Last week, Lithuania launched Rail Baltica infrastructure construction tender, Transport authorities mull financially supporting 12 flights
Lithuanian government discusses 2023 budget package
The Lithuanian government discuss on Friday, 7 October, next year’s draft budgets for the central government and municipalities, and the state social insurance fund Sodra and the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund. Once endorsed by the Cabinet, the budget package will go to the parliament for approval. The central government budget deficit is projected at 4.9 percent next year. Finance Minister Gintarė Skaistė said on Thursday, 6 October, that a key priority was to contain the energy price shock and to take measures to maintain people’s purchasing power. The Compulsory Health Insurance Fund’s budget for 2023 is balanced, with both revenue and expenditure projected at 3.118 billion euros, 11.7 percent more than the 2022 estimate.
Lithuania kicks off Rail Baltica infrastructure construction tender
LTG Infra, the infrastructure subsidiary of Lietuvos Geležinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways, LTG), has launched a procurement process, worth 1.3 billion euros including VAT, for the construction of Rail Baltica infrastructure between Kaunas and Lithuania’s border with Latvia. The aim is to select companies to build a new railway embankment, engineering structures and access roads on the European-gauge railway’s section between Lithuania’s second-biggest city and the border with Latvia, LTG said on Thursday, 6 October.
Vilnius to mark birthday with comical 90s-style campaign
«Go Vilnius», the Lithuanian capital’s tourism and business development agency, has created an advertising campaign to raise Vilnius’ profile abroad for its 700th birthday, and it will employ humour to attract foreigners’ attention. Dubbed the «Belated Birthday Greetings», the campaign will feature an early 90s-style video showing Vilnius creating a series of birthday cards, the agency said on Thursday, October 6. The postcards are meant for those who «forget to congratulate the city on its birthday» because they still don’t know enough about Vilnius, the agency said. Foreigners will also be directed to the campaign’s website 700birthdaycards.lt. The clip also features foreigners from Italy, Kenya, Mongolia and Kazakhstan living in Vilnius. Inga Romanovskienė, director of «Go Vilnius», says one of the most effective ways to attract the attention of foreigners to Vilnius is not to be afraid to make bold decisions and sometimes to laugh at yourself.
Lithuania mulls financially supporting 12 flights
Lithuania could contribute financially to the creation of some 12 new flight destinations under an air transport promotion model proposed by consultants this summer. The specific number of such routes should be determined by the availability of funds in the country’s budget, the deputy minister of transport and communications said. It was announced this summer that the proposed promotion model would provide air links to at least 10 important destinations for Lithuania over a decade, including Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, Munich and Rome.
Lithuania reports 892 new Covid-19 cases, 1 death
Lithuania recorded 892 new coronavirus infections and one death from COVID-19 over Wednesday, 5 October, the country’s health authority, LVSC, announced on Thursday, 6 October. Of the new cases, 699 were primary, 180 were secondary and 13 were tertiary. The number of patients hospitalised with Covid-19 now stands at 158, including nine ICU cases. The 14-day primary infection rate has edged down to 481.7 cases per 100,000 people, with the seven-day percentage of positive tests down to 35.5 percent. More than 1.2 million people in Lithuania have tested positive with Covid-19 at least once.
Border guards deter 122 migrants from crossing in from Belarus
Lithuanian border guards turned away 122 migrants attempting to cross into the country from Belarus illegally over Wednesday, 5 October, the State Border Guard Service (SBGS) said on Thursday, 6 October. A total of 8 800 irregular migrants have been stopped from entering Lithuania since January. Lithuanian border guards have sent more than 16 800 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.
Football Federation promises changes under MPs’ pressure
The Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF) promised on Wednesday, 5 October, to amend its statutes by the end of the year, as the parliament considers temporarily placing the organisation under the state’s direct management. Luca Nicola, head of national associations governance and global institutions at UEFA, reiterated UEFA’s warning that Lithuania’s national football team and clubs would be suspended from international tournaments if the parliament passed a law to introduce temporary direct management for the LFF. Despite earlier warnings by FIFA and UEFA of a possible suspension, the draft law on temporary direct management for the LFF last week passed the first reading in the parliament. Among other things, the law would bar individuals convicted of intentional crimes from holding top positions in the federation. The Seimas’ lawyers have submitted their opinion that the bill runs counter to the Constitution, but the parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs has rejected it.
Lithuania expects new X-ray system to curb smuggling
A new X-ray control system installed and put into trial operation at Lithuania’s Kena border checkpoint will help reduce the volume of contraband smuggled into the country by train from Belarus, Finance minister Gintare Skaistė said on Wednesday, 5 October. The system will also contribute to Lithuania’s national security interests and business efficiency, she said. Karolis Sankovski, CEO of LTG Infra, the infrastructure subsidiary of Lietuvos Geležinkeliai (Lithuanian Railways, LTG), said that officials will be able to unhitch fewer train cars for inspection at the Vaidotai railway station than they do now. According to the Customs Department’s deputy director general, the X-ray inspection system should be fully operational within one to two months. Between four and eight freight trains currently cross the Lithuanian-Belarusian border per day, she said.
Vilnius puts off removal of Soviet steles after UN HRC’s intervention
Vilnius has put off the removal of Soviet sculptures after the United Nations Human Rights Committee reported that interim measures had been imposed on the monuments at Antakalnis Cemetery. The Justice Ministry said it had received the letter after the committee was approached by several individuals calling themselves «ethnic Russians», including Kazimieras Juraitis, who went to meet with the Belarusian authorities earlier this year, as well as Dmitrij Glazkov, Tatiana Brandt and Anastasija Brandt. Lithuania’s position on the interim measures was sent to the committee on Thursday, October 6, the ministry said. Justice minister Ewelina Dobrowolska says Lithuania maintains that the interim measures were imposed on the basis of misleading information. The initial plan was to remove the steles by 1 November, and Vilniaus BDT, a company that won the municipal tender, offered to do so for 48 000 euros.
Lithuanian citizen handcuffed for spying for Belarus
Lithuania’s law enforcement officers have detained Mantas Danielius, a Lithuanian citizen, for spying for Belarus, the police and prosecution service confirmed on Tuesday, 4 October. A court has sanctioned the man’s arrest for two months, he said. Danielius is facing allegations under the Criminal Code article on liability for those «who, in performing an assignment of another state or organization thereof, seizes, purchases or otherwise collects or communicates the information constituting a state secret of the Republic of Lithuania or another information of interest to the intelligence of a foreign state». He is facing a prison term ranging from six to up to fifteen years. Danielius is believed to have infiltrated Belarusian opposition organisations in Vilnius, introducing himself as a business consultant. He would give lectures and offer legal assistance, the TV channels claims, adding that the man helped the Belarusian organisations Our House and Dapamoga.
Week in Lithuania: Football Federation promises changes under MPs’ pressure, Lithuanian citizen detained for spying for Belarus
