Žygimantas Pavilionis

Žygimantas Pavilionis was born on 22 July 1971 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

„Date of birth | 22 July 1971; Place of birth | Vilnius, Lithuania“

Žygimantas Pavilionis was born into a well-known family – his father, Rolandas Pavilionis, was a philosopher and longtime Rector of Vilnius University, and his mother, Marija Aušrinė Pavilionienė, was a university lecturer and active public figure.

„Augote garsioje šeimoje: tėtis – filosofas, ilgametis Vilniaus universiteto rektorius Rolandas Pavilionis, mama – universiteto dėstytoja Marija Aušrinė Pavilionienė, abu – aktyvūs visuomenės veikėjai“

He is married to his wife Lina (Lina Pavilionienė), and together they have four sons.

„…diplomatas, dabar Seimo narys Žygimantas Pavilionis (45), su žmona Lina auginantis keturis sūnus…“

In 2013, he earned a Doctor of Social Science degree.

„2013 | Doctor of Social Science“

He holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy from Vilnius University (1989–1995).

„1989–1995 | Master’s in Philosophy, Faculty of Philosophy, Vilnius University“

From 1992 to 1994 he studied international relations at Vilnius University’s Institute of International Relations and Political Science.

„1992–1994 | Diploma in International Relations, Institute of International Relations and Political Science, Vilnius University“

He graduated from Sausio 13-osios Secondary School in Vilnius in 1989.

„1989 | Sausio 13-osios Secondary School in Vilnius“

In 1993, Pavilionis began working at Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, holding various positions including Third Secretary in the West European Division and later heading a division in the European Integration Department.

„1993–1999 | Third Secretary, West European Division;... Head, Political Cooperation Division, European Integration Department, MFA“

From 1999 to 2002, he served as a Counsellor and Minister Counsellor at Lithuania’s Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels.

„1999–2001 | Counsellor, Minister Counsellor, Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the European Union in Brussels, Belgium; 2001–2002 | Minister Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Lithuania to the European Communities“

He was Director of the European Integration Department at the MFA and Deputy Chief Negotiator for Lithuania’s EU membership from 2002 to 2006.

„2002–2006 | Director, European Integration Department; Deputy Chief Negotiator for Lithuania’s Membership of the European Union, MFA“

From 2006 to 2009 he served as an Undersecretary (Vice-Minister) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania.

„2006–2009 | Undersecretary, MFA“

In 2009–2010, Pavilionis was Ambassador-at-Large coordinating Lithuania’s Presidency of the Community of Democracies, within the MFA’s Transatlantic Cooperation and Security Policy Department.

„2009–2010 | Ambassador-at-Large, Coordinator for the Lithuanian Presidency of the Community of Democracies,... MFA“

From 2011 to 2015, he was concurrently accredited as Lithuania’s Ambassador to the United Mexican States (Mexico).

„2011–2015 | Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Mexican States“

In 2015–2016, he served as an Ambassador-at-Large for the Eastern Neighbourhood at the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

„2015–2016 | Ambassador-at-Large for Eastern Neighbourhood, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Republic of Lithuania“

He was a lecturer at the General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania during 2015–2016.

„2015–2016 | Lecturer, General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania“

In 2007, Pavilionis was granted the diplomatic rank of Ambassador.

„2007 m. man buvo suteiktas Ambasadoriaus rangas“

He served as Lithuania’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America from 2010 to 2015.

„2010–2015 | Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United States of America“

Žygimantas Pavilionis has been a member of the Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) since 1992.

„Since 1992 | Member, Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats“

From 1993 to 1995, he was a board member and the leader of the Vilnius Young Christian Democrats organization.

„1993–1995 m. | Vilniaus Jaunųjų krikščionių demokratų partijos valdyba, narys ir vadovas“

He serves as a member of the TS-LKD Presidium and is the party’s International Secretary.

„Tėvynės sąjungos-Lietuvos krikščionių demokratų Prezidiumas, narys ir tarptautinis sekretorius“

He was elected as a Member of the Seimas in 2016 and served in the Twelfth Seimas (2016–2020).

„2016–2020 | Member of the 12th Seimas“

He served as a Member of the Thirteenth Seimas from 13 November 2020 to 14 November 2024.

„2020–2024 m. kadencija Seimo narys nuo 2020-11-13 iki 2024-11-14“

He was re-elected to the Fourteenth Seimas and has been serving as a Member of Parliament since 14 November 2024, representing the Naujamiesčio–Vilkpėdės constituency (No. 2).

