Lietuva in brief

The Vilnius Municipality Public Order Department inspected taxi drivers during the first two weeks of August and found nearly a hundred of violations, reports ELTA. Frequently taxi drivers violated passenger transportation rules, while some of the drivers provided services without authorization. Often receiving complaints about unusually high tariffs, the municipality devoted much attention to taxis operating at the Vilnius Airport and Train Station. The Public Order Department has issued 94 violation reports - five for providing service without a permit, the rest for breaching the rules of passenger transportation. In some instances taxi drivers falsified taxi meter data, were smoking or did not provide required documents. The inspection was not a one-time event; the Public Order Department regularly carries out inspections of taxi drivers in Vilnius.

Cardinal Emeritus of Vilnius Audrys Juozas Backis led the papal mission in Kiev on Aug. 17-18 on the occasion of the 1,025th anniversary of the Baptism of Kievan Rus, reports ELTA. Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Backis as the Special Envoy of the Holy Father. Cardinal Backis was to convey the Pope’s message and his Apostolic Greeting to the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Main commemoration events took place in the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Kiev. The Cathedral was consecrated in 2011 but final sanctification was conducted during the Baptism commemoration events. The commemoration program consists of a liturgy ceremony, convention of the Praying Mothers’ communities, a forum on the Christian values and the challenges it is facing, a Prayer Vigil throughout Saturday night and the solemn Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning. Kievan Rus was officially baptized in 988 by the initiative of Prince Vladimir the Great.

While the various countries around the world are suffering facing protests, it seems that a paradoxical situation can be observed in Lithuania, reports ELTA. According to a poll, Lithuania’s citizens are not content with the country’s economy and have no trust in the government. However, their indignation is expressed only in their own communications, or on the Internet. According to experts, Lithuanians have reason to protest; however, this hasn’t happened. When people talk about the problems with government, they are encouraged them to solve them. However, when they keep silent, this could erupt with violent force. According to the data presented by the Eurobarometer survey, 82 percent of Lithuania’s citizens have no trust in the political parties; 73 percent in the government; 81 percent in the Seimas and 58 percent in the local authorities. Sixty-four percent of people claimed that the country’s economy is in relatively bad situation and 16 percent said that Lithuania’s economy was “very bad.” According to Executive Director at Civil Society Institute Ieva Petronyte, the reasons determining the culture of protest and active society are related to the economy.