Lithuanian health minister promises to send deputy who wasn’t sure which country Crimea is part of to work in Ukraine

Lithuania's Health Minister Marija Jakubauskienė has said she will send her new deputy, Arnomedas Galdikas, to work in Ukraine following a public backlash over his comments on Crimea.

Source: LRT, Lithuania's state-funded public service broadcaster, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Galdikas has come under criticism for failing to state clearly in an interview with LRT that Crimea belongs to Ukraine. In Lithuania, this question is often used as a litmus test of a person's position on Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

In the interview, Galdikas said: "I don't know who Crimea belongs to – what is the purpose of this question?" When pushed, he answered: "All right then, to Ukraine."

Galdikas took up the post on 16 March after being appointed by the populist Nemunas Dawn party.

Quote from Jakubauskienė: "We will send our vice minister to work in Ukraine. I already told him yesterday that he will have to go."

More details: Jakubauskienė said the decision was taken after discussions with Lithuanian Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė.

She did not specify when Galdikas will be leaving or what duties he will carry out in Ukraine.

Background: Last year, Lithuanian Culture Minister Ignotas Adomavičius was forced to resign after he also failed to answer immediately when asked which country Crimea belongs to and accused the journalist of asking provocative questions.

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