April 26, 2024
PRESS RELEASE
Statement from the Lithuanian Jewish Community:
Lithuanian Constitutional Court Recognizes Anti-Semitic Statements Violate the Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania
The Constitutional Court of Lithuania has ruled that the continuous anti-Semitic statements made by one politician attacking Israel and Lithuanian Jews are a breach of his parliamentary oath and a gross violation of the Lithuanian constitution.
In its decision on April 25 the Constitutional Court acknowledged that through statements posted on his social media platforms, which included derogatory, dignity-diminishing, and mocking descriptions of Jews, inciting intolerance, and belittling the tragedy of the Holocaust, MP Remigijus Žemaitaitis systematically and deliberately demonstrated hatred based on ethnic origin.
Following the decision chairman of the Constitutional Court Gintaras Goda emphasized to gathered journalists that while the constitution provides the right of a person to hold beliefs and express them freely, it prohibits demeaning the dignity of others, violating their rights and demonstrating disrespect or hatred.
This ruling of the Constitutional Court does not by itself trigger any legal accountability (including criminal) for these actions by MP Žemaitaitis. Based on the finding, however, the Lithuanian Parliament may form an impeachment commission which would present its findings, after which members of parliament could vote in a secret ballot whether to revoke Žemaitaitis’s status as an MP.
Last spring Žemaitaitis repeatedly attacked Israel and Lithuanian Jews with anti-Semitic statements.
“It turns out that besides Putin, other animals have appeared in the world: ISRAEL. One with tanks demolishes schools, the other with tractors,” the politician wrote on his facebook profile. “After such events, it is no wonder that sayings like this arise: A Jew climbed a ladder and fell accidentally. Take a stick, children, and beat that little Jew…”
“It is disgusting that I. Šimonytė talks such nonsense when on June 3, 1944, the JEWS of Lithuania together with the RUSSIANS MASSACRED THE VILLAGE OF PIRČIUPIS AND ITS INHABITANTS… There was a HOLOCAUST OF JEWS but an even GREATER HOLOCAUST OF LITHUANIANS IN LITHUANIA! If our ridiculous politicians apologize to the Jews in Israel, when will the JEWS APOLOGIZE TO US?”
After the mass murder of the Holocaust in Lithuania few Jews remained. Entire families and small towns were annihilated. Eighty years later these and similar statements by Žemaitaitis have given rise a wave of anti-Semitism in the country, causing the small Jewish community of Lithuania to feel humiliated and unsafe. Active followers of this parliamentarian have emerged, causing significant damage to society and the reputation of the state when a member of parliament allows himself to behave in such manner. The Jewish community which deserves special sensitivity was publicly defamed, hatred of Jews was encouraged and discrimination was incited. Such actions cannot go on without response.
The Lithuanian Jewish Community hopes this decision of the Constitutional Court will serve as the basis for law enforcement agencies to take active measures against those spreading hatred and inciting ethnic discrimination.