„2024–2028 m. kadencija; Seimo narys nuo 2024-11-14; Išrinktas: Naujamiesčio–Vilkpėdės (Nr. 2) apygardoje“

Pavilionis served as Deputy Speaker of the Seimas from 16 July 2024 until 14 November 2024.

„07/16/2024 - 11/14/2024 | Deputy Speaker“

In 2018, Pavilionis sought the TS-LKD nomination for the 2019 Lithuanian presidential election, receiving the second-highest support from the party’s chapters (34 nominations) – behind only Ingrida Šimonytė, who received 37 nominations.

„I.Šimonytė partijos skyriuose kandidate į prezidentus buvo iškelta 37 kartus... Antroje vietoje pagal skyrių apklausą atsidūrė... Žygimantas Pavilionis... Jis skyriuose kandidatu buvo iškeltas 34 kartus“

During 2016–2020, he was a member of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs.

„Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs“

In the Twelfth Seimas, he chaired the Subcommittee on Transatlantic Relations and Democratic Development under the Foreign Affairs Committee (2016–2019).

„2016–2019 m. | Transatlantinių santykių ir demokratijos pakomitetis, pirmininkas“

He was Deputy Chair of the Seimas Committee on European Affairs from 2019 until 2020.

„Member, Deputy Chair, Committee on European Affairs (2019–2020)“

In the Thirteenth Seimas, Pavilionis served as Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs from 2020 to 2021.

„2020–2021 m.; 2022–2024 m. | Užsienio reikalų komitetas, pirmininkas“

He again held the position of Chair of the Seimas Foreign Affairs Committee from 2022 until 2024.

„2020–2021 m.; 2022–2024 m. | Užsienio reikalų komitetas, pirmininkas“

He served as Deputy Chair of the Seimas Committee on European Affairs from 2020 to 2022.

„2020–2022 m. | Europos reikalų komitetas, pirmininkės pavaduotojas“

In 2024, he was appointed Chair of the Seimas Committee on European Affairs.

„2024 m. | Europos reikalų komitetas, pirmininkas“

Since November 2024, Pavilionis has been serving as Deputy Chair of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs.

„2024-11-21 | Užsienio reikalų komitetas, Komiteto pirmininko pavaduotojas“

In the October 2016 Seimas elections, Pavilionis won Vilnius’ Naujamiesčio single-member constituency with 65.3% of the vote in the runoff, defeating Liberal candidate Virgilijus Alekna (who received 31.5%).

„1. Naujamiesčio | Žygimantas PAVILIONIS... – 43,14 %/65,25 %; Virgilijus ALEKNA... – 18,91 %/31,53 %“

In October 2020, Pavilionis was re-elected to the Seimas from Vilnius’ Naujamiesčio–Naujininkų constituency, securing 56.6% of the votes in the runoff against Freedom Party candidate Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius (35.3%).

„Ž. Pavilionis surinko 56,61 proc., o T. V. Raskevičius 35,33 proc. rinkėjų balsų“

In 2024, Pavilionis once again defeated Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius in the runoff for the Naujamiesčio–Vilkpėdės constituency seat, securing 48.5% of the vote against Raskevičius’ 43.1%.

„Žygimantas PAVILIONIS... – 48,54 proc.... Tomas Vytautas RASKEVIČIUS... – 43,08 proc.“

In the October 2020 parliamentary election, Pavilionis ranked 8th among TS-LKD candidates by preferential votes on the national party list, though he ultimately secured his seat by winning his single-member constituency.

„Konservatoriai... gauna 23 mandatus Seime. **Pirmumo balsai:** 1. INGRIDA ŠIMONYTĖ … 6. ARVYDAS ANUŠAUSKAS … 7. PAULIUS SAUDARGAS … **8. ŽYGIMANTAS PAVILIONIS** … 9. MYKOLAS MAJAUSKAS.“

Pavilionis has consistently won election in a Vilnius single-member constituency. He captured the Naujamiesčio seat in 2016, was re-elected in the Naujamiesčio–Naujininkų constituency in 2020, and again won the Naujamiesčio–Vilkpėdės constituency in 2024 (after electoral boundary changes).

„1. **Naujamiesčio** – Žygimantas PAVILIONIS … 43,14 %/65,25 % … 2. **Naujamiesčio–Naujininkų** … Ž. Pavilionis surinko 56,61 proc., o T. V. Raskevičius 35,33 proc. rinkėjų balsų … 2024–2028 m. kadencija; … Išrinktas: **Naujamiesčio–Vilkpėdės** (Nr. 2) apygardoje.“

Lithuania introduced an online registry (PINREG) for officials’ private interests in late 2020, so Pavilionis’s latest interest declaration is publicly accessible via this system, whereas his pre-2020 interest disclosures were not published online under the old regime.

