of the Lithuanian Confederation of Employers, who chairs the Council, said at the Tripartite Council meeting, said on Tuesday, 13 September.
Trade unions believe the minimum monthly wage should rise according to the central Bank of Lithuania’s formula by 21.6% to 888 euros as of 1 January.
Meanwhile, the majority of employers’ representatives say the minimum wage could rise to 800 euros.
Lithuania prolongs state of emergency until mid–December
The existing state of emergency in Lithuania has been extended until the middle of December and Russian citizens will not be allowed to enter the country from 19 September.
With 68 votes in favour, five against and 26 abstentions, Lithuanian lawmakers on Tuesday, 13 September, voted in favour of extending the state of emergency but it will only be in place at Lithuania’s borders with Russia and Belarus until 16 December.
Currently, the state of emergency is in place across the country until 15 September. From 19 September, when the ban on Russian citizens from entering Lithuania comes into force, the state of emergency will also be in place at border checkpoints outside the border area, such as Vilnius and Kaunas Airports and Vilnius Railway Station.