Šiauliai mayor defends liking post justifying Norway mass shooting as “experiment”

The mayor of Šiauliai, Artūras Visockas, has admitted to liking a social media post that justified the 2011 Norway mass shooting by far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik, claiming he did so as part of an “experiment,” LRT.lt reports.

Academics and human rights advocates warn that the incident risks serious consequences for Lithuania, including potential damage to its reputation among NATO allies.

The controversy began after a false claim spread online last week, alleging that former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s upcoming memoirs would reveal secret negotiations with Russia, including plans to “sacrifice” the Baltic states. The post, written by Audrius Bačiulis—a figure known for radical statements—went further, attacking Stoltenberg’s family and explicitly defending Breivik’s 2011 attacks, which killed 77 people, mostly teenagers at a Labour Party youth camp.

“The Stoltenbergs are a little family of communists, feminists, anti-Semites, and drug addicts with deep nomenklatura roots in Norway’s elite,” the post read. “It’s no coincidence Breivik shot up their youth camp—where Palestinian terrorists trained after the communist youth left.” The author later clarified in a comment: “Not children, but Norway’s communist youth.”

Visockas confirmed to LRT.lt that he had liked the post but dismissed it as an attempt to test “how thoroughly his activity—including on social media—is monitored and analysed.”

Algirdas Bartkus, a researcher at Vilnius University, condemned the mayor’s action, arguing it had already caused significant harm to Lithuania’s image. “This could have consequences at the NATO level,” he warned, citing the “demoralising message” sent to allies. Jūratė Juškaitė, head of the Lithuanian Human Rights Centre, called the post’s claims “absurd” and said Visockas’ engagement risked implying sympathy for violent extremism.

Breivik, who admitted to the 2011 attacks, was sentenced to Norway’s maximum penalty of 21 years in prison, which he is still serving. He claimed his victims promoted multiculturalism.