Lithuanian ethics watchdog launches probe into MP’s alleged unethical conduct toward journalist

A parliamentary ethics committee has opened an investigation into conservative lawmaker Raimondas Kuodis over his social media post targeting a female journalist, public broadcaster LRT reported on Saturday.

The Seimas Ethics and Procedure Commission decided on Wednesday to examine whether Kuodis violated ethical standards after a journalist filed a complaint. According to the journalist, Kuodis shared a screenshot of her article on his personal Facebook page in late January, tagging her by name, and added a comment: “grįžo etatinė;). Čia ji k” [“the full-timer is back;). Here she’s a k—”].

The journalist stated that most readers interpreted the abbreviation “k” as a derogatory Russian slur referring to a promiscuous woman. She argued that the post damaged her personal reputation as well as her professional standing as a reporter for several newspapers. The journalist had reportedly demanded a public apology from Kuodis, which she claims he refused to provide.

The ethics committee will now assess whether the lawmaker’s actions breached parliamentary conduct rules.