it will account for 61% of Kormotech’s total wet food production The official groundbreaking ceremony in Kėdainiai included the placement of a symbolic time capsule containing a letter from Rostyslav Vovk, chairman of the board and co-owner of the Kormotech Group of Companies.KormotechKormotech a family-owned global company with Ukrainian origins and a top-50 global pet food producer, has begun constructing its second production facility in  Kėdainiai With a €60 million (US$62 million) investment the company said it is reinforcing its position in both the European and global markets Kormotech products are available in 44 countries located in the  Kėdainiai Free Economic Zone will triple Lithuania’s wet food production capacity from 22,000 to 60,000 tons per year and is expected to create 200 new jobs The company currently operates three production facilities — two in Ukraine and one in Lithuania which has been operational since 2020 — and produces products for brands such as Optimeal This Lithuanian plant manufactures pet food for all Kormotech brands.KormotechThe company’s new project in Lithuania will be a 19,500-square-meter (209,878-square-foot) complex with production The first of four production lines is set to go live this year When the Kėdainiai facility is fully operational "We have entered a crucial stage in our expansion across Europe and beyond," said chairman and co-owner Rostyslav Vovk at the groundbreaking ceremony "Kormotech’s vision for 2028 is global growth and expanding production in Lithuania is a key milestone in that journey." The strategic location of the Kedainiai Free Economic Zone enables efficient distribution via both road and sea transport “Our main focus is to supply partners with high-quality products as quickly as possible and at competitive prices,” says Yuriy Bykoriz managing director for Central and Eastern Europe at Kormotech “The new facility in Lithuania further strengthens our collaborations with retailers and distributors.” the company plans to hire an additional 200 employees.KormotechSupported by favorable economic conditions and assistance from regional authorities and the Lithuanian government the expansion aims to position Kormotech among the top 30 pet food manufacturers worldwide with a target revenue of €500 million (US$516 million) by 2028 Minister of Economy and Innovation Lukas Savickas commented "Kormotech’s expansion is excellent news not only for the company but also for the region and the entire country I’m glad we can contribute to this success story." By submitting this form, you acknowledge that use of your data is governed by our Privacy Policy. you agree to receive texts or calls regarding your subscription or other WATT products and services Please call +1 (847) 400-5960 for custom support we have a very prominent facility where tens and hundreds of thousands of bicycles will be produced not only for the Lithuanian or European markets but also for the whole world,” Economy Minister Aušrinė Armonaitė said at the opening ceremony on Tuesday Transport Minister Marius Skuodis said that Lithuania would one day have bicycle infrastructure similar to the one in the Netherlands “With the help of our colleagues from the Netherlands we will move faster than they did in the Netherlands because we have friends we can learn from,” Skuodis said Situated in the Kėdainiai free economic zone the new facility will produce up to 450,000 bicycles annually and employ around 600 people The ministry and Pon.Bike have a major investment project agreement signed and it gives the plant the status of a project of national importance The company will pay no corporate tax for up to 20 years Lithuania is one of the largest bicycle makers in Europe with bicycle exports accounting for around 1.5 percent of Lithuania’s total exports in 2023 Focius and Urban Arrow bicycles in Kėdainiai Pon.Bike was founded in 2011 in the Netherlands and employs 2,400 people Bike Europe is a part of VMNmedia. The following rules apply to the use of this site: Terms of Use and Privacy / Cookie Statement | Privacy settings has made a name for itself as Lithuania’s cucumber capital – due to the huge number of cucumber growers in the district and also owing to the spectacular annual Cucumber Festival this year the city is beckoning everybody not only to this the Kedainiai Regional Museum invites everyone to the traditional Nobel Prize winner Czeslaw Milosz Festival Czesław Miłosz went into world history as a Polish-American poet diplomat and Nobel Prize winner in literature in 1980 the Swedish Academy called Miłosz a writer who "voices man's exposed condition in a world of severe conflicts".  Regarded as one of the greatest poets of the 20th century Seteniai is said to be his source of inspiration Seteniai Manor comes alive together with its people Seteniai village hosts an international debate „Czesław Miłosz’s “Native Europe’s” value reconsideration amid the war in Ukraine” on June 28 politicians and scholars are expected to take part The Mikalojus Dauksa Public Library of the Kedainiai District Municipality invites you to the singing poetry festival "Ant Nevėžio kranto” (On the Nevezis riverbanks) to be held in July One of the main concerts will take place in the village of Pelednagiai on July 14 the other in Surviliskes on July 21 and the crown of the jewel will be the concert the legendary Cucumber Festival will be held in Kedainiai on July 15 for the 26th time the residents and guests of the city will be delighted by an impressive fair where various folk artists and representatives of national heritage will sell their works.  The evening of the Cucumber Festival will be crowned with a disco For everyone's taste: Egidijus Sipavicius’ musical band the city’s multicultural gastronomic variety needs your consideration nevertheless.  Here you can taste Jewish dishes mead and other traditional and/or new groovy meals or drinks Talk to the locals and tourists and you’ll undoubtedly hear they enjoyed the experience in Grejaus namas the whole city will be buzzing celebrating the city’s 651st birthday The celebration will include both entertainment and sports events dedicated to the historical and cultural heritage of the town the town of Kedainiai belonged to the noble Radziwill family one of the most powerful and influential families of the time meanwhile all the townies and guests have a chance to taste meals of the Radziwill cuisine Most of Kedainiai’s 651st birthday celebrations will take place on the vast banks of the picturesque Nemunas River and near its dam This is where the festive bustle filled with entertainment plunging everyone in the cacophony of the rhythm and motion The traditional folk festival “Būkite grįžtantys paukščiai” ("Be the returning birds") will take place at the end of August Kedainiai is definitely one of the most robust Lithuanian towns there is the distinctive legacy of the Radvilos (the Radvilos family was one of the most influential and wealthy families of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 15-18th centuries) the magical aura of the afore-mentioned Sateniai and the spirit of peace and tranquillity in the sacred heritage complex of Father Stanislovas in Paberze permeates the air Kedainiai is proud of the unique architecture of the old town Tourists are also attracted by the impressive gifts of Mother Nature which is famous for its thousand magnolias If you feel like springing into some action the country’s sixth longest river which crosses Kedainiai Get into one to enjoy the scenic views of the river and the city so everyone hears from far – the city is the distinguished geographical center of Lithuania!  The most prominent places of interest in the Kedainiai district are:  The Evangelical Reformed Church and the Mausoleum of Dukes Radvilos 1863 Uprising Museum and the Paberze Sacred Heritage Complex 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 A somewhat unexpected result was achieved by the Vytautas Magnus University team on Wednesday defeating Kazlų Rūda's Ataka – Kauno Kolegija which has been difficult to beat on the road this season The turning point of the match came in the third quarter when VMU started with a 16:2 lead and built a double-digit lead (53:40) Julius Liesis dominated VMU with 29 points Lorenas Stoškevičius and Žygimantas Kerza scored 11 points each for Ataka – Kauno kolegija Kėdainiai secures a ticket to the cup final While some teams are fighting for a ticket to the quarterfinals the four strongest teams from the regular season are competing for the title of "Leaders Cup" champions Kėdainiai Sports Center and Birštonas "Milasta" met Kėdainiai won with a score of 83:72 (27:14 The Birštonas team started the game in the first half when they allowed their opponents to build a solid lead (27:14) The top scorer for Kėdainiai was Rokas Ūzas with 25 points Simonas Kriaučiūnas and Laurynas Miknevičius scored 14 points each Klaipėda opened the playoffs with an easy victory LCC International University started the playoffs with an easy victory defeating Kupiškis basketball players 92:68 (22:19 25:9) at home and taking a 1-0 lead in the series to three wins LCC team broke the deadlock in the third quarter where they built a double-digit lead (56:41) Kupiškis returned to the game before the decisive quarter (67:59) but the hosts played a 14:2 period and gained a crushing advantage (83:61) which they maintained until the end of the game LCC was led by Kornelijus Zikas with 25 points Kupiškis was led by Justas Maceikis with 15 points The away victory was secured by Raseiniai "Raseiniai" who defeated Šiauliai district "Gravų – Kuršėnų SM" 85:69 (22:13 Raseiniai controlled the match for most of the match Kuršėnai did not intend to give up and came close in the third half (54:50) Raseiniai's team went on a 10:0 run at the beginning of the fourth half and again built a double-digit lead (76:61) The top scorer for the winners was Augustas Žilinskas with 14 points The hurricane-force attack of Gargždai brought victory 27:19) in front of their fans and winning the series 1-0 The intrigue