Lithuania raises fines for officials refusing to provide information to journalists

The Lithuanian parliament has significantly increased fines for state and municipal officials who refuse to provide information to journalists or obstruct their work, LRT reports.

Under amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences adopted Thursday, first-time violations will now carry fines ranging from €60 to €300, while repeat offences will be punishable by fines of €300 to €600. The new penalties apply to heads of state and municipal institutions.

Rimas Jonas Jankūnas, a member of the Lithuanian Farmers, Greens, and Christian Democratic Union faction, proposed the higher fines, arguing that current penalties—€20 to €140 for first offences and €50 to €300 for repeat violations—were “inadequately low.” He cited numerous cases where journalists were denied information, leaving the public uninformed.

The amendments passed with 65 votes in favour, three against, and 10 abstentions.