On October 27, Human Rights Monitoring Institute has made a public statement spotlighting the position of the European Court of Human Rights on the acceptable limits for criticism of public officials by the political opposition and stating that the attempts of Lithuanian politicians to use criminal procedure to fight criticism is threatening the independence of the judiciary.
It has become a custom for politicians in Lithuania to consider criticism against them framed in sharp wording as a personal insult and counter it by pleading the court or the prosecutorial office. The latest example is the Prime Minister's request to office of Prosecutor General to initiate criminal prosecution of the leadership of Conservative party as they put in doubt Mr. Brazauskas family connections with the head of “LuKoil Baltija” company.
The European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly stated that criticism of public officials, especially by the political opposition, may go much further that that of ordinary individuals and, thus, they should refrain from initiating criminal proceedings against critics.
The statement of Prime Minister that his public criticism harms Lithuania’s image and discredits the State was nothing but an effort to use political pressure in judicial process.
Full text of the statement (in Lithuanian) find here.
More about the statement read in the news portal Delfi.
© 2012 Human Rights Monitoring Institute