Lithuanian court overturns conviction of MEP Petras Gražulis for anti-LGBTQ remarks

A Lithuanian appeals court has overturned the conviction of Member of the European Parliament Petras Gražulis for inciting hatred against LGBTQ individuals, LRT reports. The politician has been fully acquitted.

The Lithuanian Court of Appeal ruled on Monday that while Gražulis’ public statements were “derogatory and offensive,” they did not meet the threshold for criminal liability. Judge Justas Namavičius stated that the remarks reflected “an extremely negative view of certain sexual orientation groups” but lacked clear evidence of incitement to hatred.

Gražulis, then a member of the Lithuanian parliament, was initially found guilty in October 2025 by the Vilnius Regional Court and fined €10,000. The case stemmed from comments he made in May 2022 during a parliamentary session on civil unions, broadcast live on television. Prosecutors and victims may still appeal the acquittal to Lithuania’s Supreme Court.

According to case documents, Gražulis used phrases such as “Climb a pole and shout that you’re a pederast,” “Where did these pederasts come from? This is a perversion,” “You spread venereal diseases,” and “The Holy Scripture says this is an abomination. You are a perversion.” He defended his remarks as biblical quotations and denied wrongdoing.

Gražulis did not attend Monday’s hearing.