LRT journalist temporarily suspends membership in Journalists’ Professional Association

Lithuanian journalist Eglė Samoškaitė has suspended her membership in the country’s Journalists’ Professional Association (ŽPA) pending an investigation into allegations that she used covert recording equipment during a closed meeting of the ruling Social Democratic Party (LSDP), the association announced Saturday.

The ŽPA stated that Samoškaitė had paused her membership “until the investigation is completed and doubts are resolved regarding the accusations of using hidden recording devices” at the LSDP council session. The association’s board questioned Samoškaitė, who denied the claims, but urged her to take legal action if the allegations were false.

“The ŽPA board expects a swift and objective law enforcement investigation to provide clear answers to the accusations against the journalist,” the association said in a Facebook post, adding that it was prepared to assist members in defending themselves but stressed that journalists must also act to counter baseless speculation.

The controversy follows reports by the BNS news agency that Social Democrats accused Samoškaitė of leaving a recording device—a pen with a built-in dictaphone—in a hotel meeting room in Vilnius district during Thursday’s party council session. According to the party, the device was placed on the floor and concealed under a table with a long tablecloth. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė and Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas, prompting the party to hand the device over to the State Protection Department.

LRT administration told BNS that its journalists covering the event “deny any illegal or unethical actions.” The Social Democrats have filed a police report, requesting a pre-trial investigation. Samoškaitė has also withdrawn from an initiative group organising protests against proposed legislative amendments regulating the national broadcaster, which critics argue threaten press freedom.

The group issued a statement Friday saying it had “no reason to distrust” Samoškaitė’s denial of wrongdoing, though it acknowledged public concerns over the published information.