Disillusioned with the actions of prosecutors, the leader of the Lithuanian Gay League Vladimir Simonko declared in an interview with Lietuvos Rytas that if there is no adequate reaction from law enforcement authorities to internet threats to shoot, destroy and crush certain groups of people, these short comments might soon turn into violent actions.
These grim prophecies given by Simonko are brought on by the decision of Vilnius district prosecutor’s office to terminate the pre-trial investigation on a comment posted by an internet user in September 2009 under an article about a lesbian couple in Norway who have taken a Lithuanian boy into custody: “Lesbians and fags must be shot at the wall like the Jews by the Germans. This caste must be destroyed, crushed without mercy”.
Prosecutor Darius Brubulis, who investigated the complaint of the Lithuanian Gay League for a year and a half, failed to find any basis for conclusion that the suspect had committed a criminal offence with direct intent.
Simonko reminds about another comment, which appeared under an article about restitution of Jewish property in Lithuania: “Lithuanians who shoot the Jews are the real heroes, they deserve a monument in Paneriai”. In this case the comment was considered to have breached the spirit of Article 170 of the Criminal Code.
Simonko fears that the decision of the prosecutor may become a bad example to other prosecutors, which, in turn, might spark even more hatred in public. Therefore, he appealed the decision. Presently prosecutors are investigating four cases of threats in internet comments directed personally at the leader of the Lithuanian Gay League.
Simonko reminds about another comment, which appeared under an article about restitution of Jewish property in Lithuania: “Lithuanians who shoot the Jews are the real heroes, they deserve a monument in Paneriai”. In this case the comment was considered to have breached the spirit of Article 170 of the Criminal Code.
Simonko fears that the decision of the prosecutor may become a bad example to other prosecutors, which, in turn, might spark even more hatred in public. Therefore, he appealed the decision. Presently prosecutors are investigating four cases of threats in internet comments directed personally at the leader of the Lithuanian Gay League.
Comments on the internet inciting against a nationality, race, ethnic, religious or other group are classified under criminal offence against equality and freedom of conscience. Lithuanian laws assume criminal liability for these offences.
In 2011, 328 pre-judicial investigations related to incitement against a nationality, race, ethnic, religious or other group (Article 170 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania) were initiated. 208 of these were related to incitement against a group based on sexual orientation.
158 pre-judicial investigations were initiated under the same article of the Criminal Code in 2010. 131 of these were related to incitement against a group based on sexual orientation.
158 pre-judicial investigations were initiated under the same article of the Criminal Code in 2010. 131 of these were related to incitement against a group based on sexual orientation.
According to data from the IT and Communications Department under the Ministry of the Interior, the highest number of pre-judicial investigations under Article 170 of the Criminal Code in 2011 was initiated in Vilnius and Kaunas – 30 pre-judicial investigations each. There were 15 each in Panevėžys and Alytus, 13 in Klaipėda, 10 in the Šilutė district, 9 each in Tauragė and Marijampolė, and 7 in Šiauliai.
