2023 in Lithuania

← 2022 2021 2020 2023 in Lithuania → 2024 2025 2026
Decades:	2000s 2010s 2020s
See also:	Other events of 2023

Incumbents

• President: Gitanas Nausėda
• Prime Minister: Ingrida Šimonytė

Events

Ongoing: 2021–2023 Belarus–European Union border crisis, COVID-19 pandemic in Lithuania

• January 18 – Lithuanian government renounced the agreement signed with Belarus on the principles of cross-border cooperation. The bill terminated the agreement signed by the governments of Lithuania and Belarus in Vilnius on June 1, 2006, to set out areas of cross-border cooperation between the two neighbouring countries, as a response to 2021–2023 Belarus–European Union border crisis. ^[1]
• March 31 – Embassy of India opened in Vilnius, instating first direct diplomatic mission of India in Lithuania. ^[2]
• April 20 – Lithuanian parliament Seimas finalised and approved sanctions to all Russian and Belarusian citizens as a response to Russian invasion of Ukraine. From 1 May 2023, citizens of both countries are illegible to obtain Lithuanian visas, e-resident status or exchange Ukrainian hryvnia. In addition, Russian citizens are also illegible to submit request for permanent stay in Lithuania or purchase property within Lithuanian territory. ^[3]
• April 22 – Lithuania concluded a trial in operating outside of IPS/UPS BRELL circle in preparation to disconnect from Russian led synchronous transmission grid and joining Synchronous grid of Continental Europe no later than February 2025. ^[4]
• June 27 – Vilnius become a first European city that implemented driverless delivery robots on public roads. ^[5]
• June 11 – start of 2023 Vilnius NATO summit.

Disasters and accidents

• January 13: 2023 Lithuania–Latvia pipeline explosion: an explosion in Lithuania–Latvia Interconnection pipeline system by Pasvalio Vienkiemiai village, Pasvalys District Municipality. ^[6] As a precaution the entire village of Valakėliai was evacuated. ^{[6] [7] [8]}
• January 31: bridge partially collapsed in Kėdainiai downtown over Nevėžis river. Bridge connected the city with main intercity roads. ^{[9] [10]}
• February 14: a bridge construction that is part of A1 highway in Kaunas collapsed. No casualties reported. ^[11]
• May 13: LY-BCD type sailplane crashed to the ground near Naukaimis II village. Pilot of the plane died during the crash. ^[12]
• May 26: autogyro crashed to the ground in the territory of Bistrampolis Manor in Kučiai village, Panevėžys District Municipality. Pilot of the plane died during the crash. ^[13]

National anniversaries

Lithuanian parliament Seimas released the statement confirming the celebratory of following three national anniversaries in 2023: ^[14]

• 700 years anniversary of establishment of Vilnius
• 100 years anniversary of reunification with Klaipėda
• 400 years anniversary of Josaphat Kuntsevych's sacrifice.

Transport

• January 2 – Lithuanian Railways stopped 3 direct train services Šiauliai–Panevėžys, Radviliškis–Mažeikiai and Radviliškis–Šiauliai. All 3 routes were replaced by Panevėžys–Šiauliai–Mažeikiai route, coursing 8 times a day and combining Radviliškis–Daugavpils Railway and Libau–Romny Railway infrastructure. ^[15]
• February 16 – Lithuania stopped any cargo trade with Belarus via railway border point Stasylos-Bieniakoni, leaving only one railway cargo link between two countries in Kena-Hudahaj railway link point. ^[16]
• February 20 – LTG Cargo (part of Lithuanian Railways group) decreased transit numbers of goods moving between Russia's mainland and Kaliningrad Oblast through Lithuania by 7%, limiting Russia to 2.89 tonnes of goods in 2023. ^[17]
• February 26 – Lithuanian customs reinstated third party cargo check points at the Lithuania–Poland border, due increased cargo freight from non-EU countries via Poland and Lithuania to Belarus. ^[18]
• August 18 – due ongoing political tension and Wagner Group placement in Belarus, Lithuania closed two out of six road border crossings with Belarus near Tverečius and Šumskas. ^[19]
• December 27 – after 16 years the direct train link renewed between Vilnius and Riga. ^[20]

Environment

• January 1 – new record set for warmest new year day in Lithuanian history with temperature rising to 14.9 C in Druskininkai municipality. ^[21]
• January 5 – Minija river broke through flood wall and flooded Stragnai II village. ^[22]
• January 14 – a sinkhole formed that was 17.2m in diameter in Užubaliai, Biržai District Municipality. It was the biggest sinkhole to appear in Lithuania within the last two decades. ^[23]
• January 22 – oil spill from discontinued railway factory polluted Nemunas river in Kaunas. Pollution stopped the following day. ^[24]
• January 30 – Nevėžis river flooded Justinava village. ^[25]
• March 4 – due strong winds record breaking 717 MW of wind electricity generated in Lithuania at the same time, setting a new record. ^[26]
• June 11 – Bradeliškės hillfort located in Vilnius District Municipality, enlisted to national register as protected area with national significance. ^[27]
• July 1 – oil spill near Ariogala and Butkiškė village resulted in extreme environmental alert issued in the Raseiniai District Municipality and pollution of Dubysa river. ^[28]
• July 1 – ban of free plastic bags come in action with supermarkets having to charge for use of plastic bags. ^[29]
• July 18 – strong storm breaks the oldest tree in city of Vilnius - over 300 years old tilia in Sapieha Palace, Vilnius. ^[30]
• August 17 – new heath record set in Birštonas, where weather reached 34.6 C degrees, the new highest temperature for 17 August ever recorded in Lithuania. ^[31]
• September 1 – Oil spillage in Danė and Neris rivers in Klaipėda polluted 3 km of internal waters in Lithuania. ^[32]
• November 8 – rising Akmena river flooded town of Kretinga. ^[33]

Law and crime

• January 1 – new restriction come into action preventing minors under 18 years old to participate in any form of lottery. ^[34] Minors caught buying a lottery ticket would be issued with the fine up to 440 euros, while service provider selling lottery tickets to minors could be issued with up to 3000 euros fine.
• January 1 – changes in maternity and paternity time-off law came into action. The time off law was changed from 12 to 24 months to 18–24 months, the government pay-outs changed to direct pays of 100.54% based on parent's direct salary, single parents gained increased pay-outs. ^[35]
• January 31 – three homemade bombs was detected in Vilnius Levas Karsavinas school. All students and teachers evacuated, while special forces inspected the bombs. ^[36]
• April 28 – an active wartime 81mm landmine discovered in Rumpiškėnai, Rokiškis District Municipality. Explosive was detonated and destroyed by special forces. ^[37]
• July 1 – increase in national benefit payments for childcare, sick pay and unemployment benefits. ^[38]
• September 15 – Lithuania's president Gitanas Nausėda signed a decree stripping Margarita Drobiazko of her Lithuanian citizenship due to her "public support for the Russian Federation during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine". ^{[39] [40] [41] [42]}
• September 21 - Lithuanian parliament Seimas adopted a law banning fur farming by 2027. ^{[43] [44]}
• December 2 – an active wartime 76mm mine discovered in Meiliūnai, Vilkaviškis District Municipality. Explosive was detonated and destroyed by special forces. ^[45]
• December 29 – regional courts of Skuodas, Akmenė, Lazdijai, Pakruojis and Pasvalys closed and functions move to neighboring districts. ^[46]

Administrative changes

• January 1 – Žaliūkės village transferred from Šiauliai District Municipality to Šiauliai City municipality. ^{[47] [48]}

Politics

• January 13: Freedom Award by Seimas awarded to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, presentation held in National Parliament. ^[49]
• January 23: Kristijonas Bartoševičius withdrew his membership in the national parliament Seimas. ^[50] On February 1, the official investigation started for allegations of paedophilia against Bartoševičius. ^[51]
• February 7: National Freedom Scholarship awarded to philosopher Vilius Bartninkas. ^[52]
• March 2: Political party of Russian Alliance in Lithuania was disestablished due rules violation after party failed to present list of party members three rounds in a row. ^[53] In addition 3 other parties was disestablished by submitting official request: Party of Political Prisoners, Nations Solidarity Union, Order and Justice.
• March 5: 2023 Lithuanian municipal elections took place in Lithuania with Social Democratic Party of Lithuania and Homeland Union winning the most seats in local municipalities. ^[54]
• March 30: Mykolas Majauskas submitted a request to stop his membership in a national parliament Seimas. ^[55]

Military

• May 12: new naval military squad established and dislocated at Nida. ^[56]

Sports

• February 5–12 : 2023 Vitas Gerulaitis Cup
• February 15: Lazdynai Swimming Pool officially opened in Vilnius, Lithuania. Upon completion it is the biggest swimming sports arena in Lithuania and the Baltic states. ^[57]
• March 19–25: 2023 FAI F3P World Championships ^[58]
• May 19–21: 2023 EuroLeague Final Four
• June 1–9: 2023 Modern Pentathlon Youth European Championships
• August 4 – 12: 2023 European U17 Badminton Championships
• 27 August – 3 September: 2023 470 Junior World Championships
• 12–17 September: 2023 World Junior Modern Pentathlon Championships

Deaths

• January 16 – Vladas Česiūnas, 82, sprint canoeist, Olympic champion (1972). ^[59]
• January 18 – Marius Zibolis, 48, goalball player, Paralympic silver medallist (2000, 2008). ^[60]
• January 20 – Grigorijus Kanovičius, 93, writer ^[61]
• February 15 – Algimantas Žižiūnas, 83, photographer. ^[62]
• May 21 – Alma Adamkienė, 96, philologist and philanthropist, wife of the president of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, and served as First Lady during his two terms (1998–2003 and 2004–2009). ^[63]

References

1. "Lithuania renounces cooperation agreement with Belarus". lrt.lt. Lithuanian National Radio and Television. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
2. "Vilniuje atidaryta Indijos ambasada". lrt.lt. Mar 31, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
3. "Nausėdos veto Seime atmestas: rusams ir baltarusiams sankcijos Lietuvoje skirsis". lrt.lt. Apr 20, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
4. "Nausėda apie tobulinamus NATO gynybos planus: jie atitinka mūsų lūkesčius". lrt.lt. Apr 22, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
5. Lithuania launches Europe’s first driverless delivery robots on public roads
6. "Dujotiekio sprogimas Pasvalio rajone: versija dėl tyčinių veiksmų atmetama". lrt.lt. Jan 13, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
7. "Pasvalio rajone sprogo dujotiekis: pliūptelėjo apie 50 metrų aukščio liepsna". DELFI. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
8. "Lithuanian gas pipeline hit by large explosion". BBC News. Jan 13, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
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11. "Per plauką nuo tragedijos: Kaune nukrito dalis Kleboniškio tilto, "Kauno tiltai" žada – bus peržiūrima technologija". lrt.lt. Feb 14, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
12. Tragedija prie Jurbarko: nukrito lėktuvas, žuvo pilotas
13. Nelaimė prie pat Bistrampolio dvaro: nukritus malūnsparniui, anot liudininkų, žuvo žinomas pilotas, treneris
14. "2023-ieji – Lietuvos sostinės Vilniaus, Klaipėdos krašto ir Šv. Juozapato metai". lrt.lt. Jan 1, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
15. "Pradeda kursuoti naujas traukinių maršrutas: reisai vyks 8 kartus per dieną". lrt.lt. Jan 2, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
16. "Stasylų geležinkelio kontrolės punktas uždaromas kroviniams iš Baltarusijos". lrt.lt. Feb 15, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
17. "Rusija į Kaliningradą ir atgal per Lietuvą galės vežti 2,89 mln. tonų sankcionuotų prekių". lrt.lt. Feb 20, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
18. "Pareigūnai pradeda krovininio transporto kelionės leidimų tikrinimą pasienyje su Lenkija". lrt.lt. Feb 26, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
19. Uždaryti Šumsko ir Tverečiaus pasienio kontrolės punktai su Baltarusija
20. Po beveik 20 metų pertraukos išvyko atnaujinto maršruto Vilnius–Ryga keleivinis traukinys
21. "Per Naujuosius užklupusi šiluma pagerino temperatūros rekordus: to Lietuvoje nebuvo jau 16 metų". lrt.lt. Jan 2, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
22. "Minija Klaipėdos rajone pralaužė pylimą, pradėjo semti gyventojų namus, garažus, tvartus". lrt.lt. Jan 6, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
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24. "Aplinkosaugininkai: sustabdytas naftos produktų tekėjimas į Nemuną, bus imamasi požeminių darbų". lrt.lt. Jan 23, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
25. "Kėdainiuose skęsta sodai: vanduo kone siekia namelių langus, užlieti daržai ir keliai". lrt.lt. Jan 30, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
26. ""Litgrid": savaitgalį Lietuvoje fiksuota rekordinė vėjo elektros gamyba – 717 MW". lrt.lt. Mar 6, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
27. "Bradeliškių piliakalnis su papiliu paskelbti valstybės saugomais". madeinvilnius.lt. 11 June 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
28. Raseinių rajone paskelbta ekstremali situacija dėl išsiliejusių naftos produktų Ariogaloje
29. Parduotuvėse nebelieka nemokamų plastikinių maišelių: kainuos vieną centą
30. Audra nulaužė seniausią Vilniaus liepą: specialistai įspėja, kad panašus likimas gali laukti ir seniausio ąžuolo
31. Nauja diena – naujas karščio rekordas: Birštone oras įkaito iki 34,6 laipsnio
32. Neryje ir Danės upėje – teršalai: pastarojoje naftos likučiai pasklido 3 kilometrų atstumu
33. Situacija Kretingos rajone, panašu, rimsta – upės lygis nebekyla, sustabdytas nuotekų išleidimas į upę
34. "Nuo šių metų sausio 1 d. nepilnamečiai negalės dalyvauti loterijose". lrt.lt. Jan 1, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
35. "LRT trumpai. Nuo sausio – pokyčiai būsimiems tėvams: neperleidžiami mėnesiai, kitokia atostogų trukmė ir išmokos". lrt.lt. Dec 30, 2022. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
36. "Sostinės mokykloje buvo įvestas "Skydas": rastas savadarbis "sprogmuo", įtariama, kad norėta atšaukti mokinių žinių patikrinimą". lrt.lt. Jan 31, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
37. Rumpiškėnų kaimo laukuose sunaikintas minosvaidžio sviedinys
38. Didėja vaiko priežiūros, ligos ir nedarbo išmokos
39. "Lithuania strips citizenship from retired Olympic ice skater for support for Russia".
40. "President strips Russian ice dancer Drobiazko of Lithuanian citizenship".
41. "Prezidentas atėmė išimties tvarka suteiktą Lietuvos pilietybę iš Drobiazko". tv3.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
42. "Фигуристку Маргариту Дробязко лишили гражданства Литвы. Спортсменка принимает участие в ледовых шоу Татьяны Навки Дробязко пять раз выступала за Литву на Олимпиадах — и 13 раз становилась чемпионкой страны" [The ice skater Margarita Drobiazko has been stripped of Lithuanian citizenship. The athlete is participating in the ice shows of Tatyana Navka | Drobiazko represented Lithuania at the Olympic Games 5 times - and was the champion of Lithuania 13 times]. Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 15 September 2023.
43. "Lithuania bans fur farming". 21 September 2023.
44. "Lithuania bans fur farming, offering compensations to farmers". 21 September 2023.
45. Vilkaviškio rajone rastas ir sunaikintas karo laikų sprogmuo
46. Lietuvoje uždaromi 5 teismų rūmai – jų veikla perkeliama į kitus miestus
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49. "Laisvės premija apdovanotą Zelenskį sveikina Lietuvos vadovai: "laisvė visada nugalės tamsą"". lrt.lt. Jan 13, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
50. "(Ne)nutekinta: Bartoševičiaus skandalo centre – nuoširdi tiesos paieška ar atidarytas politinės medžioklės sezonas?". lrt.lt. Feb 7, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
51. "Ekspertai apie tyrimą dėl Bartoševičiaus: tai tik pradžia". DELFI. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
52. "Valstybės Nepriklausomybės stipendija skirta mokslininkui Viliui Bartninkui". lrt.lt. Feb 7, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
53. "Partijoms priklausančių asmenų toliau mažėja, imtasi Rusų aljanso likvidavimo". lrt.lt. Mar 2, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
54. "Rinkimai 2023. Antrajame ture Vilniuje – Benkunskas ir Zuokas, Matijošaičio pergalė Kaune ir itin karšta kova Klaipėdoje". lrt.lt. Mar 5, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
55. "Majauskas atsisako Seimo nario mandato: grįžtu į privatų sektorių". lrt.lt. Mar 30, 2023. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
56. Nidoje bus dislokuojamas naujas Karinių jūrų pajėgų padalinys
57. Kuckailis, Aurimas. "Naują Lazdynų baseiną išvydusios sporto žvaigždės ir džiaugėsi, ir apgailestavo: galbūt praradome vieną kitą gabų olimpietį". DELFI. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
58. "Jonavoje – akrobatinių aviamodelių pasaulio čempionatas". DELFI. Retrieved Apr 28, 2023.
59. "Vladas Česiūnas". www.vle.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2023-02-16.
60. "Netektis sporte: staiga mirė ilgametis golbolo rinktinės kapitonas Marius Zibolis". 15min.lt/sportas (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2023-02-16.
61. "Mirė rašytojas Grigorijus Kanovičius". lrt.lt (in Lithuanian). 2023-01-20. Retrieved 2023-02-16.
62. "Mirė fotomenininkas Algimantas Žižiūnas". 15min.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 2023-02-16.
63. Mirė buvusi pirmoji šalies ponia Alma Adamkienė