A Lithuanian court on Thursday convicted a political leader in the country’s governing coalition for his antisemitic remarks.
The court has found that “Remigijus Žemaitaitis incited hatred against Jews, grossly downplayed Nazi Germany’s crimes and grossly minimized the Holocaust in an offensive and insulting manner,” AP reported.
Žemaitaitis, leader of the Nemuno Aušra party, was fined about $5,800, significantly less than the approximately $60,000 the prosecutors requested.
The fine will be directed to a fund for victims of crimes, AP reported.
Judge Nida Vigelienė said that “Žemaitaitis chose and used language that was degrading, violated human dignity and demonstrated hatred,” according to the report.
The antisemitic comments came in social media posts and public statements that Žemaitaitis made in May and June 2023. In one social media post, he wrote, “Apparently, for our journalists and local Lithuanian Jews, the demolition of schools in Palestine is yet another pastime?!”
The politician also quoted an antisemitic nursery rhyme, according to AP.
Žemaitaitis is not a member of Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė’s Cabinet, but his populist party joined the center-left coalition led by the Social Democrats in 2024.
Žemaitaitis denies any wrongdoing and told reporters after the ruling that “everybody understands that this is a politicized decision,” the report added.
