The police intervened in Alytus after students reported that protesting teachers were recording them without consent, which has raised concerns about potential public order violations.
At approximately 11:10 AM, local police received notifications from students regarding teachers at their school who were participating in a strike. These students claimed that teachers were shouting, filming them without consent, and uploading these videos online, raising allegations of public order violations. Kristina Janulevičienė, a representative of the Alytus police, noted that authorities are considering starting administrative proceedings, but initial reports indicate that there is no evidence of students being filmed during the protests. Moreover, no incidents of violence were reported during the protests, which appear to revolve around possible breaches of assembly regulations.
The situation arose as several teachers from the Alytaus Adolfo Ramanausko-Vanago Gymnasium halted their educational activities in protest against the dismissal of ethics teacher Meilė Platūkienė. The strike has ignited tensions, with Alytus municipality officials claiming that they had no prior knowledge of the strike and considering it unlawful. This has led to a conflict between the educators' rights to protest and the local government's stance, complicating the narrative surrounding the ongoing situation in the municipality.
In light of these events, Lithuania's Ministry of Education, Science and Sport has also intervened, reaching out to the Alytus authorities to address the unfolding controversy surrounding the teachers' actions. The protests highlight underlying issues within the local educational system and present a challenge for both educators advocating for their rights and authorities trying to maintain order and legality within the context of public demonstrations.
