Discussion on universal conscription in Lithuania to start soon –vice minister

VILNIUS – A discussion on universal conscription in Lithuania should be started soon and it will involve the public and institutions, Vice Minister of National Defense Zilvinas Tomkus says.

"A study has been carried out and we plan to start a discussion on universal conscription soon. It will be a discussion between institutions and the public," he told journalists on Wednesday.

In his words, the wish is to start the discussion with public organizations later this month.

Tomkus says the goal is to „decide as soon as possible" on universal conscription as "it will not be easy to implement the universal conscription principal".

Universal conscription would mean greater "public involvement".

Lithuania reintroduced partial conscription in 2015 in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine.