Today HRMI denounced attempts to stifle the freedom of expression and the right to criticize the Government under the veil of Constitution. Public statement was disseminated to the media, members of Lithuanian and Euro-Parliament, and NGOs.
While commemorating the Day of the Constitution some legal experts declared that no one – except for the Constitutional Court – can give opinions regarding constitutionality of the laws and criticize the Constitutional Court, as it can only decide itself about righteousness of its decisions.
In the TV show “Press Club” by national television one of the guests expressed a view that by adopting Constitution, Lithuanians have surrendered the right to speak on the constitutional matters to the Constitutional Court. Professor of Mykolas Romeris University publicly declared he wouldn’t bear any critical opinions from his students regarding decisions of the Constitutional Court.
A position like this is not compatible neither with the Constitution of Lithuania nor with the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms whereof freedom of expression is embedded. Moreover, Constitution as well as international legislation determines that every citizen has the right to criticize any public institution with no exception for the Courts.
It is deeply concerning that a spirit of intolerance to critical thinking and critical assessment of the Government is being indoctrinated in the institution for the higher education. It should be duly noted that persecution of citizens on the grounds of criticism of governmental institutions is forbidden by the supreme law – Constitution of the Republic of Lithuania, and publicly declared professor’s threat to fail students who speak critically of the Constitutional Court might be qualified ruunning against the Constitution.
© 2012 Human Rights Monitoring Institute