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The Embassy of Lithuania in Vienna |
The Ambassador
Lina Rukštelienė
Lina Rukštelienė has been serving as the Ambassador of Lithuania to the Republic of Austria since 2022. In this role, she represents Lithuania's interests and priorities in Austria, working to strengthen bilateral relations and advance Lithuanian positions in international forums.
Ambassador Rukštelienė brings nearly three decades of diplomatic experience to her position. Born on July 8, 1971, she graduated from Vilnius University's Faculty of History and later completed studies at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies.
Ambassador Rukštelienė's diplomatic career began in 1993 at the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Throughout her career, she has held various positions of increasing responsibility, both within the ministry and in diplomatic missions abroad. Her expertise spans areas such as bilateral relations, European affairs, and international security.
Prior to her current appointment, Ambassador Rukštelienė served as Director of the Strategic Management and Analysis Department at the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2021 to 2022. Her previous roles include Head of the Strategic Decision Support Group (2019-2021) and Minister Counsellor and Deputy Permanent Representative at Lithuania's Permanent Mission to International Organizations in Vienna (2016-2019).
Ambassador Rukštelienė's experience also includes serving as Deputy Director of the European Countries Department (2014-2016) and Head of the EU Enlargement Division (2012-2014) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has had multiple postings in Vienna, including as Minister Counsellor at Lithuania's Permanent Mission to the OSCE (2009-2012) and Counsellor at the Permanent Mission to International Organizations (2003-2006).
Her diverse background includes work on transatlantic cooperation and security policy, as well as experience in protocol roles, having served as Head of the Prime Minister's Protocol Division from 2002 to 2003.
Fluent in English, Russian, and German, Ambassador Rukštelienė's linguistic skills facilitate her ability to engage effectively in multilateral diplomacy and foster Lithuanian-Austrian relations. Married and a mother of one son, she combines her professional expertise with a personal understanding of international life, making her well-suited to represent Lithuanian interests in Austria and at international organizations in Vienna.
