Human rights groups prepare appeal to authorities over State Language Inspectorate head’s remarks

Human rights organisations in Lithuania are drafting a formal appeal to government officials after the head of the State Language Inspectorate (VKI), Audrius Valotka, publicly stated that the words “negras” (a term for Black people) and “čigonas” (a term for Romani people) are acceptable, LRT reports.

The Lithuanian Human Rights Centre, alongside members of the Human Rights Organisations Coalition, announced on Friday they would address Minister-President Inga Ruginienė, Seimas Culture Committee Chair Kęstutis Vilkauskas, and Culture Minister Vaida Aleknavičienė. The groups are demanding an official assessment of Valotka’s statements and “concrete actions” in response.

“No one should allow themselves to demean others or dismiss the historical context tied to their identities,” the Human Rights Centre wrote on Facebook. “This is especially true for public servants, whose duty is to serve all citizens—not just a select group.”

The organisations argue that Valotka’s remarks reflect a consistent pattern of behaviour that “degrades part of the country’s population” and undermines the reputation of both the inspectorate and its leader. In an interview with LRT.lt, Valotka defended the terms, claiming “negras” is a “normal, permissible word” and “čigonas” a “traditional, good word” rooted in Lithuanian language and folklore. He dismissed criticism from Romani communities, stating they had named their own association the “Čigonų laužas” (Romani Hearth).

Culture Minister Aleknavičienė has scheduled a meeting with Valotka to discuss the issue and requested a written explanation. The ministry has previously opposed his position. This is not the first controversy involving Valotka: in May 2023, 16 human rights groups urged then-Culture Minister Šarūnas Birutis to reject Valotka’s appointment, citing a history of “xenophobic attitudes” and “stigmatising narratives” toward minorities. Birutis later issued a reprimand after Valotka called for abolishing Polish-language schools in Lithuania during a TV broadcast. Additional disciplinary action followed in October 2023 for remarks about “moths speaking čiurkų [derogatory term] languages,” though Valotka claimed he had said “tiurkų” (Turkic).

Earlier criticism also targeted his comparison of Polish village signs in Vilnius District to markers in Russia-occupied Donbas, which he argued violated Lithuanian law.