Lithuanian arts community protests controversial takeover of culture ministry

Published on 05/10/2025 - 17:53 GMT+2

Protesters crossed the state called for the defence of culture, ideology and state of code pursuing the ruling coalition's determination to manus implicit the civilization ministry to Dawn of Nemunas party.

The arguable enactment is headed by MP Remigijus Žemaitaitis, who has been accused of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial, and is presently facing trial. Žemaitaitis has besides questioned Lithuania's enactment for Ukraine and criticized rising defence spending successful the country.

Cultural organizations, including the Cultural Protest Assembly, pass that handing implicit the ministry to Nemunas Dawn threatens state of expression, media independency and the country's halfway antiauthoritarian values.

"We volition not let pro-Russian populists to instrumentality civilization hostage," chanted demonstrators successful Kaunas, Lithuania's 2nd largest city.

Although protests took spot successful respective Lithuanian cities, participants organized a associated infinitesimal of unity astatine 2pm, erstwhile taste institutions crossed the state simultaneously played the symphonic poem "The Sea" by Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis. The portion was adopted arsenic the unofficial anthem and "distress signal" of the movement.

A manifesto entitled "This could beryllium the past time" was besides work retired during the demonstration, stating that "this could beryllium the past clip that civilization remains our communal language".

Žemaitaitis criticised the protesters, calling them "loudmouths" successful a Facebook post. "People of civilization came to an uncultured rally! It turns retired that lone loudmouths tin make civilization and art," helium wrote. He added that "real artists proceed to make art, portion loudmouths and radical who person thing to bash with civilization conscionable shout".

The organizers said that Sunday's protestation was a informing and that they program to instrumentality further enactment if the authorities does not backmost down from its decision.