Vilnius man gets suspended 40-day arrest sentence for hate incitement
Thursday 6th August 2026 on 14:00 in
Lithuania
A Vilnius resident identified as M. V. has been sentenced to 40 days of arrest for inciting hatred against groups and individuals based on nationality, language, sexual orientation, social status, views and beliefs, LRT reports. The sentence has been suspended for one year without intensive supervision, the Prosecutor General’s Office said on Thursday.
The case was concluded by a court order. During the suspension period, the man, born in 1980 and previously convicted once, must remain at home from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., may not leave the city where he lives without permission from the supervising institution, and must work or study.
He was also ordered not to access random video chat websites or use random video chat applications, livestream conversations with strangers, record such conversations, or publicly share information related to them.
The court also ordered the confiscation of two desktop computers, three monitors, a video surveillance camera, lighting equipment and other items found in his studio.
According to the case file, M. V. filmed, stored and distributed videos on social media between July 2025 and January 2026. In the videos, he publicly mocked and denigrated groups of people and encouraged hatred against them on the grounds listed in the court case.
He most often secretly recorded conversations with strangers, provoked them, and publicly denigrated and mocked Ukrainians and Lithuanians because of their nationality. He also encouraged hatred against Ukrainians and Jews, as well as against people based on their sexual orientation and those who support Ukraine. The recordings supported Russia’s aggression and used obscene language and highly aggressive rhetoric.
Under the Vilnius City District Court’s order issued on August 5, M. V. was convicted over 22 criminal episodes. The offences were committed for financial reasons, with the aim of attracting a larger audience and receiving monetary compensation.
He has 14 days to ask the Vilnius City District Court to hold a hearing if he disagrees with the sentence imposed by the court order.