Valotka faces calls to reconsider role after comments on language use

Vilnius — A senior advisor to Lithuania’s prime minister has urged the head of the State Language Inspectorate to reassess his fitness to serve, following remarks on the acceptability of certain words in public discourse.

In a statement carried by the ELTA news wire on March 20, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė’s advisor Ignas Algirdas Dobrovolskas said comments by State Language Inspectorate (VKI) chief Audrius Valotka were “incomprehensible” and incompatible with modern public language standards.

“Under no circumstances can insults be tolerated or become the norm,” Dobrovolskas said. “Following such statements—especially when they are not the first of their kind—Audrius Valotka should reassess whether he is able to continue in his role as head of the VKI.”

Human rights groups are preparing a formal appeal to government officials over Valotka’s remarks. The Lithuanian Human Rights Centre, along with coalition partners, said it will address a letter to Prime Minister Šimonytė, the chair of the Seimas Culture Committee, and the Minister of Culture, calling for a formal review of Valotka’s statements and appropriate action.

“No one should be allowed to diminish others or their identities, especially public officials whose duty is to serve all citizens, not just a select group,” the centre wrote on Facebook.

The groups argue that Valotka’s statements reflect a consistent position that stigmatises parts of the population and undermines both the authority of the inspectorate and the public servant’s role.

In response, Valotka told LRT.lt that the words “negras” and “čigonas” are acceptable in Lithuanian. He described “negras” as a normal and permissible term and characterised “čigonas” as an old, traditional, and positive word, attributing its origin to the German “Zigeuner.” He also cited the existence of a community group called “Čigonų laužas” (Roma Camp) as evidence of the term’s acceptability.

“You need to look at the context,” Valotka said. “Roma communities should not regulate the Lithuanian language. The word ‘čigonas’ is a fact of the Lithuanian language—it is part of our linguistic heritage. It appears in folklore and poetry.”

Culture Minister Vaida Aleknavičienė said she will meet with Valotka on Monday to discuss the remarks and has requested a written explanation. Both the minister and her office have distanced themselves from Valotka’s stance.

ELTA noted that Valotka has faced criticism for public statements on multiple occasions. In May 2023, sixteen human rights organisations wrote to then-Culture Minister Šarūnas Birutis urging him not to appoint Valotka to lead the VKI, citing concerns over xenophobic rhetoric and stigmatising narratives regarding ethnic minorities and migrant communities. In August of that year, Birutis issued a formal reprimand to Valotka for comments made on the “Alfa taškas” show, in which he called for the abandonment of Polish-language schools in Lithuania.

In October 2023, Valotka received a formal warning for remarks about passengers speaking “non-Lithuanian languages,” which he described as “rat languages.”