Lithuanian broadcaster LRT (Lithuanian National Radio and Television) have announced officially on December 15th, that Lithuania has formally withdrawn from the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest.

According to Head of the LRT Rimvydas Paleckis, the decision taken was a “formal action” that was needed to be taken until December 14th, the deadline to confirm or decline participation; otherwise Lithuania would have been fined.

However, LRT is still looking for funding to return to the competition. The sum needed to continue the Eurovision preparations for Lithuania is 300.000 litas (appr. 86,890 Euro).

If Lithuania could finally mobilize enough funding, the national selection process for Eurovision 2010 in Oslo would be continued.