Oct. 30, 2003 - State Security Department issues report to parliamentary leaders that President Rolandas Paksas and his National Security adviser, Remigijus Acas, maintained ties with organized crime leaders from Russia. During a meeting with parliamentary leaders, security department officials provided taped records of Paksas' conversations with his campaign financier Yuri Borisov and the latter's conversations with Aznor Kikalishvili, a reputed Russian mob boss. The conversations mention Paksas' obligation "to fulfill his pre-election promises."
Nov. 3 - Recordings of secret conversations are leaked and broadcast to the nation.
Nov. 4 - An ad hoc parliamentary commission is set up to investigate allegations of wrongdoings by the president and his advisers. The commission interrogates over 40 people, and the entire process is televised.
Nov. 11 - Paksas accepts resignations from Acas, spokesman Rosvaldas Gorbaciovas, foreign policy adviser Alvydas Medalinskas (see interview on Page 18) and head of the economic and social policy group Jonas Ragauskas.
Nov. 22 - Thousands of Lithuanians demonstrate across the country and demand the president's resignation.
Dec. 1 - The ad hoc commission releases a 10-page report in which it concludes that Paksas poses a threat to national security. The report details six accusations against the president.
Dec. 4 - Paksas testifies in front of the Constitutional Court to defend his decree that granted citizenship to backer Borisov
Dec. 17 - In order to force Paksas' hand, 87 parliamentarians sign a draft impeachment document outlining six violations of constitution and oath of office of which the president is accused. Paksas, however, refuses to resign.
Dec. 18 - Parliament sets up a commission of 12 members - six MPs and six lawyers - to investigate breaches of office and constitution by Paksas.
Dec. 30 - The Constitutional Court strips Borisov of the citizenship granted to him by Paksas.
Jan. 5, 2004 - Paksas refuses to testify before the parliamentary commission.
Jan. 26 - Foreign Minister Antanas Valionis, upon returning from a trip to the United States, suggested that top Washington officials wanted to see Paksas resign or removed from office.
Feb. 18 - Special 12-member investigative commission upholds all six accusations against the president.
Feb. 20 - Parliament votes to launch impeachment proceedings.
March 8 - Impeachment proceedings in Parliament postponed so that the Constitutional Court could conduct own hearing into the six accusations leveled against the president.
March 24 - Paksas appoints the infamous Borisov as an adviser but changes his mind by end of day. He later apologizes to Lithuanians and asks for their forgiveness.
March 31- Constitutional Court rules that Paksas violated oath and constitution on three counts.
The accusations and results:
(85 votes were needed on any one accusation to oust the president.)
l By granting citizenship of the Republic of Lithuania to Yury Borisov for his financial and other support in decree No. 40 on April 11, 2003, President Rolandas Paksas violated the constitution and his oath of office, therefore President Rolandas Paksas should be removed from office: 86 MPs upheld.
l By implying to Yury Borisov that Lithuanian law enforcement institutions are conducting an investigation into his activities and wiretapping his telephone conversations, President Rolandas Paksas violated the constitution and his oath of office, therefore President Rolandas Paksas should be removed from office: 86 MPs upheld.
l By seeking to satisfy the property interests of close individuals using his status and giving orders to his adviser Visvaldas Rackauskas to use his official status and seek to influence decisions of executives and shareholders of the Zemaitijos Keliai road company and through law enforcement institutions to transfer the shares to persons close to Rolandas Paksas, and by seeking to satisfy property interests of close private persons and using his status in 2003 to influence the decisions of Zemaitijos Keliai's executives and shareholders to transfer the shares to persons close to Rolandas Paksas, President Rolandas Paksas violated the Constitution and his oath of office, therefore President Rolandas Paksas should be removed from office: 89 MPs upheld.
