On October 22, the Lithuanian Family Movement is organising a new rally in Vilnius Cathedral Square. The organisers of the protest promise to defend the Lithuanian Constitution.
The Vilnius City Municipality has informed the Delfi news website that a permit has already been issued for up to 15,000 people to participate in the protest.
The rally was announced on social media on Thursday. The Lithuanian Family Movement wrote that the public has a right “oppose anything which forcibly encroaches on the independence of the Lithuanian state, the integrity of its territory, and the constitutional order”.
“That day has come. Under the pretext of the war in Ukraine, a dictatorship has been de facto established in the country and is being reinforced daily, with censorship of the press, restrictions and violations of citizens’ constitutional rights and freedoms,” the organisers said.
“Against the will of the overwhelming majority of the public, the parliament is planning to adopt an unconstitutional law on civil unions,” they added.
Read more: Lithuania’s civil union bill imperfect but acceptable – human rights activists
The controversial Family Movement organised a protest against “genderist propaganda” and LGBT rights in May last year, which was attended by around 10,000 people. It also organised several anti-vaxx protests.
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