EBU concerned about political pressure on Lithuanian pubcaster

European public broadcasters’ organisation the EBU has expressed concern about political pressure being exerted on Lithuanian pubcaster LRT.

The EBU highlighted the creation of an ad hoc investative commission by the Lithuanian parliament to look into the management, finances and economic activities of the broadcaster, which the EBU said was placing “an excessive burden” on LRT.

EBU Director General Noel Curran has written to the speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament Viktoras Pranckaitis, the prime minister Saulius Skvernelis and Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaitė to express his concerns.

The EBU argues that any investigation into LRT’s activities should be carried out by an independent professional body such as its supervisory council or by the national state audit body.

The EBU’s letter urges the Lithuanian authorities to refrain from any action which would impede LRT’s ongoing operations and to safeguard the institutional and editorial independence of the broadcaster.

The EBU has expressed concern in recent years about growing politicisation of issues related to public broadcasting and changes to media regulations, as well as funding issues, in a number of countries in central and eastern Europe.