Prosecutor seeks detention for Kandrotas-Celofanas, who requests actor Mickevičius be questioned

Prosecutor Indrė Zubavičiūtė has requested that Antanas Kandrotas-Celofanas, also known as Celofanas, be placed in detention for violating a restraining order—a written pledge not to leave the country—amid an ongoing case for public order violation, LRT reports.

Kandrotas-Celofanas, previously convicted of financial crimes and currently outside Lithuania, is accused of striking public figure Valdas Bartkevičius during a protest near the parliament in December. During a remote court hearing on Monday, the prosecutor argued that Kandrotas-Celofanas had breached his earlier restraining order and faces potential imprisonment.

When questioned about his whereabouts, Kandrotas-Celofanas stated he was in Ukraine, adding, “I am fighting in Ukraine, just like Valdas Bartkevičius.” He confirmed he was not in Lithuania but suggested he might return the following day. The prosecutor pressed him on whether he was aware of the restraining order, to which he replied, “As politicians in the Seimas say, I gave my word, I took it back.”

Kandrotas-Celofanas expressed confusion over the need for stricter measures, noting he was participating in the hearing remotely. He dismissed the search efforts for him, stating, “Let them look.” The court will decide on the detention request on July 9.

The case will continue on July 20, with actor, event host, and songwriter Viačeslavas Mickevičius, who runs the “Slavka Channel,” summoned as a witness at Kandrotas-Celofanas’s request. Mickevičius was present at the same rally where the conflict between Kandrotas-Celofanas and Bartkevičius occurred. Kandrotas-Celofanas claims the artist created the situation that led to the altercation.

Earlier, Kandrotas-Celofanas failed to appear in person for a hearing in his criminal case but joined remotely. He has pleaded not guilty, calling the incident a “provocation” organised against him by a group of associates. He stated he attended the protest as a journalist for the publication Respublika and was addressing the crowd.