More border crossings with Belarus closed, Russian opposition leader's aide attacked

Introduction

Two further border crossings with Belarus closed

On 29th February 2024, Lithuania announced the closure of two more border crossings with Belarus, leaving only the Medininkai and Šalčininkai crossings in operation. Pedestrian and cyclist traffic at the remaining border crossings will also be suspended, except in humanitarian cases approved by the State Border Guard Service. In addition, permits for Belarusian and Lithuanian bus companies operating international routes between the two countries have been restricted. As train services, which were suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic, have never resumed and Lithuanian airspace remains closed to Belarusian aircraft, bus services are the only remaining transportation option between Minsk and Vilnius.

The Belarusian opposition has criticised the decision to close more checkpoints, warning the Lithuanian government against putting up a new “iron curtain” that would only serve to strengthen the authoritarian regimes of Russia and Belarus. In response, Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaite emphasised the country's commitment to maintaining a so-called humanitarian corridor for people trying to escape repressive regimes and stressed that two border checkpoints will remain in operation. Lithuania’s move is in line with the regional trend previously reported on the CIVICUS Monitor: Poland and Latvia have also closed border crossings with Belarus due to security concerns.

Since 2021, a crisis has developed at the Polish, Latvian and Lithuanian borders as a result of Belarus implementing a targeted policy to direct migrants and asylum seekers from the Middle East and Africa to its borders with the European Union. This strategy includes facilitating the issuing of tourist visas for nationals of the region and the establishment of direct flights to Minsk. In response, As a result, many migrants are stuck in the no-man's land between Belarus and the EU, facing threats and violence from border officials on both sides. Poland and Lithuania have increasingly carried out “pushbacks,” i.e. forcibly sending migrants back across the border without giving them the opportunity to apply for asylum. Although this practice violates international law, it is becoming increasingly common across Europe.

Survey reveals concerning negative attitudes toward minority groups

A survey conducted in November 2023 by the Ethnic Research Department of the Lithuanian Social Sciences Centre (LSMC) and the non-governmental organisation Diversity Development Group revealed worrying attitudes among Lithuanians towards coexistence with certain social, ethnic and religious groups and migrants. For example, two thirds of respondents said they did not want to live near people with mental disabilities, while around half said they did not want to live near “homosexuals” and Muslims. In addition, around a third expressed a desire not to live near migrants from Russia.

Monika Frėjūtė-Rakauskienė, head of the LSMC's Ethnic Research Department, pointed to a worsening of negative attitudes towards migrants, especially those from Russia and Belarus. Compared to the 2022 data, social distance towards various groups has increased, particularly people with mental disabilities and gay people. Frėjūtė-Rakauskienė noted a surprising rise in negative attitudes towards the LGBTQI+ community, despite growing public discussions on LGBTQI+ issues.

On 29th January 2024, the Baltic Times shared revelations from an Eurobarometer survey indicating that discrimination against LGBTQ+, Roma, and other minority groups remains prevalent in Lithuania, although there are signs of improvement. A significant proportion of respondents expressed reluctance to work with people from these communities, and many were opposed to seeing them in top political positions. In addition, a significant number of respondents stated that they felt uncomfortable with the idea of their child having a romantic relationship with a person belonging to these groups. Although discrimination against Roma is slowly decreasing, there are calls for more effective anti-discrimination measures in Lithuania, particularly with regard to employment opportunities for minorities.

Freedom of Association

Late Russian opposition leader’s chief of staff attacked

On 12th March 2024, an unknown assailant attacked Leonid Volkov, a prominent advisor to the recently deceased Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, with a hammer outside his home in Vilnius, Lithuania. Volkov suffered injuries to his forehead and leg, and his vehicle was damaged in the attack. After being discharged from hospital on 13th March, 2024, Volkov defiantly declared that he would continue to oppose Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling the attack a clear warning from Putin's inner circle. Prior to the attack, Volkov had publicly accused Putin of being responsible for Navalny's death and expressed concerns about his own safety, underscoring the serious risks Russian opposition figures face. The Lithuanian government strongly condemned the attack on Volkov.

