Lithuanian Genocide and Resistance Research Centre proposes Donata Kabelkė as new director

The Lithuanian Genocide and Resistance Research Centre’s (LGGRTC) governing board has nominated Donata Kabelkė, head of Vilnius Municipality’s Cultural Heritage Protection Division, to lead the institution, LRT reports.

Kabelkė’s candidacy was selected last week and formally submitted to Seimas Speaker Juozas Olekas on Monday by LGGRTC board chairman Arūnas Streikus. The Seimas holds authority to appoint and dismiss the centre’s director.

This marks the first time the selection process for the role has been conducted openly. Previously, the parliamentary speaker made the appointment unilaterally. The competition included two other candidates: current LGGRTC director and historian Arūnas Bubnys, and Dovilė Lauraitienė, head of the Tuskulėnai Peace Park Memorial Complex. Bubnys has led the centre since April 2021.

The LGGRTC conducts scholarly and applied research into totalitarian regimes, occupations, and crimes committed against Lithuania’s population, alongside dissemination and commemoration efforts.