Lithuania’s government has dismissed claims by Remigijus Žemaitaitis about an alleged coup plot later this year, describing the remarks as political theatre.
Speaking on the controversial OpTV internet programme on May 22, Žemaitaitis, leader of Nemunas Dawn party, claimed a “brutal” domestic coup involving “physical violence” could take place in September or October.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė, Ignas Dobrovolskas, said the government had no information suggesting such a scenario and that the remarks would be assessed by law enforcement authorities.
Lithuanian prosecutors have already instructed police to evaluate the claims.
Mindaugas Sinkevičius, leader of the Social Democrats, dismissed the comments by his coalition partner as nonsense, while Speaker of the Seimas Juozas Olekas urged politicians to use more responsible public rhetoric.
