In his application the politician claims having faced persecution from state authorities over his statements on Facebook and in the media commenting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and criticising the actions taken by Israel.
„The Court of Human Rights has repeatedly held that freedom of expression, the right to disseminate information and ideas, encompasses not only the right to disseminate a neutral opinion that is favourably received by the authorities, one that suits and pleases them, but also the right to express an opinion that is critical, provoking or disturbing,“ Žemaitaitis said, adding he saw it as 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 speak out and criticise the government,“ he stated.
Žemaitaitis quit as MP in early May, after the Constitutional Court ruled that he had breached his oath of office by antisemitic statements and grossly violated the Constitution.