Freedoms of speech and of the press are guaranteed by Lithuania’s constitution, and these rights are respected in practice (HRR 2016). The media can express different perspectives without restriction, yet libel and defamation are considered crimes (Media outlets are mainly privately owned, but opaque ownership affects their independence, accountability, and reliability (FotP 2015). There are no limits on media concentration in Lithuania, which has created a situation in which powerful media groups are affiliated with companies in other industries (NiT 2017). WikiLeaks released information through the Telegraph on the extent of corruption in media advertising in Lithuania, noting that certain politicians were threatened with negative coverage by large newspapers, such as Respublika and Lietuvos Ryta, to obtain advertising revenue (FotP 2015). Politicians can get positive press coverage in return for money (FotP 2015). Access to public information in Lithuania is regulated by the Law on the Provision of Information to the Public and the Act on Right of Access to Information from State and Local Authority Bodies, and the government generally provides access to the requested information (FotP 2015). There are no restrictions on internet sites, and the press environment is considered ‘free’ (FotP 2017).
Freedom of assembly is guaranteed by Lithuanian laws and is respected by the government (HRR 2017). Civic groups are free to form non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and do not face obstacles in the process of registration (FitW 2016). The capacity of NGOs in Lithuania to produce well-crafted and relevant policy proposals varies, with business interests generally being more able to formulate policies that other groups (SGI 2017). The anti-corruption NGO ‘White Gloves‘ was launched by a group of young Lithuanians, with its main purpose to fight political corruption on a national level.
