The