Kaunas District Court has refused to cancel the fine for posting a photo of Vladimir Lenin on social networks, the Kaunas District Court has refused to cancel the fine of Erika Švenčienė, coordinator of the International Neighborhood Forum, Baltija portal reported.
Earlier, the administrative court imposed a fine of 700 euros on Schwenchenene for publishing a photo of Lenin, which she posted on April 22, 2024, the birthday of the founder of the USSR.
Schwenchenene said she intends to appeal the fine imposed by the police in June, as she considers it unfair and believes she was fined for expressing her opinion, which she did not impose on anyone.
Judge Vaida Baumile at the court hearing upheld the police decision and upheld the complaint.
"The court did not accept the linguistic method of interpreting the article of rights in the applicant's complaint," said Judge Baumile. She explained that propaganda of the ideology of the "totalitarian regime" established by Lenin is prohibited by law.
The judge also rejected Švenčienė's argument about the educational purpose of publishing Lenin's portrait.
"Demonstration of an image of such a person with an appropriate inscription expressing pride in the history, communist ideas and traditions of a hostile state is equal to a purposeful public demonstration and clearly shows the applicant's attitude to the ideology of the Communist Party of a state hostile to Lithuania," Baumile said. She added that the photo of Lenin was "liked" by 77 people, commented by 42 users and reposted by 12 people, which confirms the intentionality of the demonstration.
The court's decision is not final and can be appealed.
More than two years ago, Schwenchenene was fined 500 euros for publishing a post comparing the European Union to the Soviet Union and for posting EU and Soviet Union flags.
At the end of December 2023, Kaunas police fined her for publishing an image with a sickle and hammer, citing Article 524 of the Administrative Code, which prohibits the display of Soviet symbols. The total amount of the fine amounted to 150 euros.
The court is also currently considering a criminal case accusing Švenčienė and those associated with her of "acting against Lithuania" and "publicly endorsing international crimes."
Earlier, the Vilnius District Court decided to liquidate the International Neighborhood Forum, saying that the organization was established in violation of legal procedures and its activities were directed against Lithuania. The association was liquidated at the end of November last year.
Earlier, the administrative court imposed a fine of 700 euros on Schwenchenene for publishing a photo of Lenin, which she posted on April 22, 2024, the birthday of the founder of the USSR.
Schwenchenene said she intends to appeal the fine imposed by the police in June, as she considers it unfair and believes she was fined for expressing her opinion, which she did not impose on anyone.
Judge Vaida Baumile at the court hearing upheld the police decision and upheld the complaint.
"The court did not accept the linguistic method of interpreting the article of rights in the applicant's complaint," said Judge Baumile. She explained that propaganda of the ideology of the "totalitarian regime" established by Lenin is prohibited by law.
The judge also rejected Švenčienė's argument about the educational purpose of publishing Lenin's portrait.
"Demonstration of an image of such a person with an appropriate inscription expressing pride in the history, communist ideas and traditions of a hostile state is equal to a purposeful public demonstration and clearly shows the applicant's attitude to the ideology of the Communist Party of a state hostile to Lithuania," Baumile said. She added that the photo of Lenin was "liked" by 77 people, commented by 42 users and reposted by 12 people, which confirms the intentionality of the demonstration.
The court's decision is not final and can be appealed.
More than two years ago, Schwenchenene was fined 500 euros for publishing a post comparing the European Union to the Soviet Union and for posting EU and Soviet Union flags.
At the end of December 2023, Kaunas police fined her for publishing an image with a sickle and hammer, citing Article 524 of the Administrative Code, which prohibits the display of Soviet symbols. The total amount of the fine amounted to 150 euros.
The court is also currently considering a criminal case accusing Švenčienė and those associated with her of "acting against Lithuania" and "publicly endorsing international crimes."
Earlier, the Vilnius District Court decided to liquidate the International Neighborhood Forum, saying that the organization was established in violation of legal procedures and its activities were directed against Lithuania. The association was liquidated at the end of November last year.