[JURIST] A Lithuanian court ruled Tuesday that the image of the swastika is part of the country's cultural identity and not a Nazi [JURIST news archive] symbol. The ruling came in response to a suit that was filed against a group of men [Lithuania Tribune report] who carried posters that included the symbol during a February Independence Day parade. A witness for the defense testified that the symbol had historical roots in the Baltic culture and that the image had been corrupted by others.

Parts of Europe continue to struggle with their Nazi history. Last month, a German court convicted a UK bishop [JURIST report] for denying the Holocaust. In February, the Hungarian Parliament [official website, in Hungarian] passed a bill [JURIST report] that prohibits denials of the Holocaust. In November, the German Federal Constitutional Court [official website, in German] upheld [JURIST report] legislation prohibiting public support and justification of the Nazi regime.