Bangladesh, Dec. 10 -- A political storm is sweeping across Lithuania, and at its center stands not a party leader or a scandal, but the future of the nations public broadcaster. On December 9, more than 10,000 people flooded the square outside the Seimas in Vilnius, transforming the heart of Lithuanias capital into a sea of flags, placards, and chants demanding one thing: protect the independence of LRT.

The rally, organized by the Association of Professional Journalists, became one of the largest demonstrations in recent years directed squarely at a single piece of legislation. The anger, frustration, and urgency that filled the air made clear that many Lithuanians see the proposed amendments not merely as bureaucratic adjustments but ...