was only visible in the first half after which the hosts led by just 3 points (19:16) when Gargždai went on a 12:0 run and built a double-digit lead (39:23) which they gradually increased and enjoyed a secure victory Gargždai was led by Lukas Polekauskas with 23 points Jonas Skramtai added 16 points for the Vilnius team reproduction and distribution are permitted only with the written consent of UAB "Naujosios medijos grupė" A ticket that accurately guessed five main numbers and two additional numbers won the jackpot worth 80.98 million euros The amount won is the largest in the history of lotteries not only in Lithuania but also in the Baltic states the Eurojackpot lottery ticket was bought at the Norfa store on J “We have received information that the winner has responded We are waiting for him at our office this week then we will have more information,” Donatas Kazlauskas adding that he could not disclose any further information Asked what the chances of winning the jackpot were Kazlauskas replied “one in a hundred million” The previous largest lottery win in Lithuania was 24 million euros in 2022 LRT.lt reminds that gambling is a specific type of entertainment the abuse of which can lead to gambling addiction Gambling can cause various social and psychological problems not only for the gambler but also for their relatives Lithuania (BRAIN) — Pon company officials buried a symbolic time capsule this week in the foundation of a new 40,000-square-meter (431,000-square-foot) bike factory being constructed here The new factory is expected to open in the summer of 2024 and employ 300 people initially rising to 600 employees when it reaches full capacity The three-story building  will house bicycle assembly and painting workshops it will produce up to 450,000 bicycles and e-bikes per year under the Gazelle the Minister of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania joined Pon's vice president for operations and other guests at the time capsule ceremony "Our strategy is to produce bicycles in a site that is close to our customers and Europe is one of our biggest and fastest-growing markets," said van der Heiden By strengthening manufacturing capacity in Europe but also obtaining more control over our supply chain worldwide and features a 10,000-square-meter (107,000-square-foot) rooftop solar power plant that will supply electricity to the production lines "We recently opened a similar factory in Germany completely based on our successful business set up and we are happy and proud to bring this same set up to Lithuania so the new factory will benefit from our knowledge and experience to be a safe and inspiring place for our new Lithuanian colleagues to work we firmly believe in the benefits of continuous training and development which leads to personal growth and new career opportunities," said Janco van der Heiden "The Ministry of Economy and Innovation has granted the Pon.Bike factory in Kėdainiai the status of a major investment project This makes it much easier for new investors to settle in Lithuania We continue to work to ensure that conditions are right for new manufacturing facilities to be built and new jobs created." Pon's brands in include Kalkhoff and Focus in Germany and the Dutch brands Urban Arrow and BBB Cycling In 2021 Pon.Bike announced the acquisition of Dorel Sports That purchase was finalized in January 2022 Download the 2019 Industry Directory Read the 2021 Sales Training Guide Due to the impressive quantities of cucumbers grown here the region of Kedainiai (Kėdainiai) in central Lithuania has long deservedly boasted the name of Lithuania’s cucumber capital which celebrated its 650th anniversary in 2022 The city is making a name for itself and gaining traction not only with its unique cultural and historical heritage but also with a multicultural gastronomic variety It is not surprising that in 2021 the municipality of Kedainiai district received the prestigious award of the Association of Lithuanian Municipalities Auksine Krivule – for the diversity and innovation of local tourism services Kedainiai really has something to humblebrag about Here is the legacy of the Radvilos (the Radvilos family was one of the most influential and wealthy families of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 15-18th centuries – TBT) the birthplace of the Nobel Prize laureate Czeslaw Milosz (Česlov Miloš)  (located about 13 km north of Kedainiai the spirit of peace and tranquillity in the sacred heritage complex of Father Stanislovas in Paberze permeates the air we also have the distinguished geographical center of Lithuania And then the slew of our famous cultural events: the Broma Jazz festival mayor of the Kedainiai district municipality which also marks the borders of Aukstaitija and Zemaitija Kedainiai  is thereby split ethnographically.  the country’s sixth longest river and one of the main tributaries of the Nemunas The history of the city of Kedainiai begins in the 14th century when in 1372 the name of the city of Kedainiai was mentioned for the first time in written sources – in Herman Vartberge's Chronicle of Livonia the name of Kedainiai comes from the name of the rich merchant Keidangen who came from Kursas (Kursas is now a non-existent historical and ethnographic region of Latvia west and southwest of the Gulf of Riga – TBT) and set up a small village of fishermen and farmers From the 15th century to the mid-19th century Kedainiai belonged to the Radvila and Kiskas noblemen families of the Lithuanian Grand Duchy and to the counts Huten-Capskis and Totlebens of the Tsarist Russian Empire Protestant luminaries and pioneers of Lithuanian literature settled here Not only Lithuanians left their traces in Kedainiai The foundations of the city were created in a multi-ethnic Due to the unique city plan and the architecture of the old part of the city which reflects the traditions of various eras and peoples who lived here Kedainiai has become a true phenomenon throughout the centuries laying out the foundations for the values ​​of today's Kedainiai inhabitants – the ability to build a modern life do business and nurture the great heritage and fellowship with each other Kedainiai Museum workers conducted scientific research in the Renaissance Evangelical Reformed Church information about the noblemen was prepared for visitors on modern technologies; furthermore New interactive expositions have been installed in the museum – one of them is dedicated to Czeslaw Milosz Kedainiai is also an important center of agriculture and building materials industries operating in the district.  The largest industrial companies creating the most jobs in the region are AB Lifosa Kedainiai is a great strategic location for business!  Especially because the main roads cross the Kedainiai region Not surprising that a Free Economic Zone has been established here when the world was still affected by the coronavirus pandemic a record number of small and medium-sized business enterprises were registered in our municipality – in all Due to its geographical position – the city is in close proximity of Vilnius and Kaunas the largest cities of Lithuania –TBT – Kedainiai is definitely attractive for business It is very nice to see investors coming to our region – Kedainiai is on the path of progress," says mayor V make sure you swing by Kedainiai as well – your trip will not be in vain Kormotech said the investment will be used to expand its wet pet food production facility in Kėdainiai, Lithuania.KormotechKormotech a family-owned global company with Ukrainian origins and a top-50 global pet food producer has secured €40 million (US$41.6 million) in funding from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) The investment will be used to expand its wet pet food production facility in Kėdainiai by adding three additional phases and boosting the company’s production capacity with the first phase of construction beginning in 2025 and full completion expected by 2028 The new plant will expand Kormotech's current production capabilities which already include three facilities: two in Ukraine and one in Lithuania “The new plant in Lithuania will allow us to meet Europe's growing demand for quality pet food at competitive prices We are actively enhancing our partnerships with local distributors and are eager to explore new collaborations” Kormotech offers all of its brands in the Central and Eastern European markets: Optimeal — super-premium food for cats and dogs Club 4 Paws — premium food and My Love — standard-class food These products are sold through online platforms The expansion in Europe will help Kormotech achieve its strategic goal of entering the global top 30 pet food producers and reaching €500 million in revenue by 2029 European markets will contribute €300 million to Kormotech's revenue” The EBRD financing is a syndicated A/B loan totaling €40 million with €20 million coming from the Dutch asset management fund ILX Fund the bank supported Kormotech with €15 million to establish its first plant in Lithuania which opened in 2020 and now produces up to 20,000 tons of pet food annually." Kormotech is a global family business with Ukrainian roots producing premium pet food for cats and dogs under the brands Optimeal The company operates manufacturing facilities in Ukraine and the EU facility construction is expected to be completed within 13 months Kormotech is building a new facility in Kėdainiai, Lithuania for producing wet pet food that will be completed in 13 months.joseandrest | Pixabay.comUkrainian pet food producer UAB Kormotech has initiated a major expansion in Kėdainiai with a new manufacturing facility set to be built through a EUR€26.5 million (US$28 million) contract with construction company AB Panevėžio statybos trestas which will span around 16,000 square meters (172,222 square feet) will support Kormotech’s production of wet pet food for cats and dogs which the company said will enhance its capacity to meet increasing demand across its markets will feature dedicated spaces for production Construction and design are