Lithuanian screenwriter and comedian charged over jokes about little people

Lithuanian screenwriter and comedian Andrius Zimaitis and fellow comedian Antanas Kisliakas have been formally charged with inciting hatred and publicly mocking people with dwarfism, BNS reported on Monday.

Prosecutors filed pre-trial charges against the two over comments made during a 2025 episode of the podcast Koks skirtumas (“What’s the Difference”), hosted by Dominykas Klajumas. The episode featured jokes targeting participants of a national broadcaster LRT documentary series about little people, Ko nesakyti (“What Not to Say”).

Zimaitis told BNS he does not believe his remarks warrant criminal prosecution. “Not every bad joke deserves a criminal charge,” he said, adding that he had already apologised publicly on the same day the controversy emerged. “I was unpleasantly surprised by this decision. I don’t think I did anything that warrants criminal prosecution. I hope justice will prevail in court.”

The pre-trial investigation, launched in July 2025, follows a ruling by Lithuania’s Journalists’ Ethics Inspectorate, which condemned the podcast remarks as promoting hatred, encouraging ridicule, and demeaning a group of people. Six individuals featured in the LRT documentary have been recognised as victims in the case.

If convicted, Zimaitis and Kisliakas could face community service, fines, restricted freedom, detention, or imprisonment for up to two years. Kisliakas has not yet commented publicly on the charges.