Born on 16 July 1957 in Kaunas into a family of a physician and a teacher.

In 1981 graduated from the Department of Philology of Vilnius University.

In 1979-1981 worked at Kaunas Museum of History as a research worker.

In 1982-1986 - a post-graduate student at the department of the Lithuanian language and literature.

]In 1986-1988 - a teacher at Kaunas Evening department of Vilnius University.

In 1988-1989 - Head of the Judaic Sector of the Lithuanian Book House.

In 1989-1990 - Director of the Lithuanian Jewish Museum.

Published many articles about the Lithuanian cultural heritage, relations between Lithuanian and Jewish literature.

In 1990-1992 - Deputy to the Supreme Council - the Reconstituent Seimas. Former Chairman of the foreign Affairs Committee, belonged to the Sąjūdis faction.

In 1991 - member of the State delegation for the negotiations with the USSR.

Member of the Seimas since 1992. Member of the Lithuanian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the European Union.

In 1998 - Deputy head of the Culture and Education Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the European Union.

Participated in the activity of Sąjūdis during the period of rebirth, elected member of Sąjūdis Seimas Council.

A volunteer of Lithuanian since 1991.

Founder, director of the State Jewish Museum of Vilnius Gaon. Honorary Chairman of the Lithuanian Jewish Community.

One of the founders of the homeland Union (Lithuanian conservatives), member of its Board.

Married. Has a son and a daughter.

Member of the Seimas Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the European Union.

Member of the Seimas Delegation to the Interparliamentary Union.

Member of the Parliamentary Group for the Relations with the Knesset of Israel.

Member of the Parliamentary Group for the Relations with the USA.