Date of birth

16 July 1957

Place of birth

Kaunas, Lithuania

Education

1982–1986

Postgraduate studies, Department of Lithuanian Literature, Faculty of Philology, Vilnius State University (currently Vilnius University)

1975–1981

Diploma cum laude in Lithuanian philology and literature, Faculty of Philology, Vilnius State University

1968–1975

Secondary School No 4 in Kaunas (currently Stepono Dariaus ir Stasio Girėno Gymnasium)

1964–1968

Secondary School No 1 in Kaunas (currently Aušros Gymnasium)

Work experience

2000–2004

Director, Vilna Gaon Jewish State Museum

1989–1990

Director, Lithuanian Jewish State Museum

1988–1989

Head, Judaica Department, Book Chamber of Lithuania

1986–1988

Lecturer, Vilnius University, Evening Department in Kaunas

1979–1981

Research Fellow, Kaunas Historical Museum (currently Vytautas Magnus War Museum)

Political career

Member, Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats

Since 2016

Member of the 12th Seimas

Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs

Member, Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrat Political Group

2012–2016

Member of the 11th Seimas

Deputy Chair, Committee on European Affairs

Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs

Deputy Head, Seimas Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

2011–2012

Vice-President, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Since 2010

Chairman, Parliamentary Forum for Democracy

2008–2012

Member of the 10th Seimas

Chair, Committee on Foreign Affairs

Member, Committee on European Affairs

Head, Seimas Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Deputy Head, Seimas Delegation to the Assembly of Members of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania, the Sejm and Senate of the Republic of Poland, and the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

2004–2008

Member of the 9th Seimas

Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs

Chair, Subcommittee on the Neighbourhood Policy

Deputy Head, Deputy Member, Seimas Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

1998

Vice-Chairperson, PACE Committee on Culture and Education

1996–2000

Member of the 7th Seimas

Chair, Committee on Human Rights

Chair, Committee on Human and Citizen’s Rights and Nationalities

Member, Commission on NATO Affairs

Member, Seimas Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

1992–1996

Member of the 6th Seimas

Member, Seimas Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

1990–1992

Member, Supreme Council – Reconstituent Seimas

Chair, Foreign Affairs Commission

Member, National Delegation for the Negotiations with the USSR

1989–1990

Member, Council of the Lithuanian Reform Movement Sąjūdis

Miscellaneous

Membership: Chairman, International Commission for the Evaluation of the Crimes of the Nazi and Soviet Occupation Regimes in Lithuania (since 1998); Founder, Member of the Board of Trustees, Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom

Awards: Commemorative badge for personal contribution to the Lithuanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union (2013); Sign of Honour for Merits of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2012); Sign of Honour of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania – Lithuanian Diplomacy Star (2012); Establishing Volunteers of the Lithuanian Armed Forces Medal for contribution to establishing and strengthening the defence of the Republic of Lithuania (2011); Medal for Merits to Vilnius and the Nation (2012); gold medal of Petras Vileišis for merits in restoring the independent state of Lithuania and contribution to achieving its international recognition, as well as strengthening Lithuania’s position in the EU and NATO and cautious and tolerant approach to national minorities in Lithuania (2011); Truman-Reagan Medal of Freedom (2010); award for outstanding support for the Belarusian democratic opposition following the presidential election in Belarus on 19 December 2010; Order of Officer’s Cross for Merits to the Republic of Poland (2009); state award of Ukraine – Third Class Order “for Merits” for personal service to the development of friendly relations between Lithuania and Ukraine (2007); Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesverdienst Kreuz; 2000); Cross of Commander of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas and the Medal of Independence of Lithuania (2000)

Publications on Lithuanian and Jewish heritage, Lithuanian cultural heritage, linkage among types of literature

Languages: Lithuanian, Yiddish, English, Russian, Polish, German

Interests: music, literature, cinema

Family

Married with two children