Lithuanian MEP refers far-right leader to prosecutors over social media harassment

Lithuanian member of the European Parliament Dainius Žalimas has filed a complaint with the Prosecutor General’s Office, calling for a pre-trial investigation into Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the far-right party Nemuno aušra, over alleged harassment and incitement to hatred on social media, LRT reports.

Žalimas accused Žemaitaitis of sharing an AI-generated fake protest poster depicting a female participant in a recent demonstration, then publicly degrading the woman in a Facebook post with “vulgar comments of a sexual nature” and encouraging further abuse. The MEP stated that such actions may constitute criminal offences under Lithuania’s penal code, including defamation and incitement to hatred.

“Today I have contacted the Prosecutor General’s Office regarding yesterday’s revelations, where R. Žemaitaitis shared an AI-faked poster of a protest participant and later used Facebook to publicly degrade a Lithuanian citizen—humiliating her with vulgar sexual comments, inciting hatred, and actively engaging in the escalation,” Žalimas wrote in a social media statement.

He has also announced plans to refer the case to the Seimas Ethics and Procedures Committee, arguing that Žemaitaitis’ conduct violates both his oath as an MP and constitutional duties. The complaint alleges breaches including the degradation of human dignity, gender-based discrimination, and the spread of disinformation.

“This is clearly incompatible with the oath of a Seimas member and his constitutional obligations,” Žalimas emphasised.

The Ethics Committee will be asked to initiate misconduct proceedings against Žemaitaitis for what Žalimas described as a “flagrant violation of the Constitution”—demeaning individuals based on their views, gender, and disseminating false information.