„Informuojame, kad šiuo metu vyksta Privačių interesų registro (PINREG), kurio steigimas įtvirtintas Viešųjų ir privačių interesų derinimo įstatymo...“

As a Member of the Seimas, Pavilionis earns a base salary of roughly €2,570 per month (gross) – according to 2018 data for an ordinary MP – with additional pay if holding higher posts.

„Paprasto Seimo nario pareiginė alga šiuo metu siekia 2570,50 eurų popieriuje. Tačiau papildomas pareigas einantys Seimo nariai gauna daugiau.“

During his diplomatic career, Pavilionis’s remuneration was at senior civil-service level – for example, ambassadors in the Foreign Ministry earned around €3,547 gross per month on average in 2020.

„Viceministras – 5,118; Ambasadorius ypatingiems pavedimams – 3,547 (EUR vidutinis mėnesinis nustatytasis darbo užmokestis neatskaičius mokesčių).“

As a member of the Seimas, Pavilionis is required to file an annual Metinė gyventojo (šeimos) turto deklaracija (Form FR0001), and these asset declarations are made public by the State Tax Inspectorate (VMI) each year.

„Valstybinė mokesčių inspekcija (VMI) informuoja, kad internetinėje svetainėje atnaujino ir paskelbė metinių gyventojų (šeimos) turto deklaracijų duomenis... Remiantis naujausiais duomenimis, dėl užimamų pareigų už 2022 metus turto deklaracijas turėjo pateikti apie 102 tūkstančiai gyventojų. Šiemet gyventojai gali susipažinti su 47 tūkst. viešai skelbiamų turto deklaracijų išrašų.“

Pavilionis’s declared personal wealth is moderate compared to other MPs – he is neither among the very wealthiest (the 10th richest MP declared about €740,200 in assets for 2023) nor among the least wealthy (some MPs declared well under €10,000). His net worth falls somewhere in between these extremes.

„Turtingiausių parlamentarų dešimtuką užbaigia Demokratų frakcijos narys Kęstutis Mažeika – **740,2 tūkst. eurų turto**.... Mažiausiai turto deklaravęs parlamentaras, šiuo metu kalinamas Vytautas Gapšys, turi kiek mažiau nei **3 tūkst. eurų** asmeninio turto.“

Pavilionis’s official income has varied with his positions. As an ordinary Seimas member, his base monthly salary was about €2,570 gross in 2018. In higher posts, he earned more – for example, as a Seimas Deputy Speaker his salary was roughly €2,968 gross per month, and as a Committee Chairman around €2,875 gross, under 2018 rates.

„Paprasto Seimo nario pareiginė alga šiuo metu siekia **2570,50 eurų** popieriuje. Tačiau papildomas pareigas einantys Seimo nariai gauna daugiau... Seimo pirmininko pavaduotojai... Jų visų pareiginės algos siekia **2968 eurus**. Seimo komitetų pirmininkai gauna po **2875,25 Eur**.“

During his diplomatic career, Pavilionis’s pay was in line with senior civil service standards – for instance, an ambassadorial rank in the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry had an average monthly salary of roughly €3,547 gross in 2020.

„Viceministras – 5,118; **Ambasadorius ypatingiems pavedimams – 3,547** (EUR vidutinis mėnesinis nustatytasis darbo užmokestis neatskaičius mokesčių).“

He is a member of the Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union.

„Membership: Lithuanian Riflemen’s Union; Knights of Columbus in Lithuania;...“

In 2022, he served as one of Lithuania’s co-chairs of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC).

„2022 m. | Tarpparlamentinis aljansas Kinijos klausimais (IPAC), vienas iš Lietuvos pirmininkų“

He was the national coordinator of the World Parliamentary Network for Ukraine (U4U) in 2022.

„2022 m. | Pasaulio parlamentinės sąjungos Ukrainai (U4U) tinklas, nacionalinis koordinatorius“

In 2022, he chaired the Lithuania–Ukraine Parliamentary Assembly.

„2022 m. | Lietuvos ir Ukrainos parlamentinė asamblėja, pirmininkas“

From 2016 to 2020 he headed the Seimas parliamentary Friendship Group with Georgia.

„2016–2020 m. | Draugystės su Sakartvelu grupė, pirmininkas“

He is a member of the Knights of Columbus in Lithuania.