expected to be completed within 13 months marking a rapid development timeline for the new site Kormotech has also emphasized its commitment to sustainability in this project aiming for high environmental standards and targeting a top-tier BREEAM In-Use certification for building sustainability This aligns with Kormotech's broader environmental goals which focus on responsible production practices and minimizing ecological impact Kormotech said it will continue its growth trajectory within the European pet food market while reinforcing its dedication to sustainable production methods The bridge across the Nevėžis River on Tilto Street is the main bridge leading into the town of around 23,000 people. The Fire and Rescue Department said the report on the accident was received at 07:40 and the forces arrived at the scene at 07:49. The bridge girder had collapsed. There were no casualties, according to initial data. Traffic was immediately closed. “One beam has collapsed. The Road Service and the police are working on the spot, and our forces have already left,” said the Fire and Rescue Department spokesman. “It is not the first year that we have addressed the Road Administration to inform them that the bridges in Kėdainiai are not safe. Today’s situation has only confirmed this,” Kėdainiai Municipality Administration director Arūnas Kacevičius said. He said that traffic was diverted to the bridge on Tilto Street while another bridge was under reconstruction. “I have personally said on more than one occasion that it is this bridge that poses the greater danger,” said Kacevičius. While pedestrians will be able to cross the Nevėžis River, cars will have to go around the town, he added. “Thank God we avoided any casualties,” Kacevičius said. According to the Lithuanian Road Administration, the bridge was assessed as being in poor condition and subject to a weight restriction of up to 20 tonnes. The bridge was awaiting reconstruction, with engineering contracts signed last December. The bridge was last inspected last week, the Lithuanian Road Administration said. While the causes of the collapse will be investigated, the authorities said one of the possible reasons could be exceeded weight limits. Another bridge over the Nevėžis River near Vilainiai was closed for reconstruction last year, leading to significant increases in traffic over the bridge on Tilto Street. since she's already been handed the kind of wish that probably can't be matched KEDAINIAI (Lithuania) - It's fitting that Lithuanian teenage sensation Juste Jocyte doesn't have much of a birthday list since she's already been handed the kind of wish that probably can't be matched you only get to make your senior national team debut once Preparing to celebrate turning 14 years old on November 19 Jocyte can reflect on a truly unique and special experience - and one that has captured the imagination of basketball fans worldwide A post shared by Baby-face Assassin (@jocyteee) on Nov 15  The stellar talented youngster stepped out for the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers against Albania and underlined why she is being labelled as the future of women's hoops for her country by also getting a first basket at the elite level the jitters were there," confessed Jocyte at the post-game press conference as she revealed the emotions of her landmark night "I've never played in front of so many people before and there was also the extra responsibility I felt about playing at the senior level with women - and not with girls "My teammates were incredibly supportive throughout the days we spent at the camp "I'm very happy that the coach gave me a chance to play and I think I used it pretty well," she stressed  It's hard to argue with that assessment and Jocyte has every right to back her own stunning ability as she got on the scoresheet with a memorable first bucket at the elite level but it went in and that that took away some of the jitters Sharing in that joy courtside were both her relatives and some of her teammates from this year's history-making team from the FIBA U16 Women's European Championship 2019  They reached the Final for the first time as Jocyte inspired them to silver "It was great to have their support and to have them here cheering for me," she stated With Jocyte not taking part in the road trip to Turkey with the national team it's her birthday this week that's now the next major event on her calendar Although she's maybe keen to get to the big day more than most of her fellow teenagers Maybe I won't look as young anymore," said Jocyte Her incredible rise to prominence will also continue in coming weeks when she heads to Lyon to link up with the legendary Tony Parker at his rapidly expanding LDLC Asvel Feminin project Jocyte will attend the Academy and is hoping that despite no longer being in her homeland it won't be a barrier to getting court time in the future with the seniors Time has come for a new chapter🤝 A post shared by Baby-face Assassin (@jocyteee) on Oct 5, 2019 at 8:42am PDT  "I'll be waiting for a call-up to the national team as I enjoy being here with team and playing for my country a great deal," said Jocyte. "It will obviously depend on the coaches. If I get a chance, I will come with great pleasure next year as well." Of course while yet another hugely exciting new chapter is about to start, the balance of not getting too much exposure too young, means a delicate balance is needed - a fact not lost on Lithuanian senior team head coach, Mantas Sernius. He said: "I don't know a better place in Europe for her to improve than France, both physically and otherwise. Knowing Tony Parker and his understanding of the game, and knowing the people who work at the club, they have a coach who plays team-oriented basketball. "It's not the French muscle-and-power basketball as some people understand it. It's smart basketball and I don't doubt that Juste's team will play smart basketball."  The playcaller also advised the rationale behind Jocyte not playing in the second game of the window - as well as confessing how impressed he is by her skills at this early stage of her career. "It will be a war in Turkey, so we have to keep an eye on Juste because she's a pearl and we cannot afford that," explained Sernius. "It is a great pleasure to work with a basketball player like her. It's every coach's dream to have a player with such basketball IQ. We would be going through new plays in practice and she would execute without mistakes. Having a player who is 13-14 years old and can do that is great and that's a big advantage of hers as a point guard. "It doesn't matter which position she plays on the court, but she'll be the one making the tough decisions in the game. She's a 'decider'. "I think she should be in every national team going forward. She should be getting a taste of the national team, because in Lithuania, it's the highest level of basketball," he concluded. BC Nevezis managed to bring over one of Lithuania's rising stars Tadas Sedekerskis on loan for the remainder of the season KEDAINIAI (FIBA Europe Cup) - After qualifying for the Second Round of the FIBA Europe Cup, Nevezis Kedainiai managed to bring over one of the Lithuania's rising stars Tadas Sedekerskis on loan for the remainder of the season began the season on loan at San Pablos Burgos but did not see the floor often in the Spanish ACB It's always nice to come back to Lithuania and now especially so as I haven't played here for five years," said Sedekerskis after his first practice with the Kedainiai club but I think Kedainiai is a great place to finish the season 🏀 A post shared by Tadas Sedekerskis (@tsedekerskis) on Nov 26 The fact that Nevezis are playing in the FIBA Europe Cup was also among the deciding factors the Lithuanian side will compete in Group J also featuring Demir Insaat "I think I will help the team both on offense and defense I practiced with top class players last season and have played in the ACB this year so I believe I can help this team a lot," he looked ahead his debut in the competition will have to be put off until after the Christmas break with the transfer going through too late to register him in time for the first game against Alba Fehervar Tadas @Sedekerskis_11's loud game putting quiet Nida 🇱🇹 on the map. #FIBAU18Europe 📖 https://t.co/QawHbTddjc pic.twitter.com/94NDIlVtQo Sedekerskis has been a standout at youth level for Lithuania, averaging 15.4 points, 6.7 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game in the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 in Egypt in his latest tournament He has finished on the podium twice in the FIBA U18 European Championships, most recently claiming a silver medal and earning a spot on the All-Star Five in 2016. The player also played a major role on the team in 2015 We are happy to celebrate the opening of the new Pon.Bike Lithuania factory in Kedainiai Free Economic Zone Together with the Minister of Economy and Innovation Ausrine Armonaite Minister of Transport and Communications Marius Skuodis Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Agnė Vaiciukevičiūtė Mayor of Kėdainiai Valentinas Tamulis we definitely felt like a part of one big family The owner of Lipliūnai Manor in Kėdainiai district bought the property four years ago Having been unused for a couple of decades intends to restore the dilapidated building to its full former glory and to establish a museum Archaeological and architectural studies of the building have already been finished a restoration project has been prepared and a building permit has been obtained “You need to have some money for the initial push Without all the designs and building permits and all the other permits and expert reports not even European money from the Structural Funds,” says Sakalauskienė Kėdainiai District has be biggest number of listed historic manor houses people fancied becoming manor lords and bought up these buildings for small sums they did not appreciate that they were living organisms and required large investments They didn’t maintain them properly and