Lithuanian court sentences Kandrotas to one year in prison for hate speech

A Lithuanian court has sentenced far-right activist Antanas Kandrotas, known as Celofanas, to one year in prison for inciting hatred and public disorder, while his co-defendant Andrejus Lobovas received a suspended six-month sentence, state news agency BNS reports.

The Vilnius District Court ruled on Thursday that both men had repeatedly mocked and encouraged hatred against former Freedom Party leader Tomas Vytautas Raskevičius due to his sexual orientation. Kandrotas, who has five prior convictions, was present in court with his lawyer, while Lobovas did not attend the verdict.

Prosecutors had argued for stricter penalties, citing the defendants’ repeated offences. Kandrotas has been convicted five times, Lobovas six. The court ultimately classified both as repeat offenders but suspended Lobovas’s sentence for 18 months without intensive supervision.

The charges stemmed from incidents in late 2024, when the pair taunted Raskevičius during and after court hearings related to a 2023 altercation in which the politician kissed Kandrotas during a public event. Video recordings of their mockery were later shared on Facebook. Lobovas also posted derogatory content targeting LGBT individuals and Raskevičius on his social media.

In a separate 2024 ruling, the same court dismissed Kandrotas’s claim for compensation from Raskevičius over the kiss but ordered him to pay €2,800 in legal costs. The original conflict began during Vilnius’s 2023 Pride events, when Kandrotas staged a protest and later accused Raskevičius of sexual harassment after being kissed in response to his provocations. Police declined to investigate.