Vilnius prioritises integration in debate over services for Ukrainians and Belarusians

Vilnius Municipality says learning Lithuanian is the best way for Ukrainians and Belarusians arriving in the capital to integrate, after Parliament Speaker Juozas Olekas called for them to be served in their own languages, LRT reported.

“Vilnius Municipality believes that learning the state language is one of the most important measures helping new residents from abroad to integrate into the capital,” the municipality told BNS.

It said that learning the basics of Lithuanian gives residents more opportunities to access both public and private services. Over time, stronger integration into local communities also increases satisfaction among foreigners who speak Lithuanian with the city and the services it provides, the municipality said.

BNS reported that the municipality announced last week that it would no longer accept residents’ written requests and complaints in Russian. Information in Russian and other non-EU languages will be provided orally if a particular employee speaks the language. Russian has also been removed from the municipality’s website and its administration’s customer queue management system.

Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas said the decision was part of the municipality’s consistent policy. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius and Democratic Union chairman Virginijus Sinkevičius questioned the reasons for the move, while Social Security and Labour Minister Inga Ruginienė said such initiatives encourage social exclusion.

Olekas said the capital should find a compromise by accepting Ukrainians and Belarusians in their own languages while expanding opportunities to learn Lithuanian.

The Association of Belarusian Parents in Lithuania supported his position. It said that if the municipality communicates with Belarusians in their language, it should use Belarusian rather than Russian.

At the same time, the association said Belarusian citizens living in Lithuania, particularly children, should learn Lithuanian so they could speak it fluently and become full members of Lithuanian society. It said Belarusian helps people preserve their Belarusian identity, while Lithuanian helps them become part of Lithuanian society.

The association also said it was ready to help Vilnius translate its websites, forms and information systems into Belarusian free of charge if necessary.

The municipality also announced last week that it was expanding opportunities for foreign-born residents to learn Lithuanian. More than 1,000 people are expected to take part in free courses and remote learning this year, supported by an additional 300,000 euros in funding.

Language clubs will also begin operating in different parts of the capital in the autumn. By the end of the year, foreigners living in Vilnius are expected to be able to learn Lithuanian independently on a dedicated online platform.