they began to gradually fall apart,” says Edgaras Jasenka a heritage specialist of Kėdainiai District Municipality The Department of Cultural Heritage is concerned: unless the owners start doing something quickly a few more years later these listed properties may become dilapidated beyond repair One should at least take some temporary measures you have to start thinking about what to do with the property,” says Asta Naureckaitė a specialist at the Department of Cultural Heritage Owners say that the obstacles to faster reconstruction is not only financial but also the lengthy and complex procedures for obtaining permits for any work on listed buildings says that so far he has been only allowed to work on the park “The most painful thing is that we cannot at least conserve the crumbling buildings without a project,” he says adding that while the main house is well maintained and beautiful the outhouses are collapsing with their roofs caved in “And in order to be allowed to even touch them Owners who undertake to open their properties to the public can receive compensation to conduct architectural archaeological and polychrome studies and prepare restoration projects that only covers about a tenth of their expenses According to the Department of Cultural Heritage all manor houses in Kėdainiai District have been privatised except for one is seeking to have the property removed from the list of objects that cannot be privatised were known for pounding their chests so hard with pride that they got a ?hole in the heart. People from my grandfather’s hometown in Lithuania were known to be proud of their roots It was said that if you asked a traveling Keidan Jew where he was from I’m a Keidaner!” — so forcefully that outsiders gave them the Yiddish nickname “gribl in hartsn.” Which translates as either “dent in the chest” or “hole in the heart.” Pride in my connection to a town with yikhes — Yiddish for a distinguished lineage — and sorrow for the community that was cruelly wiped out Both will be in evidence in late August when Keidan descendants around the world join together virtually and in person to mark the anniversary of the community’s destruction In my grandfather’s time — he left for New York in 1904 — the town boasted seven synagogues Keidan had been an important regional center with a surprisingly cosmopolitan — or During Europe’s 16th-century religious wars who adopted Calvinism and imported Scottish mercenaries to defend them against Poland’s Catholic monarchs and by the mid-19th-century made up a majority of the town’s 6,000 or so residents Judging by the histories I have collected (including one published by my grandfather in 1930) intercommunal relations were better than average; Jews’ sharpest conflicts were typically with other Jews (Violence broke out once after some tailors showed up in synagogue wearing velvet yarmulkes a status symbol previously reserved for the elite.) Keidan seems to have attracted or bred more than its share of high achievers and in the early 18th century one of them took in a brilliant young yeshiva student from Vilna He married a local girl and later became known as the Vilna Gaon Keidaner Moshe Leib Lilienblum would help launch the movement for Jewish Enlightenment a pioneering Jewish journalist named Bernard Gershon Richards richly chronicled New York’s immigrant Lower East Side under a pen name that paid tribute to his roots: Keidansky the town — officially renamed Kedainiai by the newly independent Lithuanian government — entered the new age with characteristic creativity and drive The 1920s saw the creation of a people’s bank modern schools and a range of Zionist youth movements from HaShomer HaTzair on the left to Beitar on the right became a leader of the Lithuanian HaShomer HaTzair underground before escaping to New York just as the war broke out Kagan remembers Keidan as a place of intense cultural and political activity Even spread around the world by emigration and war Keidaners remained conscious of their connections Associations of Keidaners formed in New York Eretz Yisrael and elsewhere to preserve those ties as well as to aid families and friends back home Among these expatriates was my grandfather Through the 1930s he edited the monthly bulletin of the Keidaner Association of New York While these preserved documents reflect the nostalgia and heartbreak typical of Jewish immigrants in those years they also convey a reverence for the community and its history The Holocaust brought it all to a tragic halt Days after the German invasion in June 1941 Lithuanian partisans began terrorizing and murdering Jews stopping only when Nazi troops demanded a more orderly extermination process when Germans and their local helpers transported more than 2,000 Jews to a pit outside of town and then methodically shot and buried them scores of Jewish communities were being extinguished across Lithuania For all of us with historic ties to those communities Besides the special weight given to any decennial anniversary this 70th year of remembrance could also be the last for those few remaining eyewitnesses from that time who have been active in recent years documenting and publicizing the town’s multicultural history say they intend this year to place a plaque at the site of the mass grave with as many of the victims’ names as they can find but it does suggest that Keidaner pride remains alive For more information about Keidan and its Jewish community Contact Andrew Cassel at [email protected] I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward American Jews need independent news they can trust At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S rising antisemitism and polarized discourse This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on See our full guidelines for more information, and this guide for detail about canonical URLs subject line “republish,” with any questions or to let us know what stories you’re picking up Copyright © 2025 The Forward Association On Friday, the 4th of October, a Eurojackpot lottery ticket purchased at the Norfa store on J.Basanavičiaus Street in Ķėdainiai won almost 81 million euros – the biggest lottery prize in the history of the Baltic States, reports “Made in Vilnius“ The record-breaking 80.98 million euros was won by a ticket that correctly guessed five main numbers and two additional numbers This impressive sum is a new record not only in the history of lotteries in Lithuania No previous lottery win is comparable to this prize and the luck that has smiled broadly upon the player or players from Lithuania We congratulate the winner and look forward to meeting them We encourage players to check their EuroJackpot tickets as soon as possible,” said Donatas Kazlauskas Deputy General Manager of the Lithuanian lottery company Olifeja The winner of the 80.98-million-euro prize is invited to contact Olifeja and will have to come to the office and present the winning ticket Also read: Week in Lithuania | Lithuania buys additional NASAMS systems; prosecutors open probe into TV host’s remarks about Russian-speakers Follow us on Facebook and X Ieva Strazdauskaitė was reported missing in March 2017 after she disappeared on her way from her parents' home in the northwestern town of Plungė to Vilnius her body was found in the central district of Kedainiai Strazdauskaitė's luxury car apparently became the motive for her murder The accused staged a traffic accident on the Kaunas-Vilnius motorway and kidnapped the woman after she got out of her car She was later beaten to death with a shovel The family of Ieva Strazdauskaitė demand life sentences for the men and 400,000 euros in non-pecuniary damages After the prosecution and the family's lawyer made their statements the trial was adjourned to give the defence time to prepare their closing statement The three cousins from the central town of Kedainiai – Karolis Bieliauskas Leonas Bieliauskas and Mantas Bieliauskas – were charged with torturing and cruelly murdering a person in a helpless state They murdered the young woman as a group in an effort to conceal another crime The men were also charged with unlawfully depriving a person of liberty and with causing damage to property Life imprisonment is the maximum sentence that can be imposed for these offences The accused partially admitted to the charges Lithuania’s parliament has overwhelmingly voted for amendments to the Law on Children’s Rights Protection which now bans all types of violence against children The amendments encompass all types of violence against children The law stipulates that parents and other legal guardians of child or children as well as the state must ensure their protection The legislation was swiftly spearheaded by MPs Mykolas Majauskas and Dovile Šakalienė after a four-year boy was brutally beaten to death by his stepfather in rural Lithuania in late January The changes on the parliamentary floor were voted unanimously with 116 Lithuanian lawmakers voting in support The vote triggered a wave of applause in the Seimas hall and drew praises both from Lithuanian parliamentarians NGOs and human rights watchdogs from all over we passed the law amendments only in the wake of the horrible tragedy in Kėdainiai ( the slain boy’s  stepfather was reportedly high on drugs during the crime- L.J.) a normal society and healthy society does not abandon its motherland in the numbers we do and that Lithuania is notorious for the Lithuanian minister of Health and psychiatrist by profession accentuated in his speech to fellow parliamentarians before the historic voting Although the killing of the boy in Kėdainiai has hushed the critics of children corporal punishment and those who insist that the parents themselves have to be allowed to decide what punishment suits their child best Lithuanian Social Security and Labour Minister Linas Kukuraitis believes that all views on children’s rights and emphasizing importance of the role of family have been considered «The atmosphere that lingered in my office after hammering out some crucial joint provisions on the new redaction of the