European Court rules in favor of ousted Lithuanian leader

[News_Editor]

European Court rules in favor of ousted Lithuanian leader

2011-01-07 14:33:00 GMT+7 (ICT)

STRASBOURG, FRANCE (BNO NEWS) -- The European Court on Human Rights (ECHR) on Thursday ruled that Lithuania was mistaken in the disqualification of former president Rolandas Paksas.

Paskas, 54, was elected President of Lithuania in 2003 but was removed from office by the Seimas (Lithuanian Parliament) in 2004 following impeachment proceedings against him.

Seimas removed the leader for allegedly committing a gross violation of the Constitution and breaching the constitutional oath when Paskas illegally arranged Lithuanian citizenship for Yuri Borisov, a Russian-born businessman.

Paskas was also found to have disclosed a state secret to Borisov by informing him that he was under investigation by Lithuanian secret services. He became the first European president to be impeached and removed in modern times.

After the incident, Paskas intended to contend for a parliamentary position in April 2004. The request was granted by the Central Electoral Committee (CEC). However, one month later, the Seimas prevented it.

The parliament amended the Presidential Elections Act by inserting a provision indicating that a person who had been removed from office in impeachment proceedings could not be elected for a period of five years.

Thus, CEC refused Paskas' application and barred him from a seat in the Seimas. Paskas was eventually acquitted of the criminal proceedings brought against him after two trials.

ECHR decided by majority that Lithuania violated the European Convention on Human Rights after barring Paskas to stand for election to the Lithuanian Parliament following his 2004 removal from office.

The EHCR considered the Constitutional Court had not been impartial and had exceeded its powers in the proceedings against the former leader. Furthermore, the court said that despite the severity of Paskas' acts, they were not sufficient for barring him from holding office in the future.

In 2009, Paksas was elected to the European Parliament. He is part of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group which focuses on preventing the further expansion of power in Brussels.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-01-07