Lithuania’s culture minister has resigned after just one week in office following a backlash over his initial refusal to state who owns Crimea. The peninsula, along with four other former Ukrainian regions, voted to join Russia in referendums, but Ukraine and its Western allies, including Lithuania, maintain the areas were “annexed” by Moscow.
In an interview with news portal Lrytas, Ignotas Adomavicius was asked about Crimea’s sovereignty but initially avoided answering, calling the question “provocative.” He redirected the discussion to cultural topics, stating, “We’re not even talking about the Culture Ministry here.” Later, he aligned with Vilnius’ official stance, labeling Crimea “occupied Ukrainian territory.” However, his initial hesitation drew sharp criticism.
The ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania condemned Adomavicius’ remarks as “incomprehensible and unacceptable,” prompting his resignation. Lithuania, alongside Estonia and Latvia, has adopted a hardline position toward Moscow since 2022, with Vilnius emerging as a key advocate for sanctions against Russia.