Liberal Movement leader remembers Jevgenijus Šuklinas as a bright, community-focused figure

Liberal Movement leader Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen has described the late parliament member and athlete Jevgenijus Šuklinas as “a very bright, caring person deeply committed to his community,” following his sudden death on Tuesday, LRT.lt reports.

Šuklinas, a member of the Liberal Movement and a former Olympic canoeist, passed away unexpectedly at age 35. Colleagues and fellow party members have expressed shock and paid tribute to his character and contributions.

Liberal Movement veteran Eugenijus Gentvilas recalled Šuklinas as a disciplined and warm individual. “I’ve known him for about eight years—a very organised, dutiful person,” Gentvilas told LRT.lt. “In sport, only disciplined people achieve success, and he was the same in our community—always initiating and organising. He was warm and bright inside. When I say bright, I mean he even loved wearing light-coloured suits—a light grey suit that gave him a bright aura. It reflected his character.”

Čmilytė-Nielsen emphasised Šuklinas’ dedication to his hometown of Visaginas and his community. “We are all shocked. This is a huge loss for everyone who knew him. He was a bright, caring person who truly looked after his community. It’s hard to comprehend this news. Our deepest condolences go to his family, his wife, and his parents,” she said.

Fellow Liberal Movement member Simonas Kairys remembered Šuklinas as a patriotic and sincere figure. “It’s hard to find the words. From the very beginning, we connected over sports. I remember his genuine care for Visaginas. It’s rare to find such patriots of their hometown—someone who had an athletic career, finished his studies, returned to his city, and worked tirelessly to promote it and help it grow. He was an incredibly sincere person,” Kairys said.

The Liberal Movement’s official Facebook page published a statement from Čmilytė-Nielsen, describing Šuklinas as “a bright, active, energetic, and idea-driven person” who was the youngest member of the party’s parliamentary faction. “We will remember Jevgenijus as someone who worked sincerely for his region, the Visaginas community, sports, education, and the people around him. He believed in meaningful change and worked tirelessly for the public good. Our deepest sympathies go to his family, friends, colleagues, and the entire Visaginas community,” the statement read.

Social Democrat Mindaugas Sinkevičius and former Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius also expressed condolences, with Butkevičius noting Šuklinas’ “intelligence and composure” in parliament. “There may have been political differences, but our human connection was always there—always with a smile, never a harsh word. The Seimas will miss such people,” Butkevičius said.