Law on Children’s Rights Protection was euphoric,» the minister recalled He calls the adopted bill «Matas’ reform.» Matas is the name of the murdered Kėdainiai boy I talk to the boy and keep telling him: “Saint Matas so that all feel and live better in Lithuania.» Kukuraitis told Lithuanian media that he has promised the boy epitomizes violence against children in Lithuania to do all he can as the minister to prop up children’s right protection in Lithuania the stiff competition between the different takes on the issues – both in the parliament and in the general public – is partly to blame for the current inexcusable inaction in children’s rights protection «The first approach is that children must grow in an environment that is the most favourable to them and the second family-cantered approach is that the family is the most favourable environment not only for children A discussion at Social Security and Labour Ministry has shown that these two approaches can be reconciled,» he told lawmakers With the overwhelming vote for the amendments «I welcome today’s vote by the Seimas in Lithuania to ban all forms of violence against children including corporal punishments,» the Council of Europe’s Human Rights Commissioner Nils Muižnieks said in his Twitter post by becoming the 52nd country worldwide to impose this kind of ban Lithuania has sent an important message that no violence against children would be tolerated «This is a very positive development for Lithuanian children It sends a clear and important message that any form of violence against children cannot be tolerated,» Bede Sheppard deputy director in the Children’s Rights Division of Human Rights Watch «By banning all forms of corporal punishment Lithuania joins a growing community of countries that recognize that this practice violates children’s rights and their physical integrity,» he added The legal amendments were adopted during an extraordinary session held in response to the tragedy in Kėdainiai but the country’s chief prosecutor pays attention to the fact that Lithuanian courts tend to often vindicate parents for violence against underage children «I have to admit that certain court rulings where physical violence against underage children is interpreted as parents’ right to discipline their children raises questions for prosecutors,» Evaldas Pašilis In his presentation to the Seimas of the situation of violence against underage individuals and steps proposed by prosecutors he emphasized that the practice was formulated by the Supreme Court of Lithuania the court on February 24 last year upheld the vindication of a father who had beat up his child «Another example is the father who was cleared of charges by a panel of judges of a Kaunas court and whose multiple violent actions were treated as efforts to discipline and educate his teenage son Let’s hope that adoption of the changes to the Framework Law on Children’s Rights Protection will eliminate questions about the right to discipline children by way of corporal punishment,» the chief prosecutor noted about 2,800 underage individuals suffer from various deeds in Lithuania every year including about 1,000 minors who suffer from their parents six small children and 15 infants were killed in their close environment over the past five years Heartened by the adoption of the amendments he believes now that the brushed up law will prevent child abuse in Lithuania The law and secondary legislation aim at centralizing Lithuania’s rights protection system and setting out general guidelines for how authorities should act when they get worrying signals about a family the mother of two sons and advisor to mayor of the resort of Palanga in western Lithuania expressed conviction that the amendments were necessary but doubted whether the law changes will wipe out violence against children in Lithuania I doubt it as violence is embedded deep in our society The understanding that it is bad and cannot be tolerated does not come with a stroke of the pen You may find hard it to believe but we have never in our family slapped the buttocks of our children as the punishment believe that corporal punishment serves good it will take time to get the perception changed,» Vanagė underscored Mandatory alcoholism treatment program in Lithuania might go into force as soon as June The draft regulations paving way for such kind of treatment have been approved by the Ministry of Health and are expected to put for the Seimas’ deliberations in its spring session The drafting of these laws was prompted in part by tragic including the tragedies in Kražiai and Kėdainiai a drunken man murdered four elderly women and a father of four children threw two toddlers to their death in a well in the Kėdainiai region Alcoholics would receive treatments similar to those provided to drug addicts Lithuanian PM: more measures are needed to fight alcohol consumption The ban on selling alcohol in petrol stations is just a «small step» in the effort against alcoholism says Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius He believes that the government will take more measures to cut the use of alcohol The PM expects that the Lithuanian Parliament will approve higher excise duties on alcohol under which excise duty on alcohol will be incrementally raised every year efforts against alcoholism must include educational programs on the harm of alcohol Spaniards on NATO air policing mission in Lithuania A Spanish NATO contingent has taken over from Hungarians the Baltic air policing mission at the military base near Šiauliai Belgian jets will replace German jets in Estonia as part of the rotating mission over the Baltic States Call for boycott of Belarus and Kaliningrad power plants Lithuanian Minister of Energy Rokas Masiulis has exhorted these countries to carefully consider whether or not they should purchase electricity from the nuclear power plants being constructed in Belarus and in Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave Russian oil to be again supplied to Orlen Lietuva oil refinery Russian oil will be once again supplied to the Orlen Lietuva oil refinery in Mažeikiai as the new head of the company Wojciech Jasinski is increasing raw material imports from Russia was buying oil from Saudi Arabia for the refinery Lithuanian President retracts call for new child welfare agency After suggesting in the wake of the tragedy in the Kėdainiai region where an intoxicated father threw to death into a well his two toddlers to set up a new institution to deal with children in at-risk families President Dalia Grybauskaitė retracted her words insisting her proposal was rather to institute additional functions that could be carried out by existing bodies «I have never said an additional institution as such This function could be carried out by any institution already in existence,» Grybauskaitė said during her annual media conference on Thursday Candidacy for Finance Minister will not be negotiated Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius said there would be no negotiation with his coalition partners of a replacement for Social Democrat Finance Minister Rimantas Šadžius who has been proposed as a candidate for the membership at the European Court of Auditors Asked whether the Labour Party would get the Minister of Finance position if the current minister was elected to be a member of the European Court of Auditors Butkevičius told in an interview that according to the ruling coalition agreement the Finance Minister candidacy is nominated by the Prime Minister only Lithuania paid for its missiles more than Estonia paid the United States for the Javelin anti-tank rockets Lithuanian officials said the price difference was due to more-modern equipment and additional undisclosed agreements Lithuania paid $55 million US dollars for 220 Javelin rockets and 74 launchers while Estonia received 350 rockets and 120 launchers for the same price According to Minister of Defence Juozas Olekas the difference might be in the make and model Darius Antanaitis claimed that comparing Lithuania and Estonia’s purchases would be difficult because the information published about such purchases is often incomplete and that such deals are often broader than they might seem President is critical about new social model An ambitious Labour Code reform undertaken by the current government and which has yet to be adopted has drawn criticism of President Dalia Grybauskaitė «I think there is nothing wrong in having discussions the drafted model is a little too theoretical the government has not done its homework of picking out just the key principles essential for our economy that is why it got stuck in the Seimas,» Grybauskaitė said during her annual media conference on Thursday hopes that the Lithuanian Parliament will adopt the new social model a package of Labour Code and welfare system reforms in its spring session which commences in March is aimed at liberalizing labour relations and revising the pension system of the State Social Security Fund Board President: mix of conscript and professional soldiers may suit best The best approach to maintaining an army for a country the size of Lithuania is a mixed conscript and professional army The President discussed state security in her annual speech last Thursday and focused on a mixed approach to recruitment of soldiers as the most cost-efficient way of maintaining the armed forces The Vilnius–Riga service was launched right after Christmas and to big fanfare with tickets for the New Year weekend selling out within hours the interest has ebbed and the train is coursing half-empty It could therefore benefit from including more stops on the route The Vilnius–Riga train calls at four intermediary stops: Kaišiadorys and Joniškis in Lithuania and Jelgava in Latvia The railway connection between the two Baltic capitals had existed before but was not serviced for over two decades the hype from the LTG about the new route seemed overblown highlighting the inadequacy of rail travel in the Baltics “One got the impression that Lithuania introduced trains