“There are requests to the Seimas — by order of the court because these are private prosecution cases, not a pre-trial investigation — regarding the removal of legal immunity for Adomėnas and Puteikis,” Elena Martinonienė, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor General’s Office, confirmed to BNS on Wednesday.
Dalia Venceviciene, spokeswoman for the speaker of the Seimas, also confirmed to BNS that such requests had been received.
The Vilnius Regional Court is asking the parliament to strip Adomėnas of immunity in a private prosecution for defamation brought by Rūta Janutienė, a journalist, over his statements about corrupt media. She is seeking 5,000 euros in compensation for non-material damage.
The same court is also asking for the removal of Puteikis’ immunity in a private prosecution for libel brought by Kristina Apanavičiūtė–Šulikienė. The Seimas turned down the same request from the court during the previous legislative term.
Under the Constitution, a member of the Seimas enjoys immunity from criminal prosecution, which can only be lifted by the parliament.
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