New protest against government moves on LRT planned for April

A fresh wave of protests will take place in Vilnius on April 8 against proposed legal changes that critics say threaten the independence of Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT, organisers announced on Monday.

The demonstration, titled “Hands Off” (Šalin rankas), will begin at 6 p.m. in Independence Square outside the Seimas (parliament), according to LRT.lt. It follows mass rallies in December against the same legislative push, which opponents argue would politicise the broadcaster and introduce censorship-like restrictions.

A parliamentary working group, from which opposition members have since withdrawn in protest, drafted amendments that would limit the involvement of other media representatives in LRT’s content creation. The proposal also expands the grounds for dismissing LRT’s director, including for “improper performance of duties,” “violation of public interest,” “gross misconduct,” or failure to meet “irreproachable reputation” standards. The bill cleared its first parliamentary hurdle last week.

Organisers accused the ruling coalition of exploiting holiday periods—first Christmas, now Easter—to advance the legislation with minimal public scrutiny. The Seimas is set to debate the bill on April 7, the first working day after Easter, with a final vote possible shortly after.

“Despite tens of thousands of you protesting in December, those in power are returning to a law that could politicise LRT. This is a direct and rapid path to seizing control of your public broadcaster—this time with elements resembling censorship,” the organisers stated. They warned the changes would undermine the public’s right to “know and receive fair information,” drawing parallels to media crackdowns in Hungary and Slovakia.

The protest call singled out specific lawmakers—including Žemaitaitis, Skardžius, Zuokas, and Girskienė—questioning whether control of LRT should be handed to figures who “openly vote against projects vital to Lithuania’s national security,” such as a planned military training ground. “If we surrender our public broadcaster, what will we surrender next?” the statement read.

The ruling coalition has also decided not to seek the government’s official opinion on the bill, a step typically taken for major legislative changes.

LRT (Lithuanian National Radio and Television) is Lithuania’s public service broadcaster, funded by licence fees and governed by laws designed to ensure its editorial independence.