Minister says Kapčiamiestis training area project is progressing smoothly

Environment Minister Ieva Andriulaitytė says the Kapčiamiestis training area project in Lazdijai District is progressing smoothly and that residents have raised no complaints, LRT reported.

Andriulaitytė met Lazdijai District Mayor Ausma Miškinienė this week. The meeting covered the project, compensation procedures for land acquisition and discussions with residents.

“There are no complaints from residents. The mayor simply informed me about the current situation,” Andriulaitytė told ELTA on Wednesday.

She said the municipality was handling project-related issues smoothly, although some practical questions had arisen concerning land management and protected areas. The ministry has promised to examine those issues and provide answers.

Last December, the State Defence Council decided to establish a brigade-sized training area in Kapčiamiestis, in Lazdijai District. It also decided to double the size of the training area in Tauragė by extending it into Jurbarkas Municipality.

The decision to establish the Kapčiamiestis training area sparked opposition among the local community. Residents held a protest, and increased resistance to the decision was observed on social media. Russia was also linked to the opposition.

President Gitanas Nausėda, Defence Minister Robertas Kaunas, Armed Forces Commander Raimundas Vaikšnoras and others travelled to Kapčiamiestis for discussions with the community. In April, the Seimas approved draft legislation on establishing the training area.