Vilnius court upholds ruling on Uspaskich's arrest

  • 2006-11-01
  • By TBT staff
The Vilnius District Court on Oct. 31 upheld the ruling of a lower court which authorized the arrest of former politician, ex-minister and ex-parliamentarian Viktor Uspaskich. The court's ruling is final and not subject to appeal. If Uspaskich is brought to Lithuania, he will be taken to a pre-trial investigation judge and a decision on the term of arrest will be made. The court held its meeting to consider an appeal by Uspaskich's lawyer Vytautas Sviderskis against the penal measure imposed on the suspect. The ex-politician has asked for asylum in Russia. His status will supposedly not be determined by New Year, as consideration of applications for asylum takes much time in most countries. Uspaskich lost the posts of economy minister and parliamentarian in the wake of scandals, and was hiding in Russia from Lithuanian law enforcement agencies, who suspected him of submission of false data about Labor Party's incomes to the State Tax Inspectorate and the Central Electoral Committee. The Lithuanian Police Department launched a search for Uspaskich on Sept. 1 upon receiving the ruling of a Vilnius court on arresting Uspaskich and the decision of the Prosecutor General's Office to launch an international search for him. A European warrant for his arrest was issued as well.