Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference says nomination of Ruškytė to LRT council followed legal procedure

The Lithuanian Bishops’ Conference (LVK) has stated that its nomination of Ramutė Ruškytė, an adviser to Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė, to the council of Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT followed the procedure set out in law, LRT reports.

Ruškytė, a lawyer with decades of experience and a former judge of the Constitutional Court, was proposed by the LVK after confirming she would resign from her political appointment if selected. According to the conference, she informed them that, if elected, she would step down from her advisory role at the ministry, as holding both positions simultaneously would violate LRT’s governing legislation.

“When asked whether she would agree to be nominated to the LRT council, Ramutė Ruškytė stated that—if elected—she would resign from her position of political confidence in the Ministry of Justice, as these duties are incompatible with membership on the LRT council under the law,” the LVK wrote in its response to the ELTA news agency.

The conference emphasised Ruškytė’s professional qualifications, noting her extensive legal career, her former role as a Constitutional Court judge, and the fact that she has never been affiliated with any political party. Ruškytė joined Tamašunienė’s team in October last year, advising on criminal justice, constitutional, and administrative law.

Current LRT legislation prohibits council members from simultaneously serving in the Seimas, government, or Radio and Television Commission, or from having contractual ties to private broadcasters or working at LRT itself. The Justice Ministry confirmed on Friday that Ruškytė would resign her advisory position if appointed. Her term on the LRT council would begin on May 20.

The LRT council currently has 11 members following the resignation of Giedrius Jucevičius, a presidential appointee. President Gitanas Nausėda has indicated he intends to replace Jucevičius with a candidate unaffiliated with political parties. The 12-member council comprises four appointees each from the president, the Seimas, and public organisations.

Other civic organisations—including the Lithuanian Council of Science, the Lithuanian Creators’ Association, and the Lithuanian Education Council—must submit their nominees for the LRT council by mid-May.