Police detain man after egg thrown at officers during Kaunas Pride
Saturday 12th September 2026 on 12:30 in
Lithuania
Police detained a man after he threw an egg at officers during the Kaunas Pride LGBT+ march on Saturday, LRT reported. The march began on Kaunas’ Laisvės Avenue to draw attention to LGBT+ rights in Lithuania.
Participants gathered at around 11 a.m. in Independence Square, near the city’s St Michael the Archangel Church. The march began at about noon, travelling along Laisvės Avenue towards E. Ožeškienės Street before returning to the square.
A small group opposed to the march gathered near Kaunas City Municipality. One man shouted and threw an egg at police officers before being quickly restrained and placed in a police vehicle. Officers also removed a woman from the march after she shouted an insult at participants.
Other protesters carried Lithuanian flags and crosses, chanted “shame,” and called for a “Catholic Lithuania.” Some warned that LGBT+ people would go to hell. Officers were also seen restraining another man near a shop.
Organisers said the march was demanding respect, recognition, visibility, protection and suitable, accessible healthcare services for everyone. They also called for adequate representation of queer and LGBTQ+ people in education, legal recognition and appropriate laws, as well as access to suitable medical services for transgender people outside Vilnius.
“We protest against transphobia and homophobia,” Kaunas Pride spokesperson Beata Starodubova told BNS before the march.
This was the second Kaunas Pride march in the city. The first was held five years ago and attracted about 2,000 people, according to organisers.
Organisers said many members of the community still do not feel safe being themselves in public, meaning each participant represents not only themselves but also those who did not dare to join.
Police had prepared additional forces for the event, including officers from other police districts. Authorities said preventive measures would be carried out on Laisvės Avenue and nearby streets, the event would be filmed, and attendees’ belongings could be checked.
Police urged participants to follow officers’ instructions, avoid escalating conflicts and contact nearby officers or call the emergency number 112 if problems arose.