Organisers of “Hands Off” movement announce new protest against LRT law amendments

The Žinios movement and the Journalists’ Professional Association (ŽPA), alongside the Cultural Assembly, will hold another protest next week against proposed amendments to Lithuania’s national broadcaster LRT law, LRT reports.

The demonstration, titled “Hands Off Free Speech! We Will Not Surrender,” will take place on April 25 at 4 p.m. in Vilnius Cathedral Square. Organisers are urging broader public participation after previous protests outside the Seimas (parliament) drew tens of thousands.

“We see that the authorities are not satisfied with tens of thousands gathering here under the Seimas windows, so we believe we need to increase these numbers,” ŽPA chair Birutė Davidonytė told journalists on Friday.

A symbolic bulldozer decorated with red roses and the slogan “LRT Amendments” was unveiled as the protest’s new emblem. Organisers stated it will remain outside the Seimas throughout the law’s deliberation.

The amendments, currently under review by the Seimas Culture Committee, propose restructuring LRT’s governance, including the creation of a new Governing Board, changes to its Council composition, and revised grounds for dismissing the director-general. The draft also restricts other media outlets from operating on LRT channels or its website without Council approval, requiring conflict-of-interest declarations for contributors affiliated with external media.

Last week, protesters gathered outside the Seimas to oppose the changes, arguing they threaten media freedom. The Culture Committee has extended discussions, with a full-day session planned for Friday, April 19, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Venice Commission is reviewing the amendments under an urgent procedure. The proposed changes follow a failed attempt last December to fast-track different amendments simplifying the dismissal process for LRT’s director-general.