In May, the Klaipeda District Court found Titov guilty of the defamation of the memory of a deceased person, incitement to hatred, and public approval or denial of Soviet crimes.

The court ruled that Titov acted intentionally as he had information about Ramanauskas-Vanagas and searched information about him online.

The ruling was later appealed by both Titov and the prosecutor as the latter had demand a suspended sentence for Titov. And Titov had asked the court to acquit him.

The investigation was launched last July after the Klaipeda politician said in a public discussion that 8,000 people, including children, were killed at Ramanauskas-Vanagas' initiative during the anti-Soviet guerilla war and that the partisan commander personally pronounced the death sentences.

Titov does not admit to any of the charges, saying he is being persecuted for his opinion.

The latest court ruling is due to be announced on Oct 17.

The politician claimed he based his statements about Ramanauskas-Vanagas on a Soviet court ruling. Historians say, however, any research of the anti-Soviet resistance in Lithuania cannot be based on Soviet information only as KGB files are full of false information aimed at smearing partisans.

After Lithuania regained independence, the partisan leader was rehabilitated by a court and was posthumously awarded the state's top decorations.

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