Man detained at Vilnius TV tower for damaging US flag ahead of Independence Day celebration

A man was detained at the Vilnius TV tower on Saturday after climbing onto a US flag laid on the ground and attempting to damage it just before its planned hoisting to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence, LRT reports.

Footage shared on social media showed the man walking over the flag near the tower, criticising police and Americans for what he called “Gestapo-like arrests.” He also shouted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was “clearly against Trump.” Organisers later restrained him before police took him into custody.

According to ELTA sources, the detained man is Saulius Vinokuras, the brother of Tadas Vinokuras, an advisor to Lithuania’s acting Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė. Saulius Vinokuras previously drew attention in 2023 after leaving posters at the Paneriai Memorial with slogans such as “Sanctions on Israel” and “Never again for anyone #FreePalestine.”

The Vilnius County Police Commissariat confirmed that a criminal investigation has been launched. “In a public place, near the TV tower, a man born in 2005, in the presence of others, aggressively climbed over a fence and trampled the US flag lying on the ground, thereby showing disrespect to those present and disrupting public order and tranquillity,” a police spokesperson said.

Saulius Vinokuras’ father, publicist Arkadijus Vinokuras, confirmed to LRT Radio that his son had been detained. He stated that he “strongly condemns” his son’s actions but added that he cannot control him.

The flag-raising initiative was intended as a symbolic gift to the US for its 250th anniversary and a gesture of gratitude for the long-standing strategic partnership between the two countries. According to the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event set two new records: the largest foreign flag ever raised in Lithuania and the largest foreign flag hoisted on the Vilnius TV tower. The US flag measures 540 square metres and weighs 70 kilograms.

Lithuania’s Deputy Foreign Minister Audra Plepytė, who attended the event, emphasised that the record-breaking flag symbolises the unshakable bond between the two nations. “Today, the record-sized US flag flying over Vilnius is more than just an impressive sight—it is a powerful symbol of our strategic partnership and deep friendship. Lithuania and the United States are united by a fundamental, time-tested belief that freedom and independence are the highest values belonging to every nation,” she said.

Tadas Vizgirda, Chairman of the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce in Lithuania and Head of Shift4 Payments Lithuania, noted: “In celebrating the 250th anniversary of the US, we wanted to create a symbol that would inspire, remind us of our shared history, and demonstrate the strength of the transatlantic partnership. We are proud that this initiative has become a historic record for Lithuania.”