Lithuanian MP found in breach of ethics code after physically removing young protester

A Lithuanian parliamentary ethics committee has ruled that opposition politician Remigijus Žemaitaitis violated the state’s code of conduct for lawmakers after he forcibly removed a young protester from a public meeting in January, LRT reports.

The Seimas Ethics and Procedure Committee concluded on Wednesday that Žemaitaitis, leader of the far-right Nemuno aušra party, breached principles of respect, fairness, decency, and exemplary behaviour when he pushed the young man out of Vilkaviškis Public Library during a community meeting on January 19.

According to the committee’s findings, Žemaitaitis “used force to eject a man holding a placard from the library hall without the man resisting, thereby violating the code’s requirements to uphold human dignity, justice, propriety, and public trust.” The decision passed with nine committee members in favour, while Žemaitaitis’s party colleague Daiva Žebelienė dissented.

The incident occurred when the protester, holding a sign reading “Ruzzija” with an arrow pointing toward the exit, joined others chanting “Go home, liar, go home” during the event. Žemaitaitis claimed he acted to protect elderly attendees, alleging the young man had been pushing seniors. Authorities initially launched a pre-trial investigation into public order violations but later terminated it. The ethics committee’s own probe began in late January, with conclusions delayed until this week’s session.