for the first time As if this was a trip to the Moon,” Rinkosaikste.lt quotes Stanislavas Federavičius president of the Railway Workers’ Union Solidarumas many passengers using the service do not travel all the way to Riga but rather use it as a regional service Adding more stops would make the route more popular is the biggest town in northern Lithuania and a railway hub the other two towns the train calls at – Kaišiadorys (population around 8,000) and Joniškis (around 8,500) – were included as part of a regional development policy LTG spokeswoman Aurelija Dermantė told the newspaper that these stops were also picked due to convenient connections with other train services is the closest connection to Lithuania’s second biggest city Kaunas pass the town of Kėdainiai just north of Kaunas with a population of some 23,000 The new train service was recently discussed at the parliamentary Committee on Economy “We have separately discussed the problem raised by the people of Kėdainiai regarding the Vilnius–Ryga–Vilnius train stop in Kėdainiai,” Rinkosaikste.lt quotes MP Viktoras Fiodorovas “I and the rest of the committee were not convinced by the arguments of the LTG representatives for why it does not stop in towns such as Kėdainiai.” is planning to adopt a resolution urging the state-owned railway company to work closer with municipalities to promote rail travel and expand its accessibility LTG spokeswoman Dermantė said the company would consider adding more stops on the Vilnius–Riga route “LTG Link continuously analyses the actual route timetable data passenger flows and infrastructure capacities in Lithuania and Latvia and a stop in Kėdainiai would be reconsidered should favourable circumstances arise,” she said has presented the proposal to Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė Some of the company’s profits could be used to support Ukraine Read more: Lithuania's sanctions-hit fertiliser producer asks for state help which can operate without supplies from Russia and Belarus to continue to produce phosphate fertilisers an important product for agriculture which will be in short supply around the world this year and would help preserve jobs and state and municipal budget revenue,” the union said in a statement on Tuesday The union is also asking the authorities to allow using Lifosa’s currently frozen bank accounts to pay employees and suppliers so that the company can continue to operate Prime Minister Šimonytė commented later on Tuesday that she doubted whether Lifsa would be able to continue its operations there are not only issues related to the shareholder who is on the list of sanctioned individuals It is wrong to believe that if the state nationalises a company it will somehow have other conditions to operate especially if the source of its raw materials is in the Russian Federation,” she told reporters on Tuesday but I will certainly not comment on it any further.” Lifosa bought raw materials from the Russian phosphate mining company Kovdorskiy GOK chemical product producer Novomoskovskiy Khlor another company linked to Lifosa’s shareholder The total value of procurements from the Russian companies exceeded 45 million euros and Lifosa paid 6.9 million euros to the Swiss company Lifosa’s accounts were frozen last Thursday after Russian oligarch Andrey Melnichenko Lifosa said on Monday it was unable to it meet its obligations and had turned to state authorities for help said state support was “vital” for continuing the plant’s operations Two Lifosa trade unions on Monday appealed to several ministries and parliamentary committees for help The Lithuanian company is 100-percent owned by the Swiss-registered Eurochem Group EuroChem Group said on March 10 that Melnichenko had resigned from its board of directors as of March 9 and that he was no longer the group’s main beneficiary As Lithuania gears up to mark 2020 as the year of the Vilna Gaon and the History of the Jews of Lithuania LRT English together with Vilnius University and Jewish Heritage Lithuania bring you a series of stories exploring Litvak history.The first pharmacies in Lithuania – in Vilnius and Kaunas – opened in the first half of the 16th century Pharmacists were supposed to make all the medicine according to the instructions given by educated doctors While medicine appeared in all forms – ointments infusions – pharmacists were also allowed to sell medicinal substances for self-medication Well into the 19th century not only various medical plants were used for medicine In the pharmacy you might have found elk antlers The privileges for the pharmacies also allowed to sell spices At the turn of the 20th century when the first cars appeared While the first pharmacies opened in Lithuania five hundred years ago the Jews got involved in medicine production and trade only in the 19th century Education of pharmacists was then regulated by the administration of the Russian Empire traditionally practiced only by Christians the first pharmacy dates back to the 1640s In 1636-1367 apothecary Elijas is mentioned as running a krom – a shop – for which he paid twenty złoty he had to receive a privilege from the city governor and commit to the strict regulations regarding production and keeping of pharmaceutical produce the first Jewish pharmacist is mentioned only in 1898 Chaim Fumkin replaced the previous owner Fridman and became the supervisor and pharmacist at J It operated since the second half of the 18th century and was based on the corner of Didžioji and Senoji streets In 1903 Chaim Gurwitch (Gurvičius) became the new owner and began proudly advertising that the pharmacy is the oldest one in Lithuania he would show a privilege to establish a pharmacy given by Boguslaw Radvila (Bogusław Radziwiłł which Gurwitch probably obtained from the previous pharmacy owner He ran the pharmacy until it was nationalised by the Soviet regime in 1940 Stories of other Litvaks and their Lithuanian histories, below:– Street in Vilnius tells a hidden story of Litvaks and conversion – The humble Litvak beginnings of petrol stations in Lithuania – Splendour, music and uproar at Vilnius' historic Bristol Hotel – Visionary Litvak family caught between wars, international relations, and the Holocaust – Bunimovich chocolate factory that was once the pride of Vilnius – The story of a real Dr. Dolittle in Jewish Vilna – Vilna Ghetto Theatre, a form of resistance in the presence of horror The series is prepared by Vilnius University's Faculty of History and the association Jewish Heritage Lithuania You can find more stories on the mobile app Discover Jewish Lithuania aims to promote Jewish heritage in Lithuania encourage local and international tourism to Lithuania Lithuania plans to enact 70 different projects throughout the year of the Vilna Gaon's synagogue from the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in New York According to a letter from the company’s CEO such a decision was made due to a shortage of ammonia Operations would be suspended gradually between September 13 and 15 Lifosa CEO Regvita Ivanovienė said operations were being suspended due to the sudden rise in natural gas prices which had led to a several-fold surge in the purchase price of ammonia as well as due to the suspension of operations at Achema Lifosa last suspended production when its accounts were frozen after the EU imposed sanctions in March against Andrei Melnichenko The Kedainiai-based phosphate fertiliser manufacturer suspended operations on April 10 and resumed them on August 7 The interim administrator was appointed for Lifosa in May to ensure that the company operates in compliance with the international sanctions Based on information from the state social security fund Sodra Lifosa currently employs a workforce of 918 Read more: Lithuania-based fertiliser plant falls under EU sanctions on Putin-linked oligarch According to Rimvydas Vastakas from Lifosa’s state-appointed interim administrator the suspension came as a surprise as the company posted a profit in August "There are some comments about rising energy prices Achema has a big problem with ammonia supplies and prices to find out the real reasons and to try to make sure that the company does not have to stop," Vastakas told BNS "Production operations in August were profitable which makes me somewhat surprised [about the planned halt] but our powers as the administrator are limited and we will try to gather more information," he added Vastakas said he had no information about the situation of the company's employees the chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance (BFK) 11 companies and five individuals have been sanctioned in Lithuania since February 24 Lithuanian banks have frozen 3.224 million euros “The authorities continue to work intensively in cooperation with international partners to ensure that the sanctions are applied on the territory of Lithuania in a principled manner and to the full extent,” Majauskas told BNS the EU sanctions cover three Russian oligarchs with links to the military industry: Sergei Chemezov head of the steel and mining company Severstal shareholder in Lenta and a shareholder in the TUI tour operator; and Andrei Melnychenko Majauskas said he had no information on whether all the individuals and companies sanctioned in Lithuania were related to these oligarchs He has also refrained from naming specific companies sanctioned in Lithuania The specific links of Chemezov and Mordashov to Lithuanian companies are not clear Media reports have previously suggested that Avia Solutions Group an aviation business owned by Gediminas Žiemelis is cooperating with Chemezov's Rostec on the construction of an airport in Moscow Rostec includes Russia’s main arms manufacturer Kalashnikov helicopter manufacturers and the United Aircraft Corporation All of these companies were sanctioned as a result of the 2014 annexation of Crimea Rostec’s assets were frozen by the United Kingdom The Lithuanian charter airline GetJet Airlines has already announced that it is ending cooperation with TUI Baltics which is linked to the sanctioned