VILNIUS – Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Vytenis Andriukaitis on Wednesday handed the Central Electoral Committee a resignation letter according to which he agrees to give up his mandate as of July 28.
Andriukaitis told journalists he had made the decision to resign on July 8 when Prosecutor General Antanas Klimavicius reported that five lawmakers might be suspected of having taken bribes from Rubicon Group CEO Andrius Janukonis. At the time the prosecutor general had withheld the names of the parliamentarians, though it later accused three, including Andriukaitis, who has been elected member of Parliament since 1990.
Andriukaitis stated his intention to give up his mandate shortly after Parliament refused to strip him and his two colleagues' of their parliamentary immunity. He explained that he did not do so earlier since he had wanted to give his arguments and hear Parliament's opinion.
He stressed that he wanted to participate in the pretrial investigation and defend his honor.
The Central Electoral Committee said it planned to consider Andriukaitis' application next Thursday.
The Prosecutor General's Office said that Andriukaitis is suspected of having taken a bribe of 95,000 litas (28,000 euros) from the head of the Rubicon Group. Andriukaitis is a member of the ruling Social Democratic Party.
He did not say whether he would participate in the parliamentary elections scheduled for October.
"If I defend my honor, I will march ahead," he said.
President Valdas Adamkus has applauded Andriukaitis' decision to give up his mandate.
