Lithuanian MP Adomenas maintains immunity from prosecution

  • 2017-04-06
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS - The Lithuanian parliament on Thursday did not grant prosecutors' request lift the legal immunity of Mantas Adomenas of the conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats in a defamation case.

Fifty-eight members of the Seimas voted in favor of stripping Adomenas of his immunity, four voted against and one abstained. However, at least 71 votes are needed for lifting the immunity of a lawmaker.

The prosecutor general in mid-March asked the Seimas to strip Adomenas of immunity in a private prosecution for defamation brought by Ruta Janutiene, a journalist, over his statements about corrupt media.

Under the Constitution, a member of the Seimas enjoys immunity from criminal prosecution, which can only be lifted by the parliament.