Lithuanian parliament divided over candidate for genocide research centre director

The nomination of Donata Kabelkė as the next director of Lithuania’s Genocide and Resistance Research Centre (LGGRTC) faces mixed reactions in parliament, with lawmakers split over her suitability for the role, LRT reports.

Speaker Juozas Olekas confirmed that Kabelkė’s candidacy will be formally presented to the Seimas in early June, acknowledging that opinions among political factions vary. “I must be open—there are differing views. Some support her, seeing her as a fresh approach, while others argue she lacks ties to the community of exiles and political prisoners, as certain organisations backed a different candidate,” Olekas told ELTA.

Following the submission of her nomination, parliamentary groups will review Kabelkė’s qualifications before a final vote. “Once I present the candidacy, there will be time for factions to examine it. Then, lawmakers will decide,” Olekas said.

Kabelkė, currently head of the Cultural Heritage Protection Division at Vilnius Municipality, was selected by the LGGRTC council in late April. She received backing from seven of the council’s members, who cited her proposed innovations for expanding the centre’s activities. The selection process included two other candidates: incumbent director Arūnas Bubnys and Dovilė Lauraitienė, head of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park memorial complex.

Under Lithuanian law, the LGGRTC director is appointed by the Seimas for a five-year term, following a recommendation from the centre’s council. Candidates must hold a master’s degree in humanities or social sciences, have at least five years of managerial experience, and meet security clearance requirements. The law also bars individuals who collaborated with Soviet secret services or were Communist Party members from holding the position.