Linas Jegelevičius
This week, Lithuania has paid special attention to defense issues, and preparations have begun for the planned NATO summit in July, during which it is planned to host up to five thousand participants.
Vilnius hosts annual Snow Meeting of security policy experts
Vilnius hosted on Friday, the 20th of January, the annual Snow Meeting of security policy experts. The Snow Meeting 2023 focused on the Western support for Ukraine and priorities of the upcoming NATO Summit in Vilnius on the 11th and 12th of July. The ministry has said that the Alliance’s summit, to be hosted by Lithuania for the first time, is expected to bring together around 40 delegations from NATO member and partner countries, with around 5,000 people estimated to attend the event and accompany the delegations. The Snow Meeting, held for the sixteenth time this year, brought together Lithuanian and foreign politicians, representatives of various institutions, security policy experts, and academic community members.
Scammers collect information on refugees
Scammers pretending to be employees of the Migration Department are trying to collect information on Ukrainian war refugees, the department warned on Thursday, the 19th of January. Using an officially non-existent e-mail address, scammers are sending out emails claiming that in cooperation with the governments of Lithuania and Ukraine, the Migration Department is conducting a search for Ukrainian war refugees in Lithuania, adding that it allegedly has to do with military service. The email also includes a fictitious questionnaire and Ukrainian citizens are asked to fill it in, provide personal data and send it to the consular unit of the Ukrainian Embassy in Lithuania. The Migration Department warns that this is fake news as it has not created any personal data questionnaires and is not looking for Ukrainian military refugees over military service.
Lithuania wants all NATO members to allot 2 percent of GDP to defence
Lithuania will push for July’s NATO summit in Vilnius to agree on a firm commitment to spend at least two percent of GDP on defence Kestutis Budrys, President Gitanas Nausėda’s chief national security advisor, told reporters at the parliament on Thursday, the 19th of January. The Seimas hosted on Thursday a discussion among politicians, decision-makers and experts on the challenges and opportunities of the Vilnius summit. The conference was open to the public but was held under the so-called Chatham House rule, which means that speakers can be quoted but not named. Budrys and other participants of the conference said that ramping up defence spending is necessary in light of the situation resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The latest figures show that nine out of 30 NATO countries currently spend 2 percent of their GDP or more on defence. Lithuania has earmarked 2,52 percent for national defence this year.
Lithuanian woman loses 164,400 euros to fraudsters
A Vilnius District resident has lost 164,400 euros to fraudsters, which is one of the largest sums people have been scammed of in Lithuania in recent years, the Police Department said on Wednesday, the 18th of January. The woman, 49, lost the money over a seven-month period and turned to police on Wednesday and said an unidentified person had defrauded her of money through the online investment platform Trade Platform. The victim said the money was lured from her from the 1st of June, 2022 until the 17th of January. Police have opened a pre-trial investigation into for large-scale fraud punishable by up to eight years in prison.
Appeals court acquits Panevėžys mayor of abuse charges
The Lithuanian Court of Appeal on Wednesday, the 18th of January, acquitted Rytis Mykolas Račkauskas, the mayor of the northern Lithuanian town of Panevėžys, of charges of abuse of office. Gintarė Maskoliunienė, his advisor, was acquitted along with the mayor. Almost a year ago, Siauliai Regional Court found the mayor guilty of abuse of office, fined him 30,000 euros, barred him from serving in the civil service for five years, and confiscated more than 5,000 euros. Račkauskas was accused of giving unlawful instructions via Maskoliūnienė, his advisor, to municipal officials so that Lukrecijos Reklama, a company linked to businessman Marius Vaupšas, could win the municipality’s contracts for publicity and communication services. This is the second case in which the Panevėžys mayor has had all charges against him dropped.
Sabaliauskaitė named honorary citizen of Vilnius
Lithuanian writer Kristina Sabaliauskaitė was named an honorary citizen of Vilnius by the Lithuanian capital’s council. She was nominated by Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Šimašius. Sabaliauskaitė represents Vilnius in the global literature and culture arena, the mayor said. Sabaliauskaitė is one of the most famous contemporary Lithuanian writers. She has lived in London since 2002. Vilnius has been naming its honorary citizens since 1996. Other awardees include ex-President Valdas Adamkus, Vytautas Landsbergis, chairman of the Supreme Council-Reconstituent Seimas, priest and dissident Julius Sasnauskas, and the founders of the MO Museum, Viktoras Butkus and Danguole Butkienė.
National phone prefix to be changed from 8 to 0
The national phone prefix in Lithuania will be changed from 8 to 0 by 2025, the country’s Communications Regulatory Authority (RRT) said on Tuesday, the 17th of January. The change of the National telephone numbering plan was launched back in 2002 when Lithuania was preparing to join the European Union. Indre Jurgelionienė, director of the Network Regulation Department at the RRT, said that the completion of the numbering system overhaul and the introduction of the national prefix 0 was hampered 20 years ago by the use of short emergency numbers some of which used 0 as the initial number: 01, 02, 03, 101, 102, 103, 011, 022, 033. People who already use the country code +370 for Lithuania and save their contact numbers using this code will not be affected at all. The RRT already recommends saving phone numbers with the code +370.
Teltonika, Taiwan’s institute sign 14-million-euro contract
Teltonika IoT Group, a Lithuanian IoT solution developer, and Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute signed in Vilnius a 14-million-euro contract on sharing semiconductor chip technology. Under the deal, Teltonika acquires the right to use licenses for semiconductor chip manufacturing technologies and devices developed by the institute, and will also receive assistance with detailed designs and engineering training for its employees, the company said. As part of the agreement, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs will provide 10 million euros and the Teltonika Group will contribute the remaining 4 million euros. Projects needed by the semiconductor industry are expected to be completed by 2027.
Week in Lithuania: Scammers collect information on Ukrainian refugees, Teltonika signs contract with Taiwan
