Lithuanian prosecutor launches pre-trial investigation into MP Žemaitaitis over alleged hate speech

A pre-trial investigation has been launched to determine whether Lithuanian MP Remigijus Žemaitaitis incited hatred by sharing a manipulated photo on social media, the country’s Prosecutor General’s Office announced Friday.

The probe, initiated by the Criminal Prosecution Department, will examine whether Žemaitaitis’ actions constituted a criminal offence under laws prohibiting incitement against any national, racial, ethnic, religious, or other social group, LRT reports.

The investigation follows complaints filed by European Parliament member Dainius Žalimas and another individual. They allege that Žemaitaitis’ public posts on a Facebook account registered in his name contained signs of hateful conduct.

Žalimas submitted his complaint in late April, stating that Žemaitaitis had shared an AI-generated protest sign and later “publicly degraded a Lithuanian citizen with vulgar, sexually charged comments, encouraged harassment, and actively participated in escalating the situation.”

In late April, Žemaitaitis posted a photo from a protest over threats to free speech, showing a woman holding a sign reading “Remyga bh.” He commented that the rally was a “phallus worship festival” and that “the phallus is a synonym for free speech!” News outlets later revealed the image was doctored—the original sign read “Is accountability still on the way?”

Žemaitaitis claimed he shared the fake photo to spark debate about public harassment, blaming a “cultural community” for the manipulation. This week, the Seimas Ethics Guardians also opened an inquiry into his conduct as a leader of the far-right “Aušra” movement.

The Vilnius District Prosecutor’s Office will oversee the investigation.