Valdas Tutkus

Lieutenant General Valdas Tutkus (born 27 December 1960) is a Lithuanian former military officer and politician. He served as the Chief of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania from 2004 until 2009, having previously served as Commander of the Lithuanian Land Forces from 2001 to 2004.

Biography From 1978 to 1982, he studied at the Tashkent Higher All-Arms Command School. After 1982, he became a platoon commander. and in 1983 was sent to Afghanistan as part of units of the Turkestan Military District's 40th Army. From 1988 to 1991, he studied at the Frunze Military Academy in Moscow. By 1991, Tutkus withdrew from the Soviet Armed Forces and became a founding member of the modern Lithuanian Armed Forces. At the end of his term, he became Commander of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. On 24 July 2009, Arvydas Pocius was assigned as Chief of Defence and Tutkus was dismissed. From 2014 to 2015, he was Director of the Lithuanian Defense and Security Industry Association.

Political career On 5 October 2023, Tutkus announced his intention to run as a candidate in the 2024 Lithuanian presidential election, supported by the Party "Together with the Vytis", formerly known as the Lithuanian Pensioners' Party. In his electoral program, he supports nationalization of strategic sectors of the economy, abandoning the Euro and restoring the litas, opposition to LGBT rights and maintaining friendly relations with both Ukraine and Russia.

Tutkus unsuccessfully participated in the 2024 Lithuanian parliamentary election as the representative of the Lithuanian Christian Democracy Party and later became party's interim chairman after the retirement of Mindaugas Puidokas.

In 2025, Valdas Tutkus returned to the Lithuanian Regions Party, of which he is the founder. In 2024, he left the party due to disagreements with its leaders.

Personal life He is married to Lilija, and has a son named Vytautas.

Awards

Nominal Weapon (2001) Order of the Cross of Vytis Cross of the Officer of Vytautas the Great Order Commemorative Badge of Russian Army withdrawal from Lithuania Medal of Merit of National Defence System