Journalist Edmundas Jakilaitis sues politician Remigijus Žemaitaitis for defamation

A Vilnius court has received a civil lawsuit from journalist Edmundas Jakilaitis against politician Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the political party “Nemuno aušra,” seeking 10,000 euros in damages for alleged defamation, LRT reports.

A preparatory hearing in the case is scheduled for Monday, according to Giedrius Janonis, a court representative. Jakilaitis claims that Žemaitaitis’ public statements were unethical, lacked factual basis, and damaged his honour, dignity, and professional reputation.

The lawsuit follows a criminal complaint filed by Jakilaitis’ lawyer last October after Žemaitaitis posted on Facebook, suggesting the journalist had been “attacked by exhaust fumes” and calling him a “Kremlin worm.” The post included an excerpt from Jakilaitis’ eulogy. Prosecutors initially launched a pre-trial investigation for potential slander but terminated it in December, citing insufficient evidence of criminal conduct.

Jakilaitis previously told LRT he intended to pursue civil action, arguing that the phrase “Kremlin worm” crossed acceptable boundaries and caused real harm. “There are certain lines that, once crossed, require accountability,” he said.

This is not the first legal case against Žemaitaitis over public statements. In April 2024, Klaipėda Regional Court upheld a lower court ruling that his claims about activist Andrius Tapinas and his organisation “Laisvės TV” were false and damaging. The court ordered Žemaitaitis to delete the posts, pay Tapinas 2,000 euros and “Laisvės TV” 1,000 euros in non-pecuniary damages, plus 7,200 euros in legal costs.

Žemaitaitis had alleged financial mismanagement in Tapinas’ Ukraine fundraising campaigns, but his lawyers argued he was acting in the public interest by questioning transparency.