Prosecutors seek punishment for man accused of spitting on rabbis

Vilnius District Prosecutor’s Office has asked a court to issue a penal order against Grafo Liutkevičius, who is accused of violating public order and inciting hatred against Jews because of their ethnicity and religion, LRT reported on Thursday, citing the General Prosecutor’s Office.

Liutkevičius, born in 1972, is accused of approaching three rabbis who were temporarily visiting Lithuania in a public place in Vilnius in July. Prosecutors say he behaved aggressively and abusively, filmed the encounter on his phone, insulted and mocked the rabbis and spat at them, thereby inciting hatred against them because of their Jewish ethnicity and Judaism.

Prosecutors say his actions showed disrespect for people and disrupted public peace and order.

He is also accused of sharing the video, which contained hate speech, several times on his Facebook account and posting it as a challenge that incited hatred against people because of their Jewish ethnicity and religion. He allegedly posted an additional video seeking to justify his hatred towards Jewish people and their religion. The videos are being treated as antisemitic hate speech offences.

The prosecutor is asking the court to impose a 12-month restriction of liberty. Under the proposed conditions, Liutkevičius would have to remain at home from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., start working or register with the Employment Service, complete 80 hours of unpaid community service at institutions caring for elderly people or others needing assistance, and take part in a behavioural correction programme.

He would also be required to compensate the victims for non-pecuniary damage.