VILNIUS - The Vilnius District Administrative Court adjourned the case of Yury Borisov, a one-time Russian financial backer for ex-president Rolandas Paksas, on his right to live in Lithuania. According to the Lietuvos Zinios daily, the court agreed with Borisov's lawyer Adomas Liutvinskas that the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg first had to consider Paksas' claim against the revocation of his citizenship.
Strasbourg's hearings can last up to three years.
Borisov's company Avia Baltika gave 1.2 million litas (350,000 euros) for Paksas' presidential election campaign in 2002. Upon becoming the president, Paksas granted Borisov Lithuanian citizenship.
The Constitutional Court later invalidated the citizenship, claiming it was a reward for campaign contributions.
The Migration Department has sought to deport Borisov from Lithuania since 2004. The State Security Department had collected materials suggesting Borisov sought to destabilize Lithuania's political situation and had blackmailed Paksas when he was president.
In December, the Vilnius District Administrative Court cancelled the Migration Department's decision to deport Borisov from Lithuania to Russia. Under the same ruling, the Migration Department was required to grant the businessman a permit for permanent residence in Lithuania.
