US EditionLithuanian court convicts the leader of a governing party of inciting hatred against Jews
Remigijus Žemaitaitis was fined €5,000 for antisemitic remarks that minimized the Holocaust, violating freedom of expression limits, court ruled.
- On Thursday, Vilnius district court convicted Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the Nemunas Dawn party, of inciting hatred and fined him $5,835, Judge Nida Vigelienė announced.
- The case stems from social media posts in May–June 2024 that included quoting an antisemitic nursery rhyme and wartime comments, with the court concluding these could not be justified by constitutional freedom of expression.
- The court said the posts met Article 170 criteria for mockery, humiliation and incitement of hatred, and the panel found he falsely accused Jews of killing Lithuanians and blamed them for village massacres.
- The defendant must pay the fine within two months and the case can be appealed to the Lithuanian Court of Appeal within 20 days, prosecutor Justas Laucius sought a larger penalty.
- The Constitutional Court had previously ruled in April 2023 that he breached his oath and constitution, while Parliament launched impeachment proceedings and the Social Democrats called antisemitism unacceptable.
16 Articles
16 Articles
The leader of Lithuania's populist ruling party Nemuno Aušra Remigija Žemaitaitis was found guilty of inciting hatred against Jews and belittling the Holocaust by a court on Thursday. The trial concerned the politician's social media posts from 2023. According to the court, Žemaitaitis must pay a fine of five thousand euros (120.8 thousand crowns) for accusing Jews of historical crimes, inciting hostility towards them and spreading negative ster…
Associated Press News
Lithuanian court convicts the leader of a governing party of inciting hatred against Jews
A Lithuanian court has convicted the leader of one of the parties in the country’s coalition government for making antisemitic comments and fined him 5,000 euros or about $5,800.
Al-Monitor
Leader of Lithuanian government party found guilty of hatred against Jews
By Andrius SytasVILNIUS, Dec 4 (Reuters) - A Lithuanian court found the leader of a junior party in the ruling coalition government on Thursday guilty of incitement to hatred against Jews and belittling the Holocaust in social media posts in 2023.Remigijus Zemaitaitis, founder of the populist Nemunas Dawn, was fined 5,000 euros ($5,835) for falsely accusing the Jewish people, as a group, of historical crimes, encouraging hostility and strengthen…
A court today convicted Remigius Zamaitaitis of incitement against Jews and contempt for the Holocaust • In 2023, he called Israelis "animals," quoted an antisemitic children's song, and claimed that "the Jews and Russians contributed to the destruction of our nation" • He resigned from parliament following the affair, but returned to lead a party that entered the coalition • "A political decision," he attacked
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