Laučius joins Lithuania’s new Public Information Ethics Commission

Journalist and political scientist Vladimir Laučius has been appointed to a new term of Lithuania’s Public Information Ethics Commission, LRT reported. He was delegated by the Association of Regional Television Stations.

The commission held its first meeting of the new term on October 6. Gintaras Sarafinas will chair it, with Vaiva Radikaitė as deputy chair. The 14-member body includes 11 people who also served during the 2023–2026 term.

Under the Law on the Provision of Information to the Public, the commission’s members are delegated by media organisations and institutions. Its members for the new term include Ernestas Alesinas, representing the Association of Media in the Languages of Lithuania’s National Communities; Laučius; Asta Cibienė, delegated by the Lithuanian Radio and Television Association; and Ivona Jaroslavcevienė of the National Press Association.

Other members are Valdas Latoža, delegated by the Association of Lithuanian Regional Radio Stations; Audris Antanaitis of the Lithuanian Journalists’ Union; Gražina Viktorija Petrošienė of the Lithuanian Journalists’ Society; Sarafinas of the Internet Media Association; Ramutė Šimukauskaitė of the National Association of District and City Newspaper Publishers; and Radikaitė of the Lithuanian Cable Television Association. Lithuania’s public broadcaster LRT appointed Jurga Tvaskienė.

The Media Council delegated three academics: Rosita Vaičiulė, an associate professor at Klaipėda University; Kristijonas Jakubsonas, a partnership associate professor at Vytautas Magnus University; and Andrius Šuminas, a professor at Vilnius University.

The commission promotes professional ethics among those who produce and distribute public information, examines alleged breaches of the Public Information Ethics Code and considers complaints and disputes related to the code. Its term lasts three years.

In mid-October, the Vilnius Regional Court heard Laučius’ appeal in a criminal case involving driving while intoxicated. He asked the court to shorten the period during which he is banned from driving and to reduce the amount of money to be confiscated.

In July, the Vilnius City District Court released Laučius from criminal liability under a surety agreement with his former wife, Loreta Laučiuvienė. The one-year surety period came with a two-year-and-six-month driving ban, an order to take part in alcohol prevention programmes for one year, and a requirement to pay 20,670 euros, equivalent to the value of the car he drove while intoxicated.

Laučius admitted guilt and said he regretted his actions. He told the court he had consumed alcohol after learning of scientist Darius Alekna’s death, while police records stated that he had been drinking after an argument with his wife.