January 18 – Lithuanian government renounced the agreement signed with Belarus on the principles of cross-border cooperation. The bill terminated the agreement signed by the governments of Lithuania and Belarus in Vilnius on June 1, 2006, to set out areas of cross-border cooperation between the two neighbouring countries, as a response to 2021–2023 Belarus–European Union border crisis.[1]
March 31 – Embassy of India opened in Vilnius, instating first direct diplomatic mission of India in Lithuania.[2]
April 20 – Lithuanian parliament Seimas finalised and approved sanctions to all Russian and Belarusian citizens as a response to Russian invasion of Ukraine. From 1 May 2023, citizens of both countries are illegible to obtain Lithuanian visas, e-resident status or exchange Ukrainian hryvnia. In addition, Russian citizens are also illegible to submit request for permanent stay in Lithuania or purchase property within Lithuanian territory.[3]
April 22 – Lithuania concluded a trial in operating outside of IPS/UPS BRELL circle in preparation to disconnect from Russian led synchronous transmission grid and joining Synchronous grid of Continental Europe no later than February 2025.[4]
June 27 – Vilnius become a first European city that implemented driverless delivery robots on public roads.[5]
January 2 – Lithuanian Railways stopped 3 direct train services Šiauliai–Panevėžys, Radviliškis–Mažeikiai and Radviliškis–Šiauliai. All 3 routes were replaced by Panevėžys–Šiauliai–Mažeikiai route, coursing 8 times a day and combining Radviliškis–Daugavpils Railway and Libau–Romny Railway infrastructure.[15]
February 16 – Lithuania stopped any cargo trade with Belarus via railway border point Stasylos-Bieniakoni, leaving only one railway cargo link between two countries in Kena-Hudahaj railway link point.[16]
February 20 – LTG Cargo (part of Lithuanian Railways group) decreased transit numbers of goods moving between Russia's mainland and Kaliningrad Oblast through Lithuania by 7%, limiting Russia to 2.89 tonnes of goods in 2023.[17]
February 26 – Lithuanian customs reinstated third party cargo check points at the Lithuania–Poland border, due increased cargo freight from non-EU countries via Poland and Lithuania to Belarus.[18]
December 27 – after 16 years the direct train link renewed between Vilnius and Riga.[20]
Environment
January 1 – new record set for warmest new year day in Lithuanian history with temperature rising to 14.9 C in Druskininkai municipality.[21]
January 5 – Minija river broke through flood wall and flooded Stragnai II village.[22]
January 14 – a sinkhole formed that was 17.2m in diameter in Užubaliai, Biržai District Municipality. It was the biggest sinkhole to appear in Lithuania within the last two decades.[23]
January 22 – oil spill from discontinued railway factory polluted Nemunas river in Kaunas. Pollution stopped the following day.[24]
August 17 – new heath record set in Birštonas, where weather reached 34.6 C degrees, the new highest temperature for 17 August ever recorded in Lithuania.[31]
September 1 – Oil spillage in Danė and Neris rivers in Klaipėda polluted 3 km of internal waters in Lithuania.[32]
November 8 – rising Akmena river flooded town of Kretinga.[33]
Law and crime
January 1 – new restriction come into action preventing minors under 18 years old to participate in any form of lottery.[34] Minors caught buying a lottery ticket would be issued with the fine up to 440 euros, while service provider selling lottery tickets to minors could be issued with up to 3000 euros fine.
January 1 – changes in maternity and paternity time-off law came into action. The time off law was changed from 12 to 24 months to 18–24 months, the government pay-outs changed to direct pays of 100.54% based on parent's direct salary, single parents gained increased pay-outs.[35]
January 31 – three homemade bombs was detected in Vilnius Levas Karsavinas school. All students and teachers evacuated, while special forces inspected the bombs.[36]
January 13: Freedom Award by Seimas awarded to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, presentation held in National Parliament.[49]
January 23: Kristijonas Bartoševičius withdrew his membership in the national parliament Seimas.[50] On February 1, the official investigation started for allegations of paedophilia against Bartoševičius.[51]
February 7: National Freedom Scholarship awarded to philosopher Vilius Bartninkas.[52]
March 2: Political party of Russian Alliance in Lithuania was disestablished due rules violation after party failed to present list of party members three rounds in a row.[53] In addition 3 other parties was disestablished by submitting official request: Party of Political Prisoners, Nations Solidarity Union, Order and Justice.
February 15: Lazdynai Swimming Pool officially opened in Vilnius, Lithuania. Upon completion it is the biggest swimming sports arena in Lithuania and the Baltic states.[57]
