Žemaitaitis appeals to the EU Court of Justice over his right to freedom of expression

In his application, the politician states that he was persecuted by state authorities because of his statements on Facebook and in the media in which he commented on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and criticized Israel's actions.

“The Court of Human Rights has repeatedly stated that freedom of expression, the right to disseminate information and ideas, includes not only the right to disseminate a neutral opinion that is positively received by the authorities, an opinion that suits and pleases them, but also the right to express a critical, provocative or disturbing opinion,” Žemaitaitis said, adding that he considers it his duty to fight for the right to have an opinion and to express it.

“First of all, so that the people of Lithuania are not afraid to express their opinions and criticize the government,” he explained.

Žemaitaitis resigned from his mandate as a member of parliament in early May after the Constitutional Court ruled that he had violated his oath of office and grossly violated the constitution by making anti-Semitic statements.