As the Pentathlon season prepares to kick up another gear in the coming weeks the diligent hard work behind the scenes is already in full swing.  With Lithuania set to be a frequent stop on the calendar for both the elite and next generation of pentathletes the country’s judging stocks have been replenished thanks to a hugely successful UIPM Judges Certification course.  Taking place in the picturesque spa town of Druskininkai (LTU) which has emerged as a favoured competition venue for athletes a week-long course saw a cohort of 41 participants take their first or next steps on the judging ladder.  Druskininkai (LTU) will be a hive of activity later this summer when it hosts the UIPM U19 World Championships and the blue riband UIPM 2025 Pentathlon World Championships In late March the town hosted a Lithuanian Open Championship which provided a perfect opportunity for JCP activities Under the tutelage of UIPM educator Agnes Kulcsar (HUN) the 17 women and 24 men completed two days of online theory another two days of onsite practice and then assessment during the weekend competition at the Lithuanian Open Championship.  The participants came from the host nation Ukraine (2) and Poland (1) and encompassed Levels 1 Lithuanian Modern Pentathlon President Aistis Baronas said: “We are all very excited about the busy season which awaits us here in Druskininkai We are eager to build on the successes of the UIPM 2023 Junior World Championships and last year’s UIPM U19 Pentathlon World Championship But we know the groundwork that needs to be done “Our recent JCP course is an important step in those preparations and proved to be a fruitful week We are so pleased to see so much energy among Lithuanian participants and those from nearby nations My sincere thanks to UIPM for their support We look forward to welcoming the world here this August!” UIPM Executive Board Member for Sport Andrea Dell'Amore said: “Judges play an absolutely key role in our sport irrespective of the size or scale of the competition At a major World Championships such as the two events coming up later this year in Druskininkai it is key to have judges who are up to speed with every aspect of each discipline “Thanks to dedicated and diligent work by both UIPM staff and local organisers in Lithuania we know we have a great base of judges who have been drilled in all aspects of the job I thank Agnes for her patient and detailed instruction and commend the organisers for their approach with these sessions.” Subscribe var(--popover-size));border-radius:var(--chakra-radii-l3);--popover-z-index:var(--chakra-z-index-popover);z-index:calc(var(--popover-z-index) + var(--layer-index 0));outline:0;transform-origin:var(--transform-origin);max-height:var(--available-height);--popover-padding:var(--chakra-spacing-5);}.css-1v5f30s:is([open] 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80rem){.css-107anqq{font-size:var(--chakra-font-sizes-md);line-height:md;}}}by Savannah Asmann Max Black at the 2023 Senior Nationals in Fort Worth A group of seven Greco-Roman athletes are slated to compete at the Druskininkai Cup in Druskininkai The two-day tournament will see almost 100 athletes from 14 countries on the mat on Saturday and Sunday This tournament will be for age-group athletes including U20 and U23 athletes from the United States Senior National Team member Max Black (60 kg) aims to gain more international experience prior to the U23 World Championships in October accepted a spot on the 2024 U23 World Team following a third-place finish at the 2024 U.S The Colorado native recently took bronze at the 2024 Thor Masters Senior tournament in March Six athletes in the group are also set to compete at the U23 World Championships later this fall Robert Perez (67 kg) Justus Scott (72 kg) and Beka Melelashvili (82 kg) will compete in Lithuania Perez and Scott enter with past age-group World Team experience who joined the group as a transfer from Georgia earlier this year competed at the U23 Pan American Championships in Colombia this summer Melelashvili competed at the Druskininkai Cup for Georgia and won a silver medal Past age-group World Team member Michael Altomer competes at 87 kg this weekend Altomer placed eighth at this tournament last year and has since earned gold at the 2023 U20 Pan American Championships and silver at the 2024 U23 Pan American Championships where they will spend ten days in a wrestling training camp The competition will be held at the LSC sports complex "Druskininkai" Mat A Live Stream:  https://youtube.com/live/r5yhDS7ygBM?feature=share Mat B Live Stream: https://youtube.com/live/C-SJsRVpfn4?feature=share 55 kg: Billy Sullivan (Colorado Springs, Colo./Army WCAP) 60 kg: Max Black (Castle Rock, Colo./NMU-National Training Center) 63 kg: Jonathan Gurule (Peralta, N.M./NMU-National Training Center) 67 kg: Robert Perez III (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids WC) 72 kg: Justus Scott (Colorado Springs, Colo./Army WCAP) 82 kg: Beka Melelashvili (Philadelphia, Pa./New York AC) 87 kg: Michael Altomer (Stuyvesant, N.Y./ Curby 3 Style WC) Coach: Ike Anderson, Colorado Springs, Colo. *all time listed local to Druskininkai, Lithuania, seven hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Time 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. -  Preliminary rounds 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. - Preliminary rounds 10:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - Consolation rounds and finals [data-focus]){outline-width:var(--focus-ring-width 2px);outline-offset:var(--focus-ring-offset solid);outline-color:var(--focus-ring-color);outline:none;}.css-puhhl:is(:focus-visible [data-focus-visible]){box-shadow:none;outline-width:3px;outline-style:solid;outline-color:var(--semantics-focus-light);outline-offset:3px;}.css-puhhl:visited{color:var(--components-rte-light-link-color);}.css-puhhl:visited.css-puhhl:visited:is(:active [data-state=open]){color:var(--components-rte-light-link-color-active);}@media (hover: hover){.css-puhhl:visited:is(:hover [data-disabled]){color:var(--components-rte-light-link-color-hover);}}.css-puhhl.css-puhhl:is(:active [data-state=open]){color:var(--components-rte-light-link-color-active);}@media (hover: hover){.css-puhhl:is(:hover You're just a ticket away from Milano Cortina 2026Get early bird pricings on Milano Cortina 2026 tickets to secure your spot for an experience of lifetime at the Winter Olympic Games in the magical Italy The Lithuanian National Table Tennis Championship will take place on March 21–22 in Druskininkai featuring 32 men and 32 women competing for national titles Both players demonstrated their dominance in the previous edition and they remain strong contenders for this year’s championship 11:00 – 12:30 – Men’s first round (1/16) 12:30 – 13:45 – Men’s second round (1/8) and placement matches (17th-32nd places) 15:00 – 17:45 – Women’s first and second