A Lithuanian court has sentenced a man to 15 months of restricted liberty following an attack on a cyclist wearing pro-Ukrainian attire. The Vilnius District Court found 39-year-old Janas Jakštas guilty of property damage and causing minor bodily harm.
The court’s ruling mandates that Jakštas participate in a program aimed at correcting violent behavior. Additionally, he is required to compensate the victim and reimburse the state health insurance fund for the cyclist’s medical expenses.
The court identified that the assault stemmed from Jakštas’s animosity towards the victim due to his public support for Ukraine, a factor that was deemed to aggravate the offense.
According to court documents, the incident occurred on the evening of March 27, 2025. Jakštas drove up to the cyclist and demanded that he remove his Ukrainian-themed shirt. When the cyclist refused, Jakštas overtook him and abruptly swerved to the roadside, forcing the cyclist to brake and fall. Jakštas then approached the cyclist in an attempt to pull off the shirt. When the cyclist tried to call for help, Jakštas knocked him to the ground and damaged his phone.
A Lithuanian man has been sentenced for attacking a cyclist in a pro-Ukrainian shirt, reflecting tensions surrounding public displays of support for Ukraine. The court emphasized the hate-driven nature of the assault, leading to additional penalties.