Lobovas seeks acquittal in case of slander against M. Sinkevičius

Active protest participant Andrejus Lobovas is seeking acquittal from the Kaunas Regional Court after being found guilty of slandering Jonava District Mayor and Lithuanian Social Democratic Party leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius, as well as other municipal employees, LRT reports.

On April 21, the Kaunas District Court in Kaišiadorys convicted Lobovas of slander and other offences, sentencing him to two years of restricted freedom without intensive supervision. The ruling has not yet taken effect, as it is under appeal. Lobovas has filed an appeal, requesting acquittal on the slander charge and asking the court to reclassify his contempt of court as an administrative rather than criminal offence. He also seeks dismissal of other charges due to their minor significance.

A hearing scheduled for Tuesday in the Kaunas Regional Court did not proceed, with the next session set for September 11.

In 2024, Lobovas posted on Facebook accusing Sinkevičius and other Jonava municipality employees of serious crimes, including acting as part of a criminal group, abuse of office, and child abduction. The district court ruled that these statements constituted slander against Sinkevičius. Additionally, the court found that Lobovas had publicly and insultingly denigrated a judge for her actions in a civil case. It was also established that, despite warnings, he had disclosed pre-trial investigation data by publishing a procedural document—specifically, a notice of suspicion—on social media.

In addition to the two-year restricted freedom sentence, the court ordered Lobovas to participate in a behavioural correction programme and to perform 100 hours of unpaid community service over 10 months in healthcare, social services, or non-governmental organisations assisting the elderly, disabled, or others in need. He was also prohibited from contacting the victims in the case.

Lobovas, previously convicted six times and classified as a recidivist by the court, must also compensate four victims for non-pecuniary and pecuniary damages. The court further ordered him to reimburse procedural costs to one victim and the Jonava District Social Services Centre for victim representation expenses. The prosecutor’s request to ban Lobovas from using social media was denied.

The criminal case against Lobovas was initiated after he posted on Facebook that Sinkevičius and Jonava municipality’s social and child rights protection employees had participated in the abduction of a minor, allegedly selling a child to organ traffickers for €20,000. According to case materials, Lobovas claimed that a child had been taken from a family where the mother, already caring for three children, had left to give birth to a fourth, and that municipal employees had allegedly taken one of the children. He stated that the child was not allowed to see their mother and grandmother for nine months. Lobovas claimed the family sought his help to prove the wrongdoing in taking the child, and that after hiring lawyers, the child returned home. Sinkevičius denied all allegations in court and is recognised as a victim in this case.

ELTA notes that Lobovas has previously been convicted in multiple cases, including for rioting near the Seimas and inciting hatred. In one case, he received a suspended two-year prison sentence, with execution deferred for two years. That ruling has not yet taken effect.