Lithuanian national broadcaster acknowledges employees’ protest as lawful expression of press freedom

The administration of Lithuania’s national public broadcaster LRT has recognised an employee-led protest as a legitimate exercise of constitutional and legal rights to defend freedom of speech and the press, the BNS news agency reports.

In a written response to the LRT governing council, the administration stated that journalists had organised the “Hands Off” campaign independently, informing management as required. The protest’s legal basis rests on Lithuania’s Law on the Provision of Information to the Public and the constitutional obligation to protect media freedom, the statement said.

Mindaugas Jurkynas, chair of the LRT council, confirmed that members had reviewed the administration’s position and would not revisit the issue. No further questions arose after examining the submitted materials.

The protest follows a March incident in which dozens of LRT journalists entered a closed council meeting to voice concerns over proposed governance changes, prompting the session’s adjournment. Council member Jonas Staselis had filed a complaint with police alleging disorderly conduct, but authorities declined to open a pre-trial investigation, citing insufficient evidence of criminal activity.

Earlier this month, the LRT council had urged staff to avoid using on-air silence as protest, warning it risked setting a “dangerous precedent” and strayed from the broadcaster’s mission.