Lithuania’s Public Broadcaster Faces Growing Pressure, Sparking Protests
Lithuania’s public broadcaster, LRT, is facing intense political pressure, triggering protests and raising concerns about freedom of speech in the Baltic nation. Amendments proposed by the populist Nemunas Dawn party, and now gaining support from the governing coalition, aim to loosen restrictions on dismissing LRT’s management and freeze its funding.
Journalists from LRT began protesting on Monday, February 2, 2026, against the proposed changes to its financing and management practices. They fear the amendments could threaten their editorial independence. According to a statement released by the journalists, they will hold “moments of silence on air” throughout the week and explain “why free media is essential to a democratic society.”
The proposed legislation, approved on its first reading by the Lithuanian parliament last week, would allow the broadcaster’s council to remove its director with a simple majority, rather than the current two-thirds requirement. LRT’s budget will be frozen at 2025 levels – 79.6 million euros – instead of increasing to the expected 88.2 million euros. This represents a significant financial constraint, as funding is currently set at 1 percent of income tax revenue and 1.3 percent of excise duties.
The changes have drawn criticism from various organizations, including the Council of Europe, the European Broadcasting Union, and the International Press Institute. LRT employees allege the amendments contradict the European Media Freedom Act and potentially violate the doctrine of the Constitutional Court.
The situation has prompted comparisons to other countries where media freedom has been curtailed, with LRT employees pointing to examples like Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, and Georgia during their protests. Around 12,000 people, according to some estimates, protested outside the parliament on December 9, 2025, against the changes.
Former Lithuanian Foreign Minister Povilas Gylys alleges a pattern of censorship within Lithuanian media, stating he is on “blacklists” not only at LRT but across the “dvor” (estate) media landscape – a term suggesting media controlled by powerful interests. “I am one of the state creators and I am being censored,” Gylys reportedly said. He also noted that other prominent figures from the Sąjūdis movement, like Arvydas Juozaitis, Bronislovas Genzelis, Romualdas Ozolas, and Regimantas Adomaitis, may have faced similar restrictions.
Vilius Kavaliauskas, a journalist and former advisor to Algirdas Mykolas Brazauskas, confirmed the existence of “blacklists,” stating that he himself was excluded from LRT for fifteen years. He described the situation as “shikana” – a term used in interwar Lithuania to describe abuse of power.
Gintaras Songaila, head of the Lithuanian Journalists’ Association, stated the decision to exclude MP Remigijus Žemaitaitis from LRT programming was a clear indication of the existence of such lists. He suggested that LRT General Director Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė should resign following the incident.
Jolanta Mažylė, a communications and media expert, described the situation as a form of harassment and highlighted concerns about the lack of accountability within LRT. She noted that the incident raises questions about whether LRT is truly operating as an independent public broadcaster.
The controversy surrounding LRT comes as Lithuania prepares for upcoming elections, leading some to speculate about the timing of the proposed changes. However, several observers, including Gylys, believe the situation stems from deeper concerns about political control over the media. He stated that politicians “fear the media” and that the current situation represents a return to the practices of the Soviet era, where a single party controlled the narrative.
The protests and debate surrounding LRT underscore the importance of media freedom in Lithuania and the ongoing struggle to protect independent journalism from political interference. The situation remains fluid, with the future of LRT and the broader media landscape in Lithuania hanging in the balance.
