Lithuanian politician calls for public broadcaster to terminate contract with journalist over offensive protest gesture

Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, honorary chairman of Lithuania’s Social Democratic Party, has urged the national broadcaster LRT to immediately terminate its contract with journalist and presenter Rita Miliūtė after she displayed her middle finger during a protest outside parliament, LRT reports.

Speaking in a video posted on the party’s Facebook page, Andriukaitis called for Miliūtė’s removal from LRT’s airwaves, regardless of her contractual status. “After this gesture, the first and only decision should be for LRT to terminate her contract immediately. She must no longer appear on the national broadcaster’s channels,” he stated. He also demanded public statements from the Journalists’ Ethics Commission and the Lithuanian Journalists’ Union, calling the act “a crossing of all boundaries.”

The incident occurred Wednesday evening during the protest “Hands Off Free Speech! We Will Not Yield,” where demonstrators opposed proposed amendments to LRT’s governing law, claiming they threaten media freedom. Taking the stage, Miliūtė directed her middle finger toward parliament, declaring: “I, Rita Miliūtė, show my middle finger to the legal illiteracy of this ruling majority, to their zero competence in governing the state, and to their unfounded ambitions. And I want to say: you will not intimidate us.”

Vilnius police confirmed Thursday they had launched administrative proceedings against Miliūtė following two complaints alleging she violated public order. Under Lithuanian law, offensive gestures or language in public can result in fines of €30–140. If committed at a public event, offenders may also face a ban on attending such gatherings for six months to two years.