Freedom of Assembly

Farmers protest in Vilnius

At the end of January 2024, following the example of farmers’ protests across Europe, Lithuanian farmers gathered in their capital with a fleet of around 1,500 tractors and logging trucks to express their displeasure with the government's agricultural policy. They stayed in the city for two days. The Lithuanian Agriculture Council criticised the authorities for not addressing the problems in the dairy sector, for being indecisive in banning the import of Russian grain and for ignoring farmers' demands regarding the excise tax on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). They called for a reduction in the excise tax on LPG to bring it in line with the rates in neighbouring countries.

Simultaneously, a group of environmentalists organised a smaller rally in the Vilnius city centre. They argued that meeting the farmers' demands would have a negative impact on the environment. Although the government was prepared to address some of the farmers’ demands, e.g. regarding taxes on petroleum gas, others would require negotiations with the EU.

Freedom of Expression

MP stripped of immunity for antisemitic remarks, ordered to retract defamatory claims against journalists in two separate cases

On 14th February 2024, the Lithuanian parliament unanimously voted to revoke the parliamentary immunity of MP Remigijus Žemaitaitis after he was accused of making anti-Semitic statements. Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė sought permission to prosecute Žemaitaitis for ridiculing, expressing contempt for, and inciting hatred against individuals of Jewish ethnicity in his Facebook posts from May and June 2023. Žemaitaitis denies the allegations and claims that they are part of a smear campaign in connection with his candidacy for the upcoming May 2024 presidential elections. The posts in question falsely implicated Jewish people in historical atrocities and perpetuated anti-Semitic sentiments. In addition, parliament has initiated impeachment proceedings against Žemaitaitis, whose party membership was suspended in May 2023 over the same issue.

Separately, on 19th March 2024, the Klaipėda District Court found that Žemaitaitis had violated the dignity of journalist Indra Makaraitytė through his Facebook posts. The court found that Žemaitaitis' statements, in which he referred to Makaraitytė as a “propagandist” and accused her of spreading Nazi and anti-Semitic statements, were defamatory. As a result, Žemaitaitis is ordered to delete the offending post and to reimburse Makaraitytė the legal costs of EUR 3,243. The decision can be appealed.

Previously, in December 2023, in yet another separate but related incident, the same court found Žemaitaitis had spread false information about journalist Andrius Tapinas and his media outlet, Laisvės TV, on Facebook. The court ordered Žemaitaitis to retract the misleading statements on his Facebook page and awarded non-pecuniary damages of EUR 2,000 to Tapinas and EUR 1,000 to Laisvės TV. In January 2024, Žemaitaitis filed an appeal seeking to annul this decision, arguing that his posts were opinions, not factual statements, and requested reimbursement of legal costs. Tapinas has also appealed, seeking an increase in damages to EUR 10,000 each for himself and Laisvės TV, as well as the reimbursement of legal costs for their side.

Former MP stands trial for inciting hatred against LGBTQI+ community

On 4th March 2024, the Vilnius District Court opened criminal proceedings against former Lithuanian parliamentarian Petras Gražulis for his derogatory remarks against LGBTQI+ people. According to prosecutors, comments made by Gražulis during the Seimas' deliberations on the Civil Union Law in May 2022, which were recorded on video and widely disseminated, not only demeaned LGBTQI+ people, but also contributed to a climate of fear and distress for members of the community. Several victims, who are either members of the LGBTQI+ community themselves or allies, applied for non-material damages of up to EUR 4,000 and testified to the negative consequences of the then-MP’s statements – some reported, for example, that they received threats from Gražulis’ supporters after his speech in parliament. The next court hearing is scheduled for 8th April 2024.

Government appeals to Constitutional Court in a bid to overturn “gay propaganda law”

On 27th December 2023, the Lithuanian Ministry of Justice announced they would petition the Constitutional Court to review a controversial law that prohibits the promotion of material which expresses “contempt for family values” or “promotes non-traditional marriages” – such as same-sex marriages. This move follows a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights, which found that Lithuania had violated the rights of the late writer Neringa Macatė, by suspending the publication of one of her books under this statute. The government's proposal to remove the contested provision from the Law on the Protection of Minors from Negative Effects of Public Information was rejected by parliament in November 2023, as the CIVICUS Monitor previously reported.

While some legal experts argue that the law violates Lithuania’s constitutional obligations against discrimination, others argue that the current provision does not prohibit disseminating information about LGBTQI+ families, but rather just prohibits “promoting” them. Nevertheless, the Constitutional Court's opinion could provide clarity and guidance for future decisions.