Lithuanian blogger files defamation lawsuit over Facebook post alleging sexual abuse

A Vilnius court has begun hearing a civil case in which blogger Skirmantas Malinauskas is suing public figure Raimondas Šimaitis for defamation, claiming a Facebook post falsely accused him of being sexually abused by his father, LRT reports.

Malinauskas argues that Šimaitis’ September 2025 post—alleging his father may have abused him and calling the elder Malinauskas a KGB agent—was a “targeted attack” that defamed both him and his family. “This is not an opinion, it is a deliberately aimed attack,” he told the court, calling the claims “absolute lies and slander.”

Šimaitis countered that his post used “absurd rhetoric” rather than factual statements and offered to publish an apology for “overstepping” in his polemic. “I can say I agree to soften the rhetoric,” he said, though Malinauskas dismissed this as insufficient, insisting the claims were false and demanding 1,000 euros in non-pecuniary damages plus legal costs.

The court attempted mediation, but Malinauskas rejected reconciliation, stating he would pursue further legal action. “We’re ending this case and starting new ones against him,” he said. Šimaitis responded that he understood this as continued “persecution.”

Malinauskas also noted that prosecutors are conducting a pre-trial investigation into Šimaitis’ statements. Comparing the case to past scandals involving public disclosure of crime victims’ identities, he argued the post had caused him and his hospitalized father significant harm.