Thousands of Lithuanians protest against law to expand government control over state broadcaster

For weeks now, Lithuanians have been protesting against a government proposal targeting the country’s public broadcaster, Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT). The demonstrations began in early December, after lawmakers proposed simplifying the process for dismissing LRT’s director. In response, journalists launched a week-long protest campaign, culminating in a rally of 10,000 people outside the country’s parliament, the Seimas, on December 9.

Despite the backlash, the Seimas continued debating the amendments. In protest, LRT journalists began broadcasting from outside the parliament building in Vilnius’s Independence Square, where crowds of demonstrators have continued to gather and light bonfires every evening. Participation in the protests has grown steadily, with LRT reporting 6,000 people on December 16 and 10,000 on December 17. Lawmakers were scheduled to consider the amendments on December 18, but LRT reported on Thursday that the vote would be postponed after the head of the Culture Committee was hospitalized. Meduza shares photos from the protests in support of LRT’s independence.