LRT Decision on Žemaitaitis: Media Freedom Isn’t a Privilege
LRT Reverses Decision to Ban Party Leader from Broadcasts
Lithuania’s national broadcaster, LRT, initially decided to stop inviting Ramūnas karbauskis, chairman of the Lithuanian Freedom and Duty party, to appear on its programs, a move that sparked public debate and was later reversed. The initial decision, made on January 12, 2026, stemmed from concerns over Karbauskis’s rhetoric, but LRT acknowledged a procedural error in its implementation.
Background and Context
The controversy began when LRT informed Karbauskis that he would no longer be invited to participate in LRT broadcasts. LRT Director general Monika Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė stated the decision was based on Karbauskis’s repeated use of divisive language and a “we versus them” narrative, specifically referencing his statements made on January 9, 2026, during a political talk show. However, LRT admitted that the decision was made without following established internal procedures for assessing and addressing possibly biased or harmful speech.
Reversal and Apology
Following criticism from political figures and media outlets, LRT reversed its decision on January 13, 2026. Garbačiauskaitė-Budrienė publicly acknowledged the error in the process and apologized to Karbauskis. She emphasized that LRT remains committed to providing a platform for diverse political viewpoints, but that all guests are expected to adhere to journalistic standards and avoid inciting hatred or division. According to a statement released by LRT on January 13, 2026, the initial decision was “not in line with LRT’s principles of impartiality and fairness.”
As reported by LRT English, the broadcaster is reviewing its internal procedures to prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.