rounds 17:45 – 18:30 – Third round for men and women (1/4) 10:00 – 12:30 – Placement matches and semifinals 11:45 – 12:30 – Men’s and women’s finals The European Table Tennis Union (ETTU) is the governing body of the sport of table tennis in Europe and is the only authority recognized for this purpose by the International Table Tennis Federation The ETTU deals with all matters relating to table tennis at a European level including the development and promotion of the sport in the territories controlled by its 58 member associations and the organization of continental table tennis competitions The latest stories of your favourite teams and athletes Follow their journey to the Olympic Winter Games in Italy The Nemunas by CITUS project is converting a former sanatorium in Druskininkai into apartments offering both residential and hotel-like services Owners will enjoy management services for a hassle-free stay with preliminary service offers already received from potential partners This innovative approach ensures residents can enjoy their stays without the usual responsibilities of property ownership and the project itself is set to become a landmark development in Lithuania The ground floor will feature a restaurant The rooftop will host a restaurant terrace and cocktail bar providing residents and guests with a luxurious experience A spectacular spa water area on the rooftop will be the highlight of the complex offering a unique relaxation space with stunning views The nine remaining floors will house approximately 370 apartments of various sizes These apartments are designed to meet the needs of different residents Buyers can choose between partial or full furnishing packages allowing them to customise their living spaces according to their preferences A public park is planned around the building providing a green space for relaxation and recreation for everyone This park will also increase synergies with the nearby Druskininkai Cultural Centre The prime location ensures residents have easy access to various recreational activities and amenities The project caters to the growing demand for second homes and holiday apartments appealing to both local and international buyers as well as investors looking to rent out properties notes that the popularity of second or holiday homes has significantly increased recently The special offer of apartments with additional services in Druskininkai is expected to attract people from all over Lithuania and abroad Investors will find this project particularly appealing given the potential for rental income and the comprehensive services offered The building will retain its authentic character while incorporating modern engineering solutions This approach preserves the historical essence of the building while ensuring it meets contemporary standards of comfort and safety The renovation process focuses on sustainability and reducing pollution typically associated with such projects Nemunas by CITUS significantly reduces its environmental footprint One of the most exciting features of Nemunas by CITUS is its open-air rooftop swimming pool Open-air rooftop pools are common in popular resorts in Singapore but they are rare in Lithuania and its neighbouring Baltic states and Poland "The pool will be unique in the region and likely the only one in Druskininkai due to Nemunas by CITUS's height," said Galdikas but such pools are mostly seen in exotic places or on TV screens with a surface area of about 60 square metres Integrating the works of Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis a famous Lithuanian artist and a symbol of Druskininkai has been part of Nemunas by CITUS's vision from the start this vision aims to honour and promote the artist’s legacy The facade panels separating the balconies will feature fragments of his works coming together from specific vantage points These won't be just reproductions; they will likely be the largest reproductions of Ciurlionis' paintings worldwide The signing of notarial transactions will commence next month The first apartment owners will start moving in as the building nears completion with nearly 80% of the apartments in the first phase already sold or reserved and fire-safety systems have been installed and commissioned Approximately 13 million euros has been invested in Nemunas by CITUS with an additional 0.6–1.2 million euros being added monthly Construction works are set for completion next year coinciding with the opening of the Druskininkai Culture and Congress Centre This centre aims to establish the resort as a cultural tourism hub with high-end events CITUS is one of Lithuania's largest real estate companies known for its bold and professional approach CITUS has been among the top-performing real estate companies CITUS has developed over 30 real estate projects and stages and has received 15 awards in Lithuania and abroad A subscription to The Baltic Times is a cost-effective way of staying in touch with the latest Baltic news and views enabling you full access from anywhere with an Internet connection. Subscribe Now! 2025 © The Baltic Times /Cookies Policy Privacy Policy The spa town in southern Lithuania is showcasing its most famous resident the painter-composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875–1911) whose 150th anniversary celebrations are part of the programme “Touched by Čiurlionis” was the main theme of the opening event last Saturday The symphony Didysis Čiurlys features electronic interpretations of Čiurlionis’ most famous works and alludes to the artist’s paintings The Capital of Culture programme includes over 300 events Over 40 exhibitions and educational events will be opened cultural walks and hikes will take place along Čiurlionis’ paths not only from Lithuania but also from abroad We often go every weekend to some kind of event,” Rolandas “People will see once again how great a town Druskininkai is Maybe we will have more tourists not only from Lithuania but also from abroad this year,” agrees Marius from Elektrėnai The Čiurlionis Memorial Museum is organising an exhibition in the historic Čiurlionis Garden about the artist’s entire family A book about the family and Druskininkai will be published in March it is intended to give a broader insight into the Čiurlionis family religious upbringing,” explains the museum’s manager Regina Stankevičienė During literature lessons we talk about Čiurlionis Almost all Capital of Culture events are free the largest and most popular Lithuanian resort celebrates its 230th anniversary this year the King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania Stanislovas Augustas Poniatovskis (Stanisław August Poniatowski) declared this region a location for healing active lifestyle and exceptional entertainment all year round Everyone knows that this place combines hundred-year-old wellness traditions with the latest technologies and peaceful