Mordashov a Cypriot company controlled by Melnichenko owns 90 percent of the shares of the Swiss-registered EuroChem Group which owns the phosphate fertiliser producer Lifosa based in the central Lithuanian town of Kėdainiai Lifosa’s bank accounts were frozen last week The company claims that it can no longer meet its obligations and therefore needs state aid EuroChem Group announced on 10 March that Melnichenko had resigned from its board of directors as of 9 March and that he was no longer the main beneficiary of the group The Lithuanian parliamentary Committee on Budget and Finance has already discussed how international sanctions are applied in Lithuania and acknowledged the need to strengthen the competences of sanctions enforcement specialists According to the open data platform Okredo there may be more than 1,600 companies in Lithuania that are linked in one way or another to Russian businesspeople there are currently no Russian-owned banks in the country but there is one payment institution that is controlled by Russian nationals who are also shareholders in several companies but their [Lifosa’s] accounts have been frozen and their activity has been suspended,” Valentinas Tamulis told BNS on Thursday The company itself said on Thursday it was continuing its operations for the time being and would seek to protect jobs It later confirmed that its accounts had been frozen “We are closely monitoring all international processes and events and we are consulting with the responsible Lithuanian institutions on the situation in the region We have foreseen and prepared for various scenarios for the company’s further activities and we will follow them by taking the international situation and the market situation and the situation in Lithuania into account,” Rimantas Proscevičius The Kėdainiai mayor says the fertiliser production plant employs over a thousand people and also provides heating to the town says the company continues to provide heating to Kėdainiai Lifosa’s shares have been in the ownership of the Russian business group Eurochem an oligarch with links to Russian President Vladimir Putin Lifosa posted 315.2 million euros in revenue for 2020 The company’s audited net profit inched down 6.4 percent to 16.8 million euros Lifosa exports around 98 percent of its products The company also exports its production to other continents Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė said she did not want to speculate and in terms of the application of the sanctions so I wouldn’t want to speculate,” she told reporters at the parliament on Thursday Foreign Minister Gabriel Landsbergis said he was aware of Lifosa’s plans to go to court over the sanctions He also suggested that the government would look for ways to help Lifosa’s employees “The company [...] has the right to go to court and check whether the sanctions were applied correctly this may be the way to go,” the minister told reporters He also pointed out that the Belarusian-owned Belorus sanatorium in Lithuania’s Druskininkai had previously followed the same path The government and the ministries must monitor the situation and especially those ministries that can directly help they have to take the problems that people are facing seriously and help them,” Landsbergis said “The possibilities for a smooth return of Lifosa’s advanced products to the market have been ensured now,” the company said in a statement has not resumed operations since it was shut down for annual scheduled maintenance in May 2023 S&P Global reported last year that Lifosa’s shareholders who had planned to temporarily mothball the Lithuanian plant from October 2023 were looking to restart production and resume nitrogen phosphates deliveries to global customers based on data from the State Social Insurance Fund Lifosa’s accounts were frozen after the EU imposed sanctions on Andrey Melnichenko Lifosa is 100 percent owned by Swiss-registered EuroChem Group a Cyprus-based company that was owned by Melnichenko before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and whose current beneficiary is his wife Alexandra Both are on the EU’s list of sanctioned persons the journey time will not change after adding more stops which started running at the end of last year will start making additional stops in Jonava and Kėdainiai on April 1 says that the inclusion of additional stops on the Vilnius-Riga route is a pilot project The aim is to monitor the number of passengers choosing domestic and international routes which will allow for an objective assessment of the effectiveness and need for additional stops It is scheduled to run until the end of the year the daily Vilnius-Riga train stops at Lithuania’s Kaišiadorys Vidmantas Bezaras PHOTO: DELFI / Domantas Pipas Vidmantas Bezaras director of the Lithuanian Cultural Heritage Department hopes that removing Soviet monuments from cemeteries will not turn into "a mass campaign" or become "a matter of fashion" Hs comment came after Culture Minister Simonas Kairys had signed a decree giving leeway for municipalities to decide on Soviet heritage at cemeteries "I do hope this will not be a mass campaign and a matter of fashion," Bezaras told the parliamentary Committee on Culture on Wednesday many of whom probably did not understand what they were fighting for and were often shot in the back or killed because of the bad command "We have to maintain our respect and tell the whole world: we are a nation that does not fight the dead but those symbols that promote both the current regime and the former one do not satisfy us as a nation," he said A total of 160 burial sites are recorded in the registers and about half of them have Soviet monuments either marking the burial places of Soviet soldiers or erected in tribute to them graves and other burial sites would not lose the protection guaranteed by the Geneva Convention Soviet monuments include "noteworthy works of art" that show little or no signs of propaganda but most of them were cast according to standard models created between 1948 and 1950 and some were erected in places where there was an active resistance against the Soviet regime Some monuments could be left in place with additional information The director referred to a military cemetery in Kaunas' Sanciai district as an example If the pedestal with the kneeling soldiers said the ideological message would probably be stronger than simply taking it down and throwing it away" EUR - the biggest prize in the history of the Baltic States A record 80,98 million the amount was brought to the player by a ticket that correctly guessed five main and two additional numbers the ticket was bought in Kėdainiai at the "Norfos" store "A total of 80 euros!" This impressive sum is a new record in the history of lotteries not only in Lithuania No previous achievement is comparable to this prize and success which smiled widely on the player or players from Lithuania The winner can be called the most successful player - congratulations and we look forward to meeting him We invite players to check their Eurojackpot tickets as soon as possible" The winner of 80,98 million euros is invited to contact us by phone: +37052751751 He or she will then be asked to come to the lottery office and present the winning ticket Įtariamieji I. Strazdauskaitės nužudymo byloje PHOTO: DELFI / Rafael Achmedov The prosecution is seeking life sentences for three young men standing trial for the murder of a young woman in 2017 Prosecutor Gintas Ivanauskas told reporters on Thursday The family of Ieva Strazdauskaite also demand life sentences for the men and 400,000 euros in non-pecuniary damages the trial was adjourned to give the defense time to prepare for their closing statement Strazdauskaite was reported missing in March 2017 after she disappeared on her way from her parents' home in the northwestern town of Plunge to Vilnius Strazdauskaite's luxury car apparently became the motive for her murder The accused staged a traffic accident on the Kaunas-Vilnius highway and kidnapped the woman after she got out of her car Services for Raising Capital & Sell a Business Get a monthly investment magazine in private equity and venture capital The company currently operates three factories: two in Ukraine and one in Lithuania, opened in 2020. The new 19,500-square-metre production, warehousing, and administrative facility will triple production capacity in Lithuania – from 22,000 to 60,000 tonnes per year. Upon completion, Kormotech will produce 61% of its total output in wet pet food in Kėdainiai.  According to Rostyslav Vovk, the decision to locate in Lithuania was driven by logistical convenience. The central location of the Kėdainiai Free Economic Zone facilitates the transportation of goods by road and sea. In addition, all of the necessary infrastructure for the company was already in place, enabling a rapid and inexpensive start to construction.    “The extremely smooth process of building the first factory and the favorable conditions and support from the Lithuanian government through Invest Lithuania and the regional authorities led us to continue our expansion here without hesitation. As one of the largest investors in the country, we are pleased to be able to contribute to the country’s economy with our successful operations,” said Rostyslav Vovk.    One of the key priorities of Ukraine's Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food is to open new markets and expand existing ones. I am confident that Kormotech's production facilities will enable other Ukrainian companies to enter the European market or strengthen their presence there. We are moving forward with businesses and industry associations!" commented Vitaliy Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine.   "We are honored to be part of the international expansion of the EBRD’s long-standing partner Kormotech, one more proof of the strength and resilience of Ukrainian business despite the war. We look forward to seeing this new plant contribute to the Lithuanian economy while further strengthening Kormotech’s position as one of the leading global pet food market players," said Andreea Moraru, Regional Director, Head of Poland and the Baltic States.  