Lithuanian fighter Sergej Maslobojev has drawn attention after publicly promoting and attending a protest against mass migration in Vilnius' Cathedral Square yesterday. With banners front and center reading “Balta Lietuva – Graži Lietuva” (“White Lithuania – Beautiful Lithuania”), however, the gathering carried a broader far-right, white-nationalist message.
Other signs reported at the demonstration were reading “White lives matter”. Participants were also heard chanting “Lietuva liks balta” (“Lithuania will remain white”). Members of the group were additionally seen making the “OK” hand gesture, a symbol that has been adopted in some far-right circles as a representation of “white power.”
Maslobojev's demonstration took place as a counter-protest to a separate “march against racism and hatred toward migrants” at the same location. The fighter later posted videos showing physical altercations between participants from the two demonstrations.
“Lithuania has been hit by an avalanche of anti-migrant politics, which is built on fear, xenophobia, alarmism and blaming migrants. However, we reject narratives directed against migrants and condemn those who spread such rhetoric,” the organizers of the anti-racism march wrote on Facebook.
In the now-deleted Instagram post, Maslobojev wrote:
“I love Lithuania! This is my home, my homeland, my future. We are a community united by the love of this country and the desire to see it strong and prosper. We cherish our culture, traditions and Christian values because they are the foundation of our identity. Our common goal is to create a safe, just and thriving nation, where everyone can feel valued and secure. We work together to ensure a bright future for ourselves and for generations to come.”
For Maslobojev, this is not the first time his political views have attracted attention. The fighter, who last appeared in the GLORY ring at GLORY 100, where he failed a drug test following his bout with Tarik Khbabez and subsequently had to vacate his title, publicly refused to fight Artem Vakhitov because he is Russian.
Explaining his decision at the time, Maslobojev stated: “First of all, I am Lithuanian from a small but proud country built on honor, principles, morality, and the fight for freedom. For us, this is not “just sport.” We live next to a terrorist state, and we know exactly what Russian occupation, terror, and war mean. Freedom has cost our region blood and countless lives. That is why your “just fight the Russian in the ring” logic does not work here. Principles matter more than money, fame, or tournaments.”
