Around 100 protesters in Vilnius oppose Kapčiamestis military training ground and forest clearing

Around 100 people gathered in central Vilnius on Saturday to protest plans for a military training ground in Kapčiamestis and the associated clearing of forests, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) reports.

Protesters carried flags and signs with slogans such as “Hands off Lithuania’s forests” and “No to the military base at nature’s expense.” The demonstration, organised near Vilnius Cathedral, later moved toward the Seimas (parliament) building, where participants planned to deliver a resolution and address lawmakers.

Gintautas Kniukšta, chair of the “For Lithuania’s Forests” movement, told reporters that the Kapčiamestis training ground project violates international and EU law, as well as national legislation. He demanded the Seimas reject the draft law establishing the facility and called for answers to questions raised by the local community, which he said had been ignored by officials.

“Why was Kapčiamestis Forest declared completely unsuitable for a military training ground a few years ago, yet today it is presented as the key site for securing the Suwałki Corridor?” Kniukšta asked, referring to the strategic land route between Poland and Lithuania.

Protesters also criticised the government for disregarding local residents. Einaras Vildė, a 53-year-old participant from Trakai, argued that a referendum should be held on the project. “The authorities are blatantly ignoring the people who live in that region—this is unjust,” he said.

Vida Zikarienė, a Vilnius resident at the rally, linked the issue to broader environmental concerns: “We all need to breathe the clean air we still have. This isn’t just about Kapčiamestis—it’s about one of Lithuania’s most beautiful regions.”

The Seimas took a first step this week toward establishing the Kapčiamestis training ground in Lazdijai District. If approved, the 14,600-hectare site—currently home to nearly 2,000 private plots, mostly forested—would be exempt from standard land-use, construction, and environmental protection regulations. The draft law requires minimising ecological damage, with compensation for any harm caused.

Police permitted the protest for up to 5,000 participants, though attendance remained under 100.