Lithuania’s drop in press freedom ranking linked to political climate, not specific decisions

Lithuania’s one-place decline in the global Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Press Freedom Index is tied to broader political tensions rather than individual government actions, the head of the Seimas Culture Committee said Thursday.

Kęstutis Vilkauskas told BNS the shift from 14th to 15th place reflects the “general atmosphere” surrounding media policy debates, including protests and legal disputes over reforms to public broadcaster LRT’s governance. “I don’t think press freedom is worsening,” he said. “People are actively expressing their views—this is more about the overall context than specific decisions.”

RSF’s report highlighted concerns over proposed legal amendments that critics argue could weaken LRT’s editorial independence. Vilkauskas countered that the committee had addressed key issues—such as LRT’s mission statement and public service contracts—adding that finalising these reforms would “reduce tensions.”

To improve Lithuania’s ranking, Vilkauskas called for completing the LRT law overhaul and revising the Public Information Act to clarify regulations for online media, aligning with EU standards. A working group under the Culture Ministry is currently reviewing these gaps.

While RSF noted that direct political attacks on journalists remain rare, it flagged persistent challenges: state institutions often withhold information without justification, and courts occasionally prioritise data protection over press freedom. The report also warned that cuts to the Media Support Fund could harm regional outlets and media pluralism.

Lithuania peaked at 7th place in 2023 but has since slipped, now trailing Latvia (17th) and Estonia (3rd). The RSF index cited lingering effects of the COVID-19 era, when verbal attacks on media became normalised, and emphasised public trust in journalism—despite pockets of conspiracy-driven scepticism.