Lithuanian parliament’s security committee approves Kapčiamiesčio military range bill

The Lithuanian parliament’s National Security and Defence Committee (NSGK) on Wednesday endorsed a draft law establishing the Kapčiamiesčio military training range, clearing the way for a full parliamentary vote on Tuesday, LRT.lt reports.

Committee member Dainius Gaižauskas of the opposition Rural Affairs Party initially proposed postponing the debate, citing unresolved questions about the site selection process and insufficient information. Only two other committee members—Nemuno Aušra representatives Aidas Gedvilas and Martynas Gedvilas—supported the delay. Gaižauskas later abstained in the final vote, while all other committee members backed the bill.

Social Democrat Tomas Martinaitis dismissed calls to remove the issue from the agenda, calling it “a matter of national existence” that could not be delayed by procedural disputes.

Debates focused on compensation for landowners in the designated area. The committee rejected proposals to allow compensation in the form of equivalent property, with chairman Rimantas Sinkevičius warning it would lead to legal disputes and delays. Lawmakers also discussed whether environmental mitigation costs should be covered by the Defence or Environment Ministry budgets.

Local community representatives argued the bill failed to assess the project’s impact on the region, offered inadequate relocation timelines, and provided unfair compensation. Their request to reject or return the draft for revisions was not supported.

The committee did extend the decision period for property owners in the training zone from five to ten years. “Five years is not enough time for people to understand how the range will affect their lives,” said committee member Ingrida Šimonytė.

Defence officials confirmed plans to preserve a nearby Stone Age settlement as a historical site. The ministry proposes compensation of €52,000 plus property value for expropriated homesteads, over €5,000 for plots, and €25,000 for those in the training zone. Full operations are targeted for 2030, with initial manoeuvres expected by 2028.

The bill passed its first parliamentary reading in March with 102 votes in favour, 10 against, and 5 abstentions, despite objections from some coalition members over the project’s urgency.