Closing arguments begin in Lithuanian parliament riot trial as defendant disrupted by cat

Closing arguments have begun in Vilnius Regional Court in the trial of 87 defendants accused of rioting outside Lithuania’s parliament in 2021, with one defendant’s speech interrupted by her cat, LRT reports.

Some defendants delivered brief final statements on Monday, requesting acquittal or suspended sentences, while others spoke at length. Karolis Cieminis compared a Soviet-era children’s cartoon to the “idiocy” of the lower court’s ruling, while Almantas Bimba asked for more time to prepare his remarks.

Astra Genovaitė Astrauskaitė, a teacher sentenced to a two-year suspended term for organising the protest that turned violent, struggled to open her prepared statement on her computer, telling the court, “The final word just won’t open—it keeps spinning in a loop.” Judges allowed her time to resolve the technical issue, but her speech was later interrupted when her cat scratched at a balcony door, demanding to be let out. “Fine, fine, let the kitty out,” presiding judge Audrius Cininas responded.

Astrauskaitė claimed her peaceful protest was sabotaged by members of the People’s Party, who she alleged provoked the unrest. She called the case “the most shameful in Lithuania’s history” and demanded acquittal.

Most defendants were convicted in 2023 by Vilnius District Court, with 84 receiving suspended sentences, two acquitted, and one woman’s charges reduced to resisting police. The appeals court is reviewing 67 challenges—mostly from defendants, though prosecutors seek harsher penalties for several individuals, including recidivists Antanas Kandrotas (four years in prison) and Andrejus Lobovas (two-year suspended term).

The riots erupted on 10 August 2021 after a protest against government COVID-19 restrictions. Twenty-seven people, including 23 police officers, were recognised as victims. Fines totalling €142,000 and civil damages exceeding €112,000 were ordered in the case.