Thousands gather in Vilnius to protest against media restrictions

Several thousand demonstrators assembled outside Lithuania’s parliament on Wednesday evening to protest proposed legal changes they say threaten press freedom, LRT.lt and BNS report.

The rally, under the slogan “Hands off free speech. We will not surrender,” marks the latest in a series of protests against amendments that critics argue would politicise the national broadcaster LRT. Organisers accused authorities of attempting to wear down public resistance, stating: “They hope we will grow tired, that we will give up protesting, believing nothing can change. But we will not surrender.”

Protesters warned the proposed law would hand control of the public broadcaster to politicians, undermining the right to unbiased information. “This is the same path already taken in Hungary and Slovakia,” organisers said in a statement. A parallel demonstration is scheduled for 7 PM in Šiauliai.

The protests follow months of opposition to the draft legislation, which has drawn tens of thousands to previous rallies. Critics argue the changes would align Lithuania with countries where media independence has been eroded.