The Jewish community representatives in Lithuania have voiced their concerns about recent anti-Semitic statements made by MP Remigijus Žemaitaitis, stating that these remarks are fueling
ethnic tensions and creating a sense of insecurity among Jewish people.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the Jewish Community of Lithuania stated that they believe the MP's actions are intentionally sowing discord among the nation by distorting historical memory and perpetuating the debunked Protocols of the Elders of Zion, which were originally disseminated by the Russian tsar's Okhranka.
Last week, Žemaitaitis shared several anti-Semitic statements on Facebook, falsely attributing the deportations and killings of Lithuanians during World War Two to Jews. He also criticized Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė's visit to Israel.
In response to these remarks, the Prosecutor General's Office initiated a pre-trial investigation into hate speech.
The Jewish (Litvak) Community in Lithuania expressed that this surge in anti-Semitic rhetoric is causing humiliation and a sense of insecurity among its members. They stated that if the MP continues his activities and garners support, Jewish people in Lithuania will not feel safe in their own democratic European country.
The community urged the government to take proactive measures in combating all forms of anti-Semitism in Lithuania.
The statement also noted that the Russian press has seized upon this situation, using it to its advantage. Articles with headlines such as "Russian media publishes declassified documents on the Holocaust" and "Russia claims new documents proving Baltic involvement in mass killings of Jews during the Holocaust" have appeared abroad.
President Gitanas Nausėda, Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, and Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis have condemned Žemaitaitis' statements. Parliament Speaker Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen has referred the matter to the parliamentary Commission on Ethics and Procedures for investigation. Photo by Beny Shlevich, Wikimedia commons.