Vilnius court to deliver riot case appeal ruling in September

The Vilnius Regional Court has completed its review of appeals in the high-profile riot case linked to 2021 protests outside the Seimas (Lithuanian parliament) but will issue its final ruling only on September 16, LRT reports, citing the ELTA news agency.

A three-judge panel examined over 60 appeals, most filed by defendants seeking acquittal. The Vilnius Regional Prosecutor’s Office also challenged the lower court’s verdict, demanding one acquitted participant be convicted and arguing that suspended sentences for repeat offenders should be revoked. Prosecutors further insisted that convicted individuals should be ordered to reimburse state-funded legal costs.

In September 2025, the Vilnius District Court convicted 84 of 87 defendants for rioting, acquitting two and reclassifying one charge from rioting to resisting police. Seventeen were deemed repeat offenders. Six received exemptions from criminal liability, two were given restricted freedom sentences, three received immediate prison terms, and 75 had their imprisonment deferred. The court also imposed fines ranging from €500 to €2,000—totalling €142,000—payable to the Crime Victims’ Compensation Fund, along with €112,400 in civil damages.

Notable convictions included a two-year, two-month suspended sentence for Lithuanian language teacher Astra Genovaitė Astrauskaitė, found guilty of rioting and public incitement to violent acts against state sovereignty. Antanas Kandrotas, known as Celofanas, received four years for rioting, while protest activist Andrejus Lobovas and martial arts representative Arnoldas Misiūnas were sentenced to two years and one year and 11 months, respectively, with suspensions.

The case stems from an August 10, 2021 protest against COVID-19 restrictions that escalated into clashes when demonstrators blocked parliament entrances. Police deployed tear gas and physical force to disperse the crowd.