recreation alongside exciting entertainment promising a great experience and lots of interesting events Druskininkai renews itself and surprises its guests every year According to Druskininkai Mayor Ricardas Malinauskas the city is always searching for ways to surprise its guests every year in the square between the church and the city museum giving meaning to the legend of the emergence of the resort the first four memorial benches dedicated to M. K. Ciurlionis Fonberg in Druskininkai were placed in the square as well On the initiative of businesses and the community a bench was built dedicated to the 1863 uprising and in honour of Lithuania’s friendship with Poland a sculpture of a bird— a work by the sculptor Vidmantas Gylikis and architect Linas Krugelis—dedicated to the memory of the poet Justinas Marcinkevicius will be erected in Druskininkai in the park near the Palace of Culture and Congresses pontoon bridges have been placed on the Druskonis Lake where residents and guests of Druskininkai can take a stroll while admiring the surroundings Other examples of this year’s impressive start in Druskininkai are a fairground park with small shops but the main highlight will be a helium balloon rising from inside the building “Above the TV tower’s panoramic restaurant and six nine-storey buildings a helium balloon attached to the building using a special cable will rise to an impressive 200 metres the helium balloon has already been ordered and is being manufactured in France It will be able to lift up to 30 people at the same time,” says Mayor R. Malinauskas The multifunctional centre project was prepared by the famous architect Gintaras Balcytis The project was also appreciated by the international community of architects Balcytis was invited to an architecture exhibition in Venice which brings together architecture professionals This establishment will blend harmoniously into the environment of the resort: the reconstruction of the building will include the usage of wooden elements and Ciurlionis-style motifs and the interior space of the building itself will be bright aesthetic and exclusive while preserving natural islands Many events to be held during the anniversary year According to the director of the Druskininkai Cultural Center “I don't know any other city in Lithuania to host so many nationwide events that have also become traditional,” she said the Resort Festival—exhilarating the entire city with an impressive theatrical procession—colourful tourism days and ethnocultural events These are exceptional celebrations that summon to Druskininkai not only guests from other Lithuanian cities but also foreigners.” Cultural tourism and the desire to fulfil the cultural expectations of the community and resort guests is an ambitious path that Druskininkai has been following for some time now “The ideas generated in Druskininkai are often the first in Lithuania and every celebration and every event is cultivated and constantly supplemented by taking the most innovative forms,” said R. Varaskaite we are celebrating the city’s 230th birthday all year round we have prepared many birthday surprises!” Business representatives will also be invited to celebrate the birthday “It would seem that everything is so simple: when we are healthy we pass it on to others,” said J. Vaitkeviciute who also revealed that almost 396,000 people visited the AQUA centre last year and not only from Lithuania but also from Latvia According to the Druskininkai Tourism and Business Information Centre’s director Druskininkai has always been a bold and innovative resort “Druskininkai has always been ahead of its time there were regular cultural events and one of the first photo studios in the region opened its doors Even the Mercedes-Benz car for transporting holidaymakers was the only one in Lithuania at that time,” said R. Palionis has drawn people to this resort over the centuries and still attracts people to come here to rest “It is possible that this is the effect of nature and its water with a high mineral content as well as all of the good and unique ideas that become reality,” explained R. Palionis There are many tourist facilities in Druskininkai that attract visitors We have almost 9,000 accommodation offers that are sufficient for everyone you can find both tropical places and winter joys If you haven’t visited Druskininkai yet or maybe you’re looking for a summer holiday destination the city’s vision is “Druskininkai: for the Harmony in Your Life” You will be pleasantly surprised by how people nature and entertainment can create a harmonious recreational oasis that will bring you relaxation and revitalise you Let’s celebrate the birthday together Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker the loss of tourists [from Russia and Belarus] has been taken up by Lithuanians Foreigners have also started to choose longer stays," said Rimantas Palionis head of the Druskininkai Tourism Information Centre Druskininkai receives around 400,000 visitors every year The drop in tourists from Belarus and Russia is being compensated with an increase in local tourism and Russian speakers from Germany and Israel There is a noticeable increase in the number of Estonians and visitors from the United Kingdom visiting the resort "The number of overnight stays has increased by four to seven percent while the number of overnight stays by foreigners has increased by almost 29 percent," said Vytas Kederys The number of Lithuanians in resorts has also increased in the summer They stay for two to five days at most," said Kęstutis Ramanauskas "It is difficult to achieve long-term health benefits in such a short period." the resorts are noticing an uptick in foreign campers "It's a good season and the number of foreigners is definitely increasing We have seen groups of twenty camping vans in other parts of Lithuania which is a very good sign," said Linas Žabaliūnas Designed by 2XJ architects for a young family is located in the woodlands by the Nemunas river where the architecture takes inspiration from pine cones The interior layout is separated into two sections – one for relaxing and the other for living and living room which feels spacious thanks to the double-height ceiling The upper wall and ceiling surfaces are clad in wood shingles to resemble a pine cone including in the custom artwork done by Dominykas Gutauskas and Paulius Makauskas Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen FiiO'S sub-brand Snowsky has launched the Retro Nano user-friendly vinyl flattening machine that restores warped records to their original shape using precision heat technology Full of natural materials and respect for modern Swedish design the STOCKHOLM 2025 collection from IKEA debuts 96 new pieces Zaha Hadid Architects transforms public transit at the KAFD Metro Station in Riyadh with futuristic architecture You’ll always hear it from Design Milk first Our