RIGA - Up to 22 lawmakers in the Latvian parliament may face administrative charges after the Mandates, Ethics and Inquiries Committee decided to lift their immunity from prosecution.
The Committee decided to allow prosecutors to bring charges against the 22 lawmakers, who face punishment for offences such as traffic violations and illegal picket rallies.
The Committee, part of the outgoing parliament which will soon be replaced by the newly-elected assembly, heard 33 cases of administrative offences committed by lawmakers.
A spokesperson for the Committee said in most cases, immunity was removed to punish lawmakers for various violations of traffic rules.
One opposition MP, Vladimirs Buzajevs from For Human Rights in a United Latvia (PCTVL) could face as many as five charges. Buzajevs was punished for a variety of offences, including organizing unauthorized pickets and rallies.
