Lithuanian Party Leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis Convicted of Inciting Antisemitism

Court Delivers Verdict in Antisemitism Case

Remigijus Žemaitaitis, the leader of Lithuania's populist Nemuno Aušra (Dawn of Nemunas) party, which is part of the current coalition government, was convicted on Thursday, December 4, 2025, by the Vilnius Regional Court for inciting hatred against Jews and grossly minimizing the Holocaust. The court imposed a fine of 5,000 euros on Žemaitaitis, a sum significantly less than the 51,000 euros prosecutors had sought.

The conviction stems from a series of public statements and social media posts made by Žemaitaitis in May and June 2023. He has denied any wrongdoing and indicated his intention to appeal the verdict, which he described as 'politicized'.

Details of Incendiary Statements

The court case focused on several instances where Žemaitaitis' rhetoric was deemed to have incited hatred. These included social media posts on Facebook, a speech delivered in the Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas), and an exchange with a journalist.

Key statements and accusations made by Žemaitaitis included:

• Falsely accusing Jews of killing Lithuanians, participating in Soviet-era deportations, and being responsible for massacres in the villages of Pirčiupiai and Kaniukai.
• Quoting an antisemitic nursery rhyme.
• Writing, 'How long will our politicians continue to kneel to the Jews who killed our countrymen, contributed to the persecution, torture and destruction of Lithuanians'.
• Claiming, 'There was a Holocaust of the Jews, but an even greater Holocaust of Lithuanians was in Lithuania!'.
• Comparing the Jewish community to 'animals' and calling them a 'sub-species'.
• Accusing the Jewish nation of being 'barbarians' and collectively responsible for the policies implemented by the State of Israel.

The court examined seven Facebook posts from May and June 2023, concluding that all but one, along with his parliamentary remarks, exceeded the limits of free expression.

Court's Findings and Reactions

Judge Nida Vigelienė, in her ruling, stated that Žemaitaitis had 'publicly mocked, demeaned and encouraged hatred' toward Jews, and had 'grossly minimised the Holocaust carried out by Nazi Germany on Lithuania's territory in an offensive and insulting manner'. The court found that his rhetoric used language that was 'degrading, violated human dignity and demonstrated hatred toward a group distinguished by nationality'.

Following the verdict, Žemaitaitis was not present at the hearing but told reporters that 'everybody understands that this is a politicized decision'. The Social Democrats, partners in the ruling coalition, issued a statement on Facebook affirming that 'any form of antisemitism, hate speech, or Holocaust belittling is unacceptable to us and incompatible with our values'. They also noted that while they respect the court's decision, it is 'not yet final'.

Previous Controversies and Political Trajectory

This conviction is not the first time Žemaitaitis has faced scrutiny for his antisemitic remarks. In April 2024, he resigned from Lithuania's parliament after the country's Constitutional Court ruled that his previous statements had violated his oath of office and the constitution.

Despite this, Žemaitaitis was re-elected to the Seimas in October 2024 as the leader of his newly formed Nemuno Aušra party. His party subsequently joined the coalition government led by the Social Democrats. While a prominent figure, Žemaitaitis is not a member of the Cabinet of Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė.