Pplitikos’ petition, which was delivered to the ECtHR, states that Lithuania violated R. Žemaitaitis’ right to freedom of expression when the state authorities began to persecute him for his statements on the social network Facebook and in public media in which he commented on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and criticized Israel’s actions.
“The Court of Human Rights has repeatedly stated that freedom of expression, the right to disseminate information and ideas includes not only the right to disseminate a neutral opinion that is favorably received, suitable and pleasing to the authorities, but also that which is criticized, provokes or disturbs”, – states R. Žemaitaitis.
“I feel an obligation to fight for the right to have my opinion and to express it. And not just for yourself. First of all, so that the people of Lithuania are not afraid to speak and criticize the government,” he noted.
ELTA reminds that in the spring of this year, the Constitutional Court (CT) found that Seimas member R. Žemaitaitis broke the Seimas member’s oath with anti-Semitic statements and grossly violated the Constitution.
After the decision was made, the politician himself submitted a request to the Central Election Commission (CEC), requesting the cancellation of his mandate.
R. Žemaitaitis repeatedly outraged the international community with his anti-Semitic statements. The politician accused the Jews of having carried out the “Holocaust of Lithuanians”, publicly shared potentially anti-Semitic statements.
2024-08-26 10:56:21