Kormotech currently employs 175 people in Lithuania and plans to hire 200 more once the new factory is complete, primarily in production roles such as operators, technicians, electricians, locksmiths, warehouse workers, and packers, along with an expanded administrative team. Most employees are from Kėdainiai and its surroundings, but future hiring may extend to Kaunas, Jonava, Panevėžys, and Šiauliai as demand grows.  Join as a partner Advertising Team Vacancies Contacts Services for Raising Capital & Sell a Business Investment proposals Investment Projects and Startups Business for Sale Commercial Property Land Franchising Investor Offers Services for Raising Capital & Sell a Business Services for Investors Private Equity & M&A Venture Capital & Startups Government Investments Stock Market & IPO Real Estate Investments Investment digest Research Articles Investment interview We invest in Ukraine Investors Batai PHOTO: Vida Press A Lithuanian student from Kėdainiai swapped designing clothes for modelling them at one of the biggest fashion events in the world who is a second year Fashion student at the University of Northampton in the UK strutted her stuff on the catwalk for three shows at February’s London Fashion Week While Ieva spends her University time developing her design skills having done it in a professional capacity ever since she was a teenager in her native Lithuania Ieva modelled at three London Fashion Week catwalk shows wearing outfits from designers Louis De Gama who is originally from the city of Kėdainiai revealed she’d beaten the odds to get the London Fashion Week gig “I’m signed to a modelling agency in London and received a call to attend the casting,” she said I discovered there were 400 models and so I was not expecting to get picked But two days later I was told that three designers had picked me so I am used to performing at big occasions.” Having a foot in both fashion design and modelling Ieva has a unique perspective on catwalk life She said: “I’m in a quite unusual position I notice that people don’t really take you too seriously when they deal with you as a model – they just think you’re pretty and you can’t possibly have anything else I want to create things which I why I joined the University of Northampton.” Ieva has not yet decided on a firm career direction She said: “I’m not sure if I want to be a fashion designer as I do have some issues with the industry’s record of sustainability The industry needs to find ways to change – it’s not sustainable to keep on producing more and more new clothes I think my ideal job would be running a second hand vintage clothes shop of course I would like to keep modelling too as having the opportunity to appear at events like London Fashion Week makes me very happy.” PHOTO: DELFI / Andrius Ufartas In an effort to attract new investment an eastern Lithuanian town where the shutdown Ignalina nuclear power plant is located is considering setting up a free economic zone (FEZ) and is currently in talks with several new investors Visaginas Mayor Erlandas Galuguzas says finding a good site for a FEZ around the town is quite a challenge "We have started to talk about the creation of a FEZ but we have certain problems here," Galuguzas told BNS "The town and the municipality are unique in that they have little free land left Fitting it is a task that requires a lot of thought," he said The mayor said the municipal administration is considering offering additional incentives to businesses to attract more investments to the town "We are in talks with the EU's structures and the government on incentives not only to private individuals If we managed to negotiate incentives to business structures I think we would be competitive and attractive," he said an international medical device producer that has a disposable respiratory care product factory in Prabrade is building a new production facility in Visaginas The new factory is expected to be launched next year with plans to employ 200 people initially and increase the workforce up to 1,500 in the future The international medical device producer now has a disposable respiratory care product factory in Prabrade Galuguzas says Visaginas is holding talks with more investors "We are in talks on the arrival of a new investor there are several more investors who are thinking (about investing in the town)," he told BNS Lithuania now has seven free economic zones: in Kaunas "Cold War tourism has a lot of potential in our country. Lithuanian tourists often look for non-standard even frightening experiences and through such activities get to know history The goal of "Travel in Lithuania" is to help travelers discover the experiences of the Cold War and increase the flow of tourists which in 2019 brought over 2,2 million to institutions offering to visit similar objects The Cold War study commissioned by "Keliauk Lithuania" this year showed that the flow of visitors to Cold War objects has been growing recently the main objects of the Cold War in Lithuania - the Vilnius TV Tower Museum of Occupations and Freedom Struggles Vytautas the Great War Museum - received more than 320 visitors According to the survey commissioned by "Keliauk Lithuania" 7 out of 10 Lithuanians find similar objects interesting The most attractive for tourists are the less accessible places leaving the secret services and tasting food and drinks The "Travel in Lithuania" team offers to visit places that are fast catching up with the most popular Cold War objects in Lithuania In a reinforced concrete hideout underground - only with a searchlight and an audio guide but also private visits are offered in the bunker of the former company Lietuvos automatika in Vilnius Naujamiestis district medical supplies and even the books that were once brought here A gas mask being demonstrated to a baby causes chills The owners of the bunker invite you to organize photo sessions trainings or even secret meetings of the Masonic lodge here Peek into a 30m-deep missile shaft and press the 'nuclear button' in a simulated explosion the Soviet Union's secret underground ballistic missile launch complex in 1962 The completed construction of the underground thermonuclear missile launch site lasted just 2 years and 10 people dug underground shafts with shovels Until 1978 operated in a secret military base formed a joint group of Soviet nuclear weapons in Lithuania Many townspeople or city guests who spend time with their children in Kėdainiai City Park or Babėnai Forest have no idea that their favorite places to walk were once top-secret Soviet military facilities that still guard the secrets of the Cold War you can see the graffiti "gallery" of "slums" in secluded military buildings illustrating the impressive geography of the Soviet army soldiers who served in Kėdainiai the remains of the missile base town and underground hangars in the Josvainiai forest And in the city of Kėdainiai, you can even see several former Soviet closed military and civilian areas: a military "garrison", a town designed for the families of officers ("gorodok"), a closed urban complex for the crew and personnel of the military aviation transport regiment (airfield) with a pilot stadium, squadrons headquarters and other buildings. More information here various military maneuvers took place very often near the Nemunas: military equipment was moved across the river by pontoon bridges in 1971 an international military training ground was set up at Jurbarka a stretch of 104 km stretched along the border between Lithuania and Poland this section was constantly guarded by 18-30 border guards of the Soviet Union - thus the road to Europe was blocked It was not for nothing that this section was nicknamed the "Iron Curtain": on one side it was surrounded by barbed wire with alarm sensors and a particularly good quality road was built through it in 2004 After Lithuania joined the European Union the dismantling of the "Iron Curtain" began Now tourists can see restored parts of the barbed wire fence and preserved fragments of the old "Iron Curtain" Guided tours can be organized to the "Iron Curtain" border road A communications battalion with a choice of bullets and cartridges a nuclear missile launch base and an abandoned military town an underground workshop for the assembly of nuclear warheads.. Explorers of the Past offers to travel around these top-secret Soviet military objects and experience history outside of the museum glass participants also receive a military ration during the day-long excursion The next stop is the capital. Vilnius is not only baroque Old town The Soviet occupation left a clear scar on the face of the city self-guided tours are available with Neakivainii Vilnius During the Cold War period, without indirect geopolitical, economic and ideological confrontation between JAV and the Soviet Union and its allies also had direct military conflicts (Vietnam Cold War tourism is often intertwined with the experiences of a wider branch of tourism - military tourism Enthusiasts of military equipment can learn more about the history of military equipment at the Vytautas Great War Museum In the exhibition of military equipment in Fort VI in Kaunas the Vytautas the Great War Museum also conducts "Cold War" education for schoolchildren with a relay simulating military training as if frozen in time: the legendary "Spurginė" in Kaunas still cooks donuts with meat or jam according to a four-decade-old recipe In the city's oldest barbecue "Žaliukė" the skewers have been spinning since 1966 and the canteen on Laisvės avenue near the Cathedral has been around for half a century The Soviet interior has also been recreated in the "Godo" bar and the "Mēnulis Retro" cafe It has been available in Vilnius since 1969 broth with pies at the soup house "Sultiniai" (Jogailos st drink tea at the 70's Vilnius cafe "Planeta" at the capital's oldest cinema "Skalvija" or visit one of the canteens where more than one generation has eaten