The current Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament, Juozas Olekas, was born into a family exiled by the Soviet regime, later returned to his homeland, spent his childhood in difficult conditions, received medical education, became known as a surgeon in his country, and served as Minister of Health and Defense.
Modern.az website presents the next article in the “Speakers” section.
Juozas Olekas, Speaker of the Seimas (Parliament) of Lithuania, was born on October 30, 1955, in the village of Bolshoy Ungut, Mansky district, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia.
The place of his birth itself is one of the most striking points of his life story. J. Olekas was born not in Lithuania, but in Siberia, as the child of a family exiled by the Soviet regime. His parents and grandparents had been deported from Lithuania. Although the family later returned to their homeland, these events left a deep mark on Juozas' memory and worldview.
His parents met on an exile train
The history of Juozas Olekas' family ending up in Siberia dates back to 1948.
On May 22 of that year, the deportation of numerous families from Lithuania to remote regions of the Soviet Union began. Juozas' mother, Joana Kulbokaitė, was 13 at the time, and his father, Juozas Olekas, was 16. (Incidentally, the father and son have the same name and surname - ed.)
They did not know each other while in their homeland. The future spouses saw each other for the first time at Vilkaviškis railway station, their paths crossed again in Siberia as teenagers, and after some time, they got married.
Their first child was born in Siberia. This was Juozas, who would later become the Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament.
Finally, the family was able to return to Lithuania in 1958. At that time, Juozas was only 3 years old.
The family returning from Siberia could not return to their previous comfortable life. Their properties in their native lands had been confiscated, and their farms destroyed. According to Juozas Olekas' later accounts, after the family returned to Lithuania, they had to live in old buildings demolished by soldiers for some time. One of the most frightening scenes he remembered from childhood was large rats climbing the walls.
Speaking to the Lithuanian publication “Lietuvos rytas” in 2012, Juozas Olekas recalled that his family lived in difficult household conditions when they returned from Siberia.
It was only many years later that the family was able to restore their home and farm in their native lands. During the Soviet era, their ancestral property was razed to the ground, and although the land was returned after independence, there was no trace of the former house.
Juozas Olekas' father began to restore the family farm in the last years of his life. Later, his son continued this work. Juozas Olekas rebuilt his ancestral home to resemble its former appearance based on old photographs and information remembered by family members.
Fourth-generation beekeeper – where he escapes from politics
One of the lesser-known aspects of Juozas Olekas' life is related to beekeeping.
Beekeeping has been a generational occupation in his family. According to the politician, when they returned from Siberia, his grandfather had more than 40 bee colonies and produced tons of honey every year.
After the family regained their land, his father brought the beehives back to their ancestral home. Juozas took over this work from his father in 2009.
Speaking to “Lietuvos rytas” in 2020, the politician, who introduced himself as a representative of the fourth generation of a beekeeping family, stated that he had 22 bee colonies on his farm.
He said that beekeeping is a good way to escape from daily political worries. He stated that he forgets the tension created at work during the week when he is with the bees, and he loves to work with the hives unhurriedly.
Interestingly, this family tradition has also been passed down to subsequent generations. A report published in 2020 noted that Juozas Olekas' grandson also engaged in beekeeping, and this had already reached the sixth generation in the family.
He wanted to be a doctor, rose to microsurgery
Juozas Olekas' career choice was also shaped during his childhood. The suffering of people living in exile during his childhood instilled in J. Olekas a deep sense of social justice and endless dedication to serving people. According to his own account, he began to show interest in medicine in the 4th grade of school and decided that he would become a surgeon in the future.
After graduating from high school in 1974, he entered Kaunas Medical Institute. After studying there for two years, he continued his education at the Faculty of Medicine of Vilnius State University. In 1980, he graduated from the university with a medical degree.
During his medical career, Juozas Olekas showed particular interest in microsurgery and became one of the doctors who contributed to the development of this field in Lithuania.
In 1982, together with Professor Mečislovas Vitkus and his son Kęstutis Vitkus, he participated in the establishment of the microsurgery laboratory at Vilnius University. He worked there for approximately ten years, participating in the treatment of patients with various severe injuries.
In 1985, J. Olekas performed the first emergency microsurgical reconstruction of a thumb lost due to trauma in Lithuania. In 1987, under the leadership of Professor K. Vitkus, he operated on the ruptured Achilles tendon in the right leg of Lithuanian basketball legend Arvydas Sabonis. After this operation, A. Sabonis made Lithuania's name known worldwide with his game for another ten years.
J. Olekas worked as a doctor at the Red Cross Hospital of Vilnius University in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1987, he became a Doctor of Medical Sciences. In subsequent years, he worked in plastic surgery and traumatology, headed the university hospital, and worked as a lecturer.
In 1988, he was awarded the Lithuanian State Prize.
From doctor to politician – from independence movement to parliament
Juozas Olekas' entry into politics coincided with Lithuania's struggle for independence.
In 1988, the “Sąjūdis” movement began in the country, advocating for separation from Soviet rule and the restoration of independence. Juozas Olekas was one of the participants in this movement. He even headed the commission of doctors within the movement.
In 1988, he was elected to the Council of the organization at the Sąjūdis congress. In 1989, he was elected a People's Deputy of the USSR as a candidate of the movement and represented Lithuania in the Supreme Soviet of the USSR as part of the Lithuanian delegation.
This was a significant turning point in his political career. A few years earlier, Juozas Olekas, who worked as a surgeon in a hospital, was now participating in processes where the future political fate of Lithuania was being discussed.
He has been a member of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party since 1989. In 1990, he joined the ranks of political forces participating in the process of restoring the country's independence.
He served in the first four governments of independent Lithuania from 1990 to 1992, as well as in the 12th government led by A. Brazauskas from 2003 to 2004. His appointment as Minister of Health in the first government of independent Lithuania was a notable event. Juozas Olekas held this position in several governments.
However, his entry into politics did not put a definitive end to his medical career. Juozas Olekas later returned to medical practice, taught at the university, and headed a hospital.
In 1996, he was elected a member of the Lithuanian Parliament for the first time. From 2003 to 2004, he served as Minister of Health for the second time. Thus, Olekas participated in the formation of the country's health policy both in the early years of independence and in the subsequent political stage.
Served twice as Minister of Defense, then elected Speaker of Parliament
One of the most important stages of Juozas Olekas' political career is related to the position of Minister of Defense.
He held the post of Minister of Defense of Lithuania from 2006 to 2008, and then from 2012 to 2016.
These periods were significant for strengthening Lithuania's position in NATO and the European security system. The ministry led by J. Olekas dealt with issues related to the country's defense policy, military readiness, and international military cooperation.
Elected to the European Parliament in 2019, Juozas Olekas served there until 2024. He was a member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament and headed the delegation for relations with Belarus.
Returning to the Lithuanian Seimas in 2024, Juozas Olekas was elected First Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
On September 10, 2025, he became the new Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament. In a secret ballot, 84 deputies supported his candidacy, 20 voted against, 23 deputies abstained, and 3 ballots were declared invalid.
Fell into scandal – the president did not defend him
J. Olekas' political career was not only marked by successes. During his tenure as Minister of Defense, the “Golden Spoons” scandal, which caused widespread discussion in Lithuania, occurred.
The issue was related to a contract signed by the Lithuanian army with a company called “Nota Bene” in 2014. The company supplied kitchen utensils and other equipment for the military. It was later revealed that the prices of some products were up to eight times higher than their market value.
The incident caused great public dissatisfaction and became known as the “Golden Spoons” scandal.
Court investigations were also conducted regarding the matter. In 2021, the Lithuanian Supreme Court upheld the decision to invalidate the 2014 contract, citing that it violated public procurement principles. The supplier company was obliged to return 118,000 euros to the army and 5 percent interest annually.
The court also found the head of the company guilty in a fraud case related to the same matter. However, the military could not prove that the supplier intentionally tried to deceive them.
The scandal also had political consequences. In 2016, the then President of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, did not approve the appointment of Juozas Olekas as interim Minister of Health. The President justified this decision by stating that the “Golden Spoons” scandal related to the Minister of Defense had damaged his reputation.
His wife was not happy with his entry into politics
J. Olekas' personal life is also rich in interesting moments.
He met his wife Aurelia during his student years and got married. Aurelia is said to be an economist. The couple has two daughters and one son.
His daughter Laura is a dentist, his other daughter Joana is an economist, and his son Juozas is a student. Currently, they enjoy the cheerful voices of their six grandchildren – Ula, Mėta, Aloyzas, Jonas, Antanas, and Juozas.
An interesting confession by the politician's wife regarding his career choice has also appeared in the press.
According to Aurelia, who spoke to “Lietuvos rytas” in 2012, marrying a doctor was not easy at all. She said that she recorded her husband not being home for 21 nights in one month. She also admitted that she had to take care of their three young children mostly by herself.
Another statement by Aurelia attracts attention. She openly stated that she was never happy with her husband's entry into politics.
Nevertheless, they tried to preserve family traditions. In the 2012 report, it was noted that the Olekas family went on bicycle rides with their children and grandchildren every year. In 2020, family members gathered at the ancestral farm and participated in the traditional honey harvest.
In his free time, J. Olekas enjoys working in the garden and going to the theater. He and his wife are amateur dancers. However, they spend most of their time engaging in active sports.
In the summer months, they go on week-long kayak trips on Lithuanian rivers with their family and friends, and cycle in various areas. In winter, they go skiing.
J. Olekas is a true enthusiast of multi-sport. He can be seen on basketball, football, and tennis courts, in various hikes and running races.
However, he not only engages in sports himself but also organizes various sports events for young people.
J. Olekas worked in leadership positions in the Lithuanian Parliament's football club for many years, and later became the club's president.
The political worldview of a child born in Siberia
J. Olekas' childhood experience of exile also left a certain mark on his political views.
In an interview with “Kyiv Independent” in April 2026, he spoke about the impact of his family's history of exile on his current worldview. He stated that the concepts of freedom and democracy hold a special place in his family's memory. He emphasized that this historical experience also influenced Lithuania's support for Ukraine.
In that interview, J. Olekas said that if Russia is not stopped in Ukraine, it could expand its aggression to other parts of Europe. In his opinion, states must be prepared for defense to maintain peace.
A. Gorkhmaz
