Lithuania must show resolve in demolishing Moscow House in Vilnius, says opposition leader

Lithuania’s government must demonstrate “backbone” in enforcing a court order to demolish the controversial Moscow House complex in central Vilnius, opposition Social Democratic Party leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius said on Wednesday, according to state broadcaster LRT.

Sinkevičius criticised years of delays in removing the unfinished building, calling it a “symbol of Russia’s era of influence” that continues to stand in the heart of the capital. “It’s embarrassing to watch our institutions fail to act on tearing down this disgraceful Moscow House structure,” he wrote on Facebook, urging authorities to “finally end this saga” and make clear that Lithuania “will not tolerate Russia’s legacy in our capital’s centre.”

The politician expressed support for Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas’ proposal to demolish the building through public-private cooperation, even if it requires amending charity laws to allow state agencies to accept corporate donations for such work. “If the mayor has decided to break this inter-agency deadlock and demolish Moscow House—with all the legal consequences—we will back him,” Sinkevičius said, challenging critics to “see who dares defend an occupier’s building in our city centre.”

Construction of the complex, intended as a reciprocal project to Vilnius House in Moscow, began in 2004 following a visit by then-Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov. The Lithuanian site, near the former Žalgiris Stadium, was abandoned after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. A 2023 court ruling ordered its demolition, but procedural hurdles and failed tenders—including a rejected bid by construction firm Regina ir Co—have stalled progress. The latest tender in late 2025 collapsed after all four bidders either failed qualifications or missed deadlines.

Major construction firms have signalled openness to Benkunskas’ initiative, though no formal agreements exist. The Building Inspection Service, which would oversee demolition, previously stated it cannot accept donations from companies it regulates, casting doubt on the plan’s feasibility.