On October 3, Lithuania’s Minister of Culture Ignotas Adomavichius announced his resignation after taking the post less than a week earlier – from September 25. Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene called for his dismissal.
“Lately the intensified pressure on me personally, on my family, when it is unsafe for us to be out on the street, makes me think that the decision has indeed been made, the job done – the attention is drawn.”
– Ignotas Adomavichius
Adomavichius took office on September 25, but in a short time his leadership was marked by a string of controversial steps: removing the Ukrainian flag from the Ministry of Culture building, statements against increasing the defense budget, and muddled public remarks. In an official explanation, the ministry assured that the Ukrainian flags «did not disappear from the building or from the press center».
At his first press conference, the minister could not immediately answer questions about who owns Crimea, calling it “provocative,” although he later admitted that Crimea is occupied by Russia. In conversations with journalists Adomavichius also noted that Ukraine «would have won the war sooner if it had tackled corruption».
Even before this scandal, Lithuania’s cultural community expressed discontent with Adomavichius’s candidacy. Critics argued that his non-professional experience in culture was paired with a family pasta-production business Bravopasta.
Reaction of the Cultural Community and Future Steps
The appointment of Adomavichius sparked protests: last week about a thousand people gathered near the presidential administration in Vilnius demanding that the Ministry of Culture not be transferred to the party “Зоря Нямунаса” (Nemuno aušros), from which he was delegated. The petition against his appointment had been signed by more than 67 thousand people.
Authorities promised to form a negotiating group, but the cultural community regarded this move as a formality. By October 5, artists announced a warning strike under the slogan “This could be the last time.” The Social Democratic Party of Lithuania, to which the prime minister belongs, convened an urgent meeting of the coalition council with the participation of “Зорі Нямунаса” and the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union. Leader of the Social Democrats Mindaugas Sinkevicius said that “the leadership of the LSDP is paying attention to the doubts that have arisen in society and the cultural milieu regarding the work and communication of Minister Ignotas Adomavichius.”
The candidacy of the next Minister of Culture is to be proposed by the party “Зоря Нямунаса,” however the cultural community believes it is necessary to take the Ministry of Culture out from under its control. In discussions, they talk about possible personnel changes and a review of the leadership principles within the agency.
“At the very first press conference, the minister could not immediately answer the question of to whom Crimea belongs, calling it “provocative”, although later he did admit that Crimea is occupied by Russia.”
– Ignotas Adomavichius
Looking ahead, Adomavichius’s resignation could shake the political balance in the cultural sphere, where there is an expectation of greater transparency and a professional approach to running the ministry. Now there is a demand for clear staffing steps and transparent planning to support art and cultural initiatives in Lithuania.