by Josh Withey
Today Lithuanian lawmakers removed a proposal to introduce Russian-style anti-gay propaganda laws to the country.
Bill XIP 4490(3), which was introduced last year by notoriously anti-LGBT MP Petras Gražulis, was designed to restrict freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and to punish “public denigration of constitutional moral values”.
If the bill had been passed, citizens could have been fined as much as €1800 (£1270) for holding a Pride parade or for simply speaking out in public about LGBT rights.
The Lithuania Tribune reports that liberal MP Eligijus Masiulis proposed to remove the bill from the parliament’s agenda, saying it was an affront to democracy and Lithuania’s international reputation. 64 members voted in favour of the motion, ten opposed and 25 abstained.