Representative of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania in Marijampolė county and a member of the Liberal Movement party Paulius Uleckas received an official warning from the Ethics Commission of the Liberal Movement party regarding his shocking remarks about LGBT* people. Mr. Uleckas was asked to apologize the LGBT* community for his homophobic statements. However, the politician refused to do so claiming that he has nothing to apologize for and that his party members had reached the decision without his presence.

In July, 2015 a member of the Liberal Movement party Mr. Uleckas expressed his frustration over a letter received from the national LGBT* organization LGL. In response to an e-newsletter from LGL, Mr. Uleckas wrote: “Don’t send me this pervert filth. I’m not a fag”. The statements were immediately criticized by his party leaders. However, the politician later confirmed his sentiments to the media asking journalists “to stay away from his pants”.

The Ethics Commission of the Liberal Movement party has warned Mr. Uleckas for his public statements. A member of the Liberal Movement party was also asked to publicly apologize the LGBT* community for his remarks. In addition, the Ethics Commission of the Liberal Movement party warned Mr. Uleckas about a possible dismissal from the party if similar events recur.

“I believe that the statements expressed by Mr. Uleckas are incompatible with liberal values and unacceptable to people who respect themselves and other people in society. I hope that our party members will refrain from such situations and understand that by becoming members of our liberal organization they voluntarily commit to comply with certain cultural and ethical standards. Of course, no Ethics Commission may enforce those standards – it is a question of one’s conscience and respect” – commented the Chairman of the Liberal Movement Eligijus Masiulis.

However, Mr. Uleckas publicly refused to apologize the LGBT* community for his statements, arguing that he has nothing to apologize for and that his party members had reached the decision without his presence. “Today, I will not apologize for anything and I do not intend to do so. I just want to remind that I did not make my remarks about LGBT* people in public. It was just a response to an e-mail and Facebook messages from the representatives of my party who have been engaged in an aggressive propaganda attacking me with different kinds of electronic messages,” maintained politician.

The member of the Liberal Movement party then claimed that the representatives of the LGBT* community made his “private” statements public and this lead to the evaluation of his remarks in the Ethics Commission of the Liberal Movement party. “My request to change the date of the hearing was denied. I can only guess that the decision was known in advance. It is dramatic. These events occurred in party of FREEDOM. Where are you going, freedom?” asked Mr. Uleckas rhetorically.

Meanwhile the Chair of the Ethics Commission of the Liberal Movement party Dalia Teišerskytė noted that Mr. Uleckas was unable to attend any of the meetings. “It is his liberty to appeal, but the meetings were delayed several times. Finally, the commission collected a quorum, voted and the issues were resolved. My understanding is that everything went correctly,” explained Mrs. Teišerskytė.