On 26 November International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) addressed President of the Republic of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaitė, Speaker of the Seimas Irena Degutienė, Chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs Stasys Šedbaras, Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights Arminas Lydeka, Minister of Justice Remigijus Šimašius and Ombudsperson Aušrinė Burneikienė with a legal analysis on the proposed anti-gay law amendment which if adopted would impose fines for the “public promotion of homosexual relations”.

„Proposed Amendment No. XIP-2595 violates Lithuania’s obligations concerning freedom of expression and non-discrimination under both the European Convention and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Similarly-motivated restrictions on the related right of freedom of assembly have been struck down by the European Court of Human Rights, and similar laws have been denounced by the human rights experts of the UN Human Rights Council. For these reasons, the ICJ respectfully urges you to reject this proposed law“ – it is stated in the analysis.

Lithuania’s parliament on 12 November decided to go ahead with legislation imposing fines for the “public promotion of homosexual relations”. The new article in the Administrative Code is entitled “Public promotion of homosexual relations“ and states that “public promotion of homosexual relations is to be punished by a fine from two thousand to ten thousand litas  (€580 – €2900, $792 – $3955)”.