„Membership:... Knights of Columbus in Lithuania;...“

He serves on the editorial board of the Lithuanian Annual Strategic Review published by the Military Academy of Lithuania.

„Membership:... Editorial Board, Lithuanian Annual Strategic Review by General Jonas Žemaitis Military Academy of Lithuania;...“

He is a member of the Lithuanian Foundation and of the Lithuanian Ambassadors’ Club.

„Membership:... Lithuanian Foundation; Lithuanian Ambassadors’ Club“

On January 3, 2022, Pavilionis announced he was resigning as Chairman of the Seimas Committee on Foreign Affairs at the request of his TS-LKD party, following criticism over the handling of U.S.-sanctioned Belarusian fertiliser transit.

„MP Žygimantas Pavilionis announced on Monday that he was stepping down as chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, as demanded by the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats’ political group in the Seimas. “I am resigning at the request of my party,” Pavilionis told the Delfi online news website“

In June 2019, Pavilionis spoke out against granting state recognition to the Romuva Baltic pagan community by alleging that the Russian KGB had worked to strengthen paganism in Lithuania; later that year, the Seimas Ethics and Procedures Commission ruled his remarks were false and ordered him to retract them officially.

„Neužmirškime, kad Rusijos KGB nuosekliai… darė viską, kad pagonybė Lietuvoje sustiprėtų. Etikos ir procedūrų komisija… įpareigojo Seimo artimiausiame posėdyje „paneigti paskleistus žinomai neteisingus duomenis apie bendriją Romuva““

In 2020, the Seimas Ethics and Procedures Commission found that Pavilionis had omitted required information in his private interests declaration – specifically, he had not declared his role in the anti-Astrav Nuclear Power Plant association “Sąjūdis prieš Astravo AE,” despite being a board member of that organization.

„Pilietė V. D. nurodė, kad Seimo nariai G. Landsbergis, Ž. Pavilionis, V. Poderys... dalyvauja asociacijos „Sąjūdis prieš Astravo AE“ veikloje, tačiau savo privačių interesų deklaracijose duomenų apie narystę šioje asociacijoje nepateikia... Pagal šios interneto svetainės duomenis, Seimo narys **Ž. Pavilionis yra Asociacijos Valdybos narys**.“

He received a commemorative badge in 2002 for his personal contribution to Lithuania’s trans-Atlantic integration on the occasion of Lithuania’s invitation to join NATO.

„Awards: Commemorative Badge for personal service to the course of Lithuania’s Trans-Atlantic integration on the occasion of Lithuania’s invitation to join NATO (2002)“

In 2003, he was awarded the Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania.

„Cross of the Knight of the Order for Merits to Lithuania (2003)“

He received a commemorative badge from the State Border Guard Service in 2006 for active cooperation and assistance in strengthening border protection.

„Commemorative Badge of the State Border Guard Service for active cooperation and assistance in strengthening the protection of the state border (2006)“

In 2008, Pavilionis was honored with the Cross of the Knight of the Order of Oranje-Nassau from the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

„Cross of the Knight of the Order of Oranje-Nassau of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (2008)“

He received the Cross of the Commander of the Order of Leopold II from Belgium in 2009.

„Cross of the Commander of the Order of Leopold II of the Kingdom of Belgium (2009)“

In 2009, he was also awarded the Cross of the Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.

„Cross of the Commander of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (2009)“

Pavilionis received the Mark Palmer Prize in 2011 for his contribution to the development of democracy.

„The Mark Palmer Prize for contribution to the development of democracy (2011)“

In 2013, he was honored with the Order of Honour of Georgia.

„Order of Honour of Georgia (2013)“

He received an award from the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) in 2014 for his support to Ukraine.

„award by the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) for support to Ukraine (2014)“

In 2015, the Lithuanian–American Community awarded him the Žalgiris Medal for sincere and meaningful cooperation.

„Žalgiris Medal by the Lithuanian–American Community for sincere and meaningful cooperation (2015)“

Also in 2015, he received an award from the American–Lithuanian Business Council for contributing to the development of business relations with the USA.

„award by the American–Lithuanian Business Council for contribution to the development of business relations with the USA (2015)“

On May 12, 2021, the Congressional Hispanic Leadership Institute (CHLI) honored Žygimantas Pavilionis with an International Leadership Award at its 17th Annual Gala.

„on Wednesday, May 12,... Žygimantas Pavilionis, Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs..., was honoured with [an] international leadership award“