passion is discovering and highlighting emerging talent and we’re energized by and for our community of like-minded design lovers — like you the 'Suwałki Gap' would likely be the first point of contact Strolling amid the ornate 19th-century villas fountains and lakes that dot this sleepy spa town it’s easy to forget that you’re standing in Vladimir Putin’s crosshairs Nestled on Lithuania’s southeastern border Druskininkai opens onto a narrow notch of strategic territory known as the Suwałki Gap Stretching about 100 kilometers along the Lithuanian-Polish frontier between Belarus in the east and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad to the west Western military planners warn the area would likely be one of the Russian president’s first targets were he ever to choose to escalate the war in Ukraine into a kinetic confrontation with NATO You wouldn’t know it by looking at it — and that say Eastern European officials seeking to draw attention to the Western military alliance’s vulnerabilities in the east is no stranger to either Russia or to the tumult of European history Designated an official spa for Russian civil servants by Czar Nicholas I in 1837 the town’s mineral-rich waters have drawn visitors from around Central and Eastern Europe ever since Soviet — shifted control of the region between them the resort was a favorite Soviet holiday destination it’s home to one of the world’s largest indoor snow arenas and an elaborate water park And until the war in Ukraine put it out of reach it had lost little of its allure for Russians accounted for the largest percentage of visitors That familiarity might explain why some locals are sanguine about the prospects of an invasion people will be wondering but right now that’s not really the case.” who asked that his full name not be used in order to protect his privacy said he was confident that NATO would protect Lithuania a country of 2.8 million. If it doesn’t he “would just go out of the country,” Danukas said adding that the military “wasn’t his thing.” A recent visit down a lonely road lined with pine trees to the border with Belarus just 10 kilometers from the center of town with neither soldiers nor border patrol anywhere in sight on a daylong journey across the Lithuanian side of the Suwałki corridor this reporter didn’t see even one military vehicle or soldier “The community trusts in the Lithuanian military and NATO and in their capacity to ensure safety,” the town administration said in a written statement (The mayor has been away on vacation) who commands a local company of Lithuania’s Riflemen’s Union a voluntary militia with roots stretching back more than a century said that all remained quiet on Lithuania’s eastern front so far While he said he didn’t expect Russia to try anything for as long as it had its hands full in Ukraine he added that he and his comrades were monitoring the situation in the border region calling the the Suwałki Gap Lithuania’s “Achilles heel.” “Some think there’s no point to attack us but it must be noted that this is a direct land route to Kaliningrad,” he said “If they are able to overcome Ukraine it is possible that the next blow would fall here.” The latest reminder of the tightrope Vilnius is walking with Moscow came over the weekend as Lithuania’s national railway said that in order to comply with European sanctions it would no longer permit the transit of certain goods across the country’s territory from Belarus to Kaliningrad “We consider this to be a most serious violation,” Kaliningrad’s governor, Anton Alikhanov, said in response to the move which he said would effect up to half of Russian exports to the exclave Former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said he came up with the name “Suwałki Gap” minutes before a meeting with then-German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen in 2015 in an effort to raise alarm about the hole in Western defenses The worry is that in a conflict with the West Russia could sweep into the corridor simultaneously from the east and the west severing the European Union’s Baltic countries from their allies to the south “It’s a huge vulnerability because an invasion would cut off Lithuania Latvia and Estonia from the rest of NATO,” said Ilves Such a move would also result in an immediate faceoff between Moscow and NATO’s nuclear-armed members pushing the world to the brink of world-ending confrontation was a reaction to Russia’s annexation of Crimea the year before but his doomsday scenario has gained new credence in the wake of Putin’s latest invasion of Ukraine Just as Putin is trying to create a land bridge between Russia and the Crimea peninsula which is named for a prominent town on the Polish side of the border with those stationed in its de facto protectorate Belarus Russia has built a formidable military presence its Baltic fleet and tens of thousands of soldiers which has a population of nearly 1 million was German territory until after World War II The Soviet Union wrested control of the region from Germany after the war renamed it Kaliningrad and expelled the German population.)  While there’s no reason to suggest an attack is imminent the Russian leader appears to delight in keeping the West guessing what his next move will be he praised the imperial exploits of Peter the Great declaring that “a country is either a sovereign or a colony,” comments that did little to reassure the Baltics a former Russian prime minister under Putin predicting that “the Baltic states will be next” if Ukraine falls The expected NATO accession of Sweden and Finland has further raised tensions between Russia and the alliance The addition of the two Scandinavian countries might make it more difficult for Russia to sever the Baltics from the rest of the alliance but it would also turn the Baltic Sea into what some are calling a NATO lake perhaps giving Moscow even more of an incentive to build a bridge to Kaliningrad Sweden’s and Finland’s inclusion in NATO makes a Russian move “less likely but that doesn’t mean it’s unlikely,” said Linas Kojala the director of the Eastern Europe Studies Center Despite the Baltics’ strategic concerns what may be the most dangerous thing about the Suwałki Gap is its relative irrelevance A move by Russia on Poland or Lithuania would clearly trigger NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense provision immediately pulling in all the alliance’s members — from Turkey to Bulgaria to France and the United States How eager would Washington and NATO be to risk Armageddon over a stretch of largely unpopulated farmland few of their citizens even know exists It’s exactly the kind of edge case that Putin has proved eager to test Lithuania’s 900-kilometer border with Russia and Belarus is the longest in the alliance But with an army of just 20,000 and an air force with only five planes including transport aircraft and one single-engine Cessna is ill-equipped for a Russian assault — even with help from the German-led battle group currently stationed in the country.  “The only answer to that challenge is an increased NATO presence here,” said Margiris Abukevičius “We know how Russia is obsessed with closing land corridors.” During a visit to Vilnius earlier this month German Chancellor Olaf Scholz tried to reassure his hosts of Berlin’s commitment to Baltic security but ended up sowing confusion Scholz told reporters that Berlin would move “in the direction” of stationing “a robust combat brigade” in Lithuania implying several thousand troops would be deployed saying that Germany would only move the unit’s headquarters — around 50 personnel — there while the majority of the troops would remain in Germany As NATO prepares for what many observers say will be its most important summit in decades later this month the exposure of the Baltics to Russian aggression is at the center of deliberations over whether to station more alliance troops in the region on a permanent or semi-permanent basis While the U.S.-led alliance has yet to take a final decision officials have signaled that NATO would significantly bolster forces in the Baltics and elsewhere along the EU’s eastern frontier heralding a historic shift in NATO posture and shifting the pact’s center of gravity to the east Though NATO has four 1,000-strong battle groups stationed across the region Baltic political leaders and military planners argue that much more would be needed to deter Russian aggression but you may as well call it a suicide mission,” said Ilves who served as Estonian president from 2006 to 2016 and Germany long cautioned against such a move in which the alliance agreed with Moscow not to establish permanent bases in new member states in “the current and foreseeable security environment.” Russia’s attack on Ukraine has convinced even longtime skeptics of what NATO calls “forward defense” in Eastern Europe that the time has come “I’ve changed my mind,” said Ben Hodges a retired American lieutenant general who commanded the U.S “Our good faith efforts to engage with Russia have failed.” over which Putin has recently asserted more influence the Russian military has recently used air bases and other military infrastructure to launch assaults on Ukraine.   could muster the capabilities it needs to attack the Baltics for now But he said it was essential for NATO to use this opportunity to prepare for the worst including by bolstering the Baltics’ air defenses and ensuring better integration between local forces and the rest of the alliance He said he could envision a system with a “rotating permanent presence” of NATO forces in the region Another key factor in the region’s defense is Poland which has the largest military in the region Historic disputes between Poles and Lithuanians in the Suwałki corridor over language and minority rights on both sides of the border have led to speculation that Putin could use those tensions to his advantage where he succeeded in harnessing pro-Russian sentiment to unleash a separatist movement Cross-border cooperation between the Polish and Lithuanian militaries has never been closer “We see what the Russians are doing in Ukraine stressing that Poland was prepared to honor its alliance obligations towards Lithuania if Russia moves in Jurgis Vedrickas contributed reporting to this article where strength and determination take the spotlight Milano Cortina 2026 HospitalityDon't miss your chance to secure Milano Cortina 2026 tickets to the most sought-after sporting sessions paired with luxury service to treat ourselves and our loved ones we don't really need a special occasion And even more so when it comes to our wellness In the darkest and coldest time of the year located in the southernmost part of the country embraces everyone with a welcoming warmth and a reminder that the time has come to think about yourself So take some quality time for yourself and dive into the ocean of carefree bliss – enjoy a wide range of wellness treatments and relaxation and once you've strengthened your body and refreshed your soul set off to discover the joyful celebration of life.  Druskininkai has attracted people to its wide range of wellness services who pass on their skills from one generation to the next constantly add new knowledge to their extensive expertise sauna rituals and various massages to music therapy and cryosaunas you can find all of these and many more therapies in one cosy little town.  Did you know that today there are more than 1,300 different treatments in nine health and treatment centres and numerous spas in Druskininkai All of them cover both traditional and more modern wellness and diagnostic practices.  therapies are being developed to help boost immunity The treatments are carried out using a wide range of materials and methods: therapeutic mud the air and more – everything that helps people feel in harmony with nature  as well as themselves Breathe in the air cleaner than in the mountains Many people know that Druskininkai has always been famous for its healing springs it is not the only source of health offered by nature: the resort's air is special as well Druskininkai doesn’t suffocate from industry and other sources of pollution and its centuries-old pine forests are the city's huge lungs purifying the air and saturating it with precious essential oils Even more amazing sensations await you in the ionisation therapy pavilion in the K It is unique for its exceptionally clean air rich in negative ions – a concentration estimated to be almost 100 times higher than in the mountains Druskininkai has plenty to offer for the whole family at any time of the year you can feel like you are in a southern resort – the air temperature in the Aquapark always reaches 30–31 °C and the water in the swimming pools is 26–27 °C if you long for the winter on hot summer days all you need to do is open the door of the Snow Arena where the average temperature ranges from 2 °C to 4 °C and where advanced technology provides the ski slopes with fresh snow has recently decided to set up his house in the Druskininkai Snow Arena it's where you can enjoy cold and clean snow every day the arena will be the official Christmas residence.  the dark winter evenings in Druskininkai will be illuminated with the brightest colours and warmed by the cosy expectation of the most beautiful holiday of the year the town will invite you to one of its most important Christmas events It will be like a fairytale – the town's tall Christmas tree and a park of originally decorated Christmas trees will light up around the Musical Fountain On the façade of the Municipality building spectacular audiovisual performances will take place – a colourful 3D projection that will tell a lively Christmas story.  The town promises plenty of things to do during the festive period study the programme at kaledoskurorte.lt and plan your time to have fun.  They say that some of the impressions you get when visiting a new place are remembered through tastes when you return Be sure that your stay in Druskininkai is rich in unique gastronomic adventures Mushroom and berry dishes are a must when visiting the resort as the main ingredients of the region's national dishes are what local people make a living from You can also visit the famous cheese farm and participate in its production yourself The world's only Tree Cake Museum also invites you to immerse in a similar gourmet experience – to bake an amazing melt-in-your-mouth dessert And there are countless gourmet temptations from world cuisines to restaurants acclaimed by demanding food critics The verdict can be appealed in accordance with the procedure established by Belarusian legislation, the reports say. It was previously reported that Ramanauskienė may have been detained by Belarusian officers last year when she was on her way back to Lithuania from Belarus where she was visiting her family members. Information on the website of the Central Electoral Commission indicates that Ramanauskienė ran for the local council in Druskininkai in 2019. She previously worked at the Belarus-owned Belorus sanatorium in Druskininkai. Minsk claims that while working as the head of marketing at the Belorus sanatorium, Ramanauskienė was recruited by Lithuanian intelligence. She was accused of repeatedly providing information about the guests of the sanatorium, including high-ranking Belarusian officials. Previously, Andrei Kobel, the former head doctor of the Belorus sanatorium, was sentenced to nine years in prison in Belarus. He was accused of collaborating with the Lithuanian State Security Department. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said in a comment to LRT.lt that it is aware of the situation. The ministry said it has no reason to believe that the accusations against the Lithuanian citizen are well-founded and is providing Ramanauskienė with all possible consular assistance. The Foreign Ministry has not yet received any official information from the Belarusian authorities about the court verdict, it said. The ministry reiterates its recommendation to Lithuanian citizens not to travel to Belarus, where they may be illegally detained, charged with fictitious offences, and interrogated by the Belarusian security structures The previous record was set just two years ago in Kretinga where temperature rose to 33.6 degrees. Record-high temperatures were recorded by almost all the country’s main weather stations, with 84-year-old records broken in Vilnius, Kaunas, Šiauliai, and Lazdijai. High temperatures also prevailed on June 27 and 30, but no historic records were set. When the media contacted Diana Sinkevičiūte-Griežė she informed them that the car would be used for the needs of municipal bodies and administration but not for Mayor Ričardas Malinauskas as some thought Asked whether the luxury car worth over EUR 100,000 was not too expensive for the local municipality the spokeswoman said that it is a high quality vehicle that is non-polluting and thus this will allow saving funds on its maintenance and repairs in the future She added that last October the council decided to renew its fleet of vehicles with non-polluting cars starting from the oldest vehicle No other Lithuanian municipality has ever gotten so much bad spotlight as the Druskininkai municipality which first is known for its beautiful serene resort town of Druskininkai in southern Lithuania near the border with Belarus Why is the Lithuanian gem of wellness and health attracting bad publicity a gregarious and exuberant man – and some say a visionary – nearly incessantly in the eye of law enforcement agencies Druskininkai has a horrible record in terms of reputation and transparency No other Lithuanian municipality has ever been so much and for so long under fire as the Druskininkai municipality whose business empire has enmeshed with municipal (public) affairs often so intricately that even law enforcement fails to untangle all the ties and knots,» Vytautas Dumbliauskas When the STT announced earlier this week it raided the municipality the local Territorial Planning and Construction Inspection and seized some documents pertaining to the corruption investigation related to the so-called «Vijūnėlės dvaras» a luxurious mansion that was demolished as an unlawful edifice last year most shrugged the news off – the leopard does not change its spots what got Druskininkai into trouble this time who spent last three years looking into the details of «Vijūnėlės dvaras» now maintain that they found possible corruption links among Malinauskas’ back-stage boys and some justices who were in charge of the «Vijūnėlės dvaras» case Even the name of a judge who ostensibly received a fat turkey and a pecuniary bribe as a gift for the favourable ruling is being mentioned by Lithuanian media The Vijūnėlė estate belonged to Žilvinas Povilonis who was said to be a close friend of Malinauskas’ father and the mayor said during the investigation he himself oversaw some of the work and paid some of the workers Malinauskas always denied allegations that he was the real owner of the estate The saga of the luxurious estate known now for nearly every Lithuanian household when STT (Special Investigation Service) transcripts of tapped phone calls between the prime minister and several members of the Lithuanian government were released to the public The move came in response to an unexpected action by the prosecutor’s office which shut down an STT pre-trial investigation into a case that involves three members of the government and Ričardas Malinauskas The STT was investigating events that took place in September 2015 when the government moved quickly to amend a resolution on environmental policy An entire chapter was excised from the resolution one that regulated «resort protection zones» that severely limit construction in designated parts of Lithuania’s resort areas The amendment was made two days before a court’s unfavourable ruling on the Vijūnėlė estate – the mansion has to be demolished to restore the rule of law The court rejected the prosecutors’ claims citing among other factors the recent change in governmental policy the STT announced it would investigate this case and the Seimas’ Anti-Corruption Commission leaked transcripts of tapped conversations between Malinauskas and several members of the government The transcripts show that Malinauskas called PM Butkevičius and urged them to quickly pass the amendment deleting the chapter on resort protection areas Malinauskas said the deletion was needed for a court case and must be adopted immediately I will urge them.» Malinauskas reportedly exhorted the-then Environment minister «to fast-track» the amendment I will give a zadaniye [task – Russian) to the chancellor soon» And Malinauskas reportedly reiterated the decision must be taken «precisely on the resort zones.» The mayor finally got what he wanted Now STT says it wants to collect «additional» evidence to support the suspicions that the court judges were possibly bribed to rule in favour of the mayor and «Vijūnėlės dvaras» From the start of the investigation in 2015 already 7 pre-trial investigation on influence peddling and corruption charges were started With the STT officers rummaging through the documentation of the municipal workers «I am waiting for the day when I will be able to concretely name every swindler in STT the Prosecution Office and in the courts,» he added angrily searches have been carried out at the homes of Ričardas Malinauskas and also his adviser as part of a large-scale corruption investigation the mayor accused several politicians and prosecutors of having organized the crackdown adding that an adviser to already former Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite had put pressure on judges it was revealed that top Lithuanian politics including the-then PM Algirdas Butkevičius splashed and caroused free in five-star suites inaccessible to others in Aqua a luxurious wellness and leisure centre in Druskininkai The resort town in southern Lithuanian has been known for years as Social Democrats’ stronghold but Malinauskas left the party a couple of years ago but still remains very popular says although the majority of Lithuanian mayors come from business the scope of entanglement of personal business affairs with public affairs in case of Malinauskas is perhaps «unprecedented» the devil’s advocate would always counter all the allegations ever brought against the mayor never fleshed out «Our mayor (Malinauskas) always had a big opposition that snitches him on every occasion But I’d rather appreciate what the mayor has done for the resort All the accusations never produced a result not a single incriminating verdict,» Laima Rekevičienė a Druskininkai councilman representing opposition could not also explain the mayor’s never-ending breaches of law and the happing endings we have many various complaints and scandals so it is akin to firing empty shots,» Mizaras told BNN fight the charges hard and come victorious at the end but that does not mean you did not commit any wrongdoing which should be on the top of the priority list of every politician preventing law enforcers from commencing a probe on any ground in any circumstance is what every politician every mayor should be striving for.» «As for Malinauskas he has been steering the municipality since the day he took office in what I call «danger zone» on the brink of legitimate and illegitimate he knows very well when and where to stop and not allow multiple law watchdogs to axe him He is certainly talented– as the mayor and as a law bender,» the analyst inferred he has discussed the indoor surfing pool project with experts from the company White Water West Visitors to the planned water and entertainment centre will be able to surf in two-metre-high waves “Our goal is to create a unique water and entertainment centre next to the Snow Arena and the only year-round indoor wave pool in Europe designed for both surfing enthusiasts and professionals with adjustable wave heights and wave frequencies,” Malinauskas wrote on Facebook a spa town overlooking the Nemunas River in the southernmost tip of Lithuania has a long pedigree of catering to prominent residents and visitors The town wants to memorialise some of them in one way or another: the painter-composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis A native of Lithuania – he was born near the village of Zalavas and attended a gymnasium in Vilnius – Piłsudski is revered as one of the most important statesmen in the history of modern Poland he is remembered as the leader who took away Vilnius something that Lithuanians to this day call “occupation” the town used to host his house and a favourite bench when the town invited local entrepreneurs and community members to propose and finance commemoration ideas The town is considering the idea to build a commemorative bench as a tribute Piłsudski is remembered very negatively in Lithuania because Piłsudski and the Polish army stopped the Soviet advance,” says Gintaras Dumčius even if we give Piłsudski credit for defeating the Bolsheviks and for his influence on this entire region of Europe his activities were in any case directed against the statehood of Lithuania,” he tells LRT PLIUS radio station “Lithuania as a separate state did not exist in his vision.” the first head of state of the Second Polish Republic that emerged after World War One saw himself as a descendant of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth he envisioned Poland as a multi-ethnic state to include both Poles and Lithuanians wanted a national state of their own with a capital in Vilnius at the time a predominantly Polish-speaking city Vilnius changed hands several times in the post-war turmoil before General Lucjan Żeligowski took control in October 1920 declared the lands as the Republic of Central Lithuania and soon handed it over to Piłsudski’s Poland Lithuanians never let go of the “Vilnius question” which remained a bone of contention between the two nations until 1940 and beyond some see the “Piłsudski bench” as a small gesture of reconciliation and letting go of past grievances “I think that a Polish tourist will sit on that bench and a Lithuanian tourist will also sit on it and this will show that we are not a vindictive country,” says Eugenija Sidaravičiūtė a member of the Union of Lithuanian Political Prisoners and Exiles This is not the first time the idea of commemorating Piłsudski in Druskininkai has been raised Druskininkai branch chairman of the Lithuanian Union of Political Prisoners and Exiles complains that the municipality often claims to be listening to the local community the move to memorialise Piłsudski is aimed at potential tourists from Poland rather than the locals “If we need [a monument of] Piłsudski just for marketing suggests that there are less controversial personalities that the town could pay tribute to “If Druskininkai wants to promote itself in the Polish context the last king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth who essentially founded the Druskininkai resort,” he says “This would bring together all the great things – the common history with Poland the Grand Duchy of Lithuania – and keep out the occupation grievances and other issues.” which has only started in July due to bad weather The vast majority of holidaymakers in Birštonas and Druskininkai are Lithuanians It is no surprise that the number of Poles is thus growing in Lithuanian resorts,” said Rūta Kapačinskaitė head of Birštonas Tourism Information Centre Even more Polish tourists could discover neighbouring Lithuania if it were more actively promoted head of the Association of Resort Rehabilitation Centres “Lithuania as a tourist destination is not very well known in Poland We are competing with other markets that invest millions to promote their country in Poland,” he notes According to representatives of the tourism business with tourists from Israel returning after the pandemic and staying in Lithuanian hotels and sanatoriums for 2-3 weeks It is not only those traditional Soviet-era nostalgia tourists but also their children and grandchildren,” said Nerijus Gudaitis manager of the Druskininkai Tourism Information Centre It was also expected that more German tourists would choose rehabilitation in Birštonas and Druskininkai as the country reimburses sanatorium treatment in Lithuania They think that it is a dangerous region where one should not go,” Salda said Germans accounted for half of the foreigners who visited Lithuanian resorts kodas: 300781534 Įregistruota LR įmonių registre registro tvarkytojas:Valstybės įmonė Registrų centras lrytas.lt redakcija news@lrytas.lt Pranešimai apie techninius nesklandumus pagalba@lrytas.lt Atsisiųskite mobiliąją lrytas.lt programėlę We will be able to resume operation,” Vladislav Saruckij chairman of the Belorus sanatorium labour council Read more: Trade union asks Lithuania to lift sanctions on Belarusian spa The spa in the southern Lithuanian resort town is owned by the Main Economic Office (GHU) which is under the Belarusian president's administration Belorus accounts at Swedbank were frozen last December because of EU sanctions on Viktor Sheiman Druskininkai Mayor Ričardas Malinauskas has also confirmed to BNS that Belorus regained access to its bank accounts The spa has already informed its workers and can resume operations on Saturday The sanctions on Belorus were lifted because Sheiman had left the GHU According to the Lithuanian Centre of Registers Belorus is controlled by the GHU and was led by Sheiman until mid-June when he retired The GHU is directly subordinate to the Belarusian authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko Sheiman was put on the EU sanction list more than a decade ago Read more: Lithuania mulls taking over sanctioned Belarusian spa as workers stage protest “Forward Operating Base (FOB) is usually established near the place of operations where troops train and rest and where missions are planned,” the military said “The troops also depart for missions from the base.” The base was established to house the additional troops that have been drafted in to help the border guards amid what Vilnius says is an orchestrated campaign by Belarus which has used irregular migration to pressure the European Union “We had our eyes on the Nemunas sanatorium since the very first auction – the complex is in perhaps the best and especially prospective location of Druskininkai and the municipality has plans for a conference centre nearby and now the decision seems entirely natural,” says Citus founder and owner Mindaugas Vanagas the auction was appealing due to the excellent pricing the purchase of the complex could have stalled because it is huge and only a few companies can successfully develop such a project “We know that the Nemunas complex drew the interest of some of the largest developers in Lithuania we have experience with conversion projects: our project Telegrafas in Kaunas’ fortress complex became the first conversion project certified based on an authenticity programme and we are also developing another multifunctional project which is of a similar scale as Nemunas - Radio City in Kaunas based in the former location of the Banga radio factory,” explains Mr The company has yet to unveil exact plans as to what should emerge in the former territory of Nemunas it is likely that it will not be a project with a singular function potentially featuring apartments and the entire project could be developed over 3-4 years We involve the entire company and our partners in its creation and we discuss at length to generate ideas I believe that we will have a more specific vision in autumn And I also am confident that the currently abandoned complex will become a modern centre of gravity in a few years which will enhance Druskininkai; we also see many synergies with the modern Druskininkai culture centre being built nearby which will also benefit from the auction finally going through,” says Citus’ founder While they stood abandoned and unmaintained for a number of years the building constructions have aged well and are suitable for reconstruction and so it is likely that most of the buildings will remain and will be renewed to create a modern look that represents one of the largest Lithuanian resorts The Nemunas sanatorium can be found in central Druskininkai at Liepų street 1 The combined space in the buildings reaches around 19.5 thousand square-metres (16,558.23 sq and a 2.1513-hectare plot of land has been allocated to them This article was edited by professional copywriter and proofreader Vicki Leigh. Find out more about her expert writing and editing services at twoflowercactuscreative.com the traditional daffodil blooming festival begins on Friday "The Druskininkai resort is alive all year round but that sea of ​​one million blooming daffodils attracts so many people every year that it simply makes the heart happy," Druskininkai Mayor Ričardas Malinauskas said in a statement from the municipality Daffodil meadows in the resort are spread in the park between Druskonis lake and Vijūnėlė pond The first flowers of spring occupy almost the entire free area of ​​the park - 14,4 hectares - and almost a million of them bloom.  The start of the daffodil blooming festival will be announced on Friday by the men's vocal ensemble "Quorum" on the Pramogi Square stage.  A romantic atmosphere will be created by the members of the Druskininkai guide group "Artelė" dressed in fancy XNUMXth century clothes who will embody the holidaymakers of the resort excursions to the historical places of the resort will be organized Uncle Bubbles will create a soap bubble festival for children at Vijūnėlė pond the mirror characters shining in the sun - kings and unicorns tall shoemakers - will provide fun moments Communication and Culture Department of Druskininkai Municipality a special video camera will be installed for selfie lovers It will be possible to create rotating video selfies - after the camera rotates 360 degrees around the person a 15-second video will be made in a minute Fields of daffodils bloom in its background the blooming space on Friday and Saturday will be flooded with a play of lights and colors all the cultural spaces of Druskininkai will be open Leipalingis manor will invite you to the theatrical program "Four sisters of the provincial manor" A folk art fair is being held in Vilniaus avenue reproduction and distribution are permitted only with the written consent of UAB "Naujosios medijos grupė"