Lithuanian prosecutor orders LRT to individually assess each supplier data disclosure decision

The Lithuanian Prosecutor General’s Office has ordered the national broadcaster LRT to individually evaluate each case where the names of suppliers—who are natural persons—are not disclosed in public reports on programme acquisitions, BNS reports.

The decision follows a review by the Public Interest Protection Division of a request from the Seimas Audit Committee, along with additional documents. The prosecutor’s office found that LRT, in publishing a 2025 report on non-public tender programme purchases, had withheld the names of individual suppliers. A single general explanation was provided for all such cases, justifying the non-disclosure.

According to the prosecutor’s assessment, LRT failed to conduct individual evaluations for each purchase. The office stated that each case must consider specific circumstances to balance transparency in procurement with the protection of suppliers’ rights and legitimate interests. Automatic application of the same exemption to all suppliers is not permissible under the law; exceptions must be applied only after assessing individual circumstances.

LRT has been instructed to rectify the violation by reviewing each procurement case individually and publishing an updated report on its website.

In response, LRT spokesperson Augustė Mikulėnaitė told BNS that the broadcaster had already informed the prosecutor’s office it was preparing internal regulations to clarify procedures and ensure a clearer balance between transparency and the protection of legitimate interests. The new framework will outline how to assess the scope of procurement data disclosure in each case, with around 2,000 individual cases from 2025 requiring review.

Mikulėnaitė emphasised that LRT’s previous practice aimed to ensure not only transparency but also proportionality, confidentiality, and the protection of personal data and interests. She added that LRT had consulted the State Data Protection Inspectorate but, without a clear answer, began developing the new disclosure framework.