Lithuanian MPs collecting signatures for impeachment of four judges

VILNIUS – Lithuanian lawmakers said on Wednesday they are about to finish collecting signatures in favor of launching impeachment proceedings against several corruption-suspected judges.

Lawmakers are proposing launching impeachment proceedings against Egidijus Lauzikas, a Supreme Court judge, and the Court of Appeal's judges Valdimaras Bavejanas, Viktoras Kazys and Konstantin Gurin.

"Today we have drafted the proposal and are initiating the process of constitutional liability," MP Vytautas Bakas told journalists at the parliament on Wednesday.

In his words, the judges breached "not only the Constitution, in our opinion, but also the judicial laws, and the judicial ethics code has been grossly breached."

Irena Haase, representing the opposition conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, said the judges abused their authority and official position, received illegal financial benefit, mixed public and private interests, violated professional ethics and other principles.

The politicians said they are about to finish collecting the necessary 36 signatures to launch impeachment procedures, with representatives of all political groups in the parliament having signed the proposal.

President Gitanas Nauseda has also initiated the dismissal of Lauzikas, Bavejanas and Gurin.

Besides the three mentioned judges, another four, including Henrich Jaglinski, a judge of Vilnius Regional Court, Robertas Rainys of Vilnius City District Court, Arunas Kaminskas of Vilnius Regional Administrative Court, and Gintaras Cekanauskas of Kaunas District Administrative Court are also suspected of corruption.

Six lawyers are also named as suspected in this case. All in all, 48 people are suspected of various crimes in this case involving around 110 criminal acts.

Law enforcement suspects the judges could have offered and paid bribes ranging from 1,000 to 100,000 euros in exchange for favorable court rulings. The total amount of bribes could amount to 400,000 euros, based on evidence collected during the pre-trial investigation.

Some of the suspects have denied their guilt in public.