Lithuania’s social democrats to cooperate with conservatives to demolish Moscow House in Vilnius

Lithuania’s ruling Social Democratic Party (LSDP) will work with opposition conservatives to accelerate the demolition of the unfinished “Moscow House” complex in Vilnius, party leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius announced on Thursday, LRT reports.

Sinkevičius urged Vilnius authorities to take action after the city’s mayor proposed demolishing the long-stalled construction—dubbed “Moscow House”—on public interest grounds, a move that would bypass years of legal delays. The building, located near the city center and the former Žalgiris stadium site, was ordered demolished by a court four years ago but remains standing.

“I’d like to encourage Vilnius officials to act. Yesterday, I spoke with [conservative MP] Valdas Benkunskas and asked, ‘Where’s your sledgehammer? I’ll find mine, and we’ll start working,’” Sinkevičius told reporters in parliament. “We’ll do everything possible to demolish it as quickly as possible. It’s unique that even conservative colleagues are cooperating with social democrats to remove this eyesore that offends everyone.”

Benkunskas, a member of the opposition Homeland Union, had proposed amending charity laws to allow construction firms to donate demolition work as a form of public service. The Building Inspection Authority previously rejected this approach, citing conflicts of interest, as it regulates the same firms. Environment Minister Kastytis Žuromskas suggested the ministry could transfer demolition obligations to a Vilnius municipal company via a tripartite court agreement.

The latest demolition tender failed in December after all four participating firms either lacked qualifications or missed document deadlines. A 2023 Supreme Court ruling upheld the exclusion of one bidder, Vilniaus BDT, clearing the way for a new tender—though another rejected firm, Regina ir Co, has since filed an appeal, further delaying the process.

Conceived in 2004 during a visit by then-Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov to mark the 750th anniversary of King Mindaugas’s coronation, the project envisioned twin “Moscow House” and “Vilnius House” complexes in each capital. Construction in Vilnius stalled amid political tensions and financial disputes, leaving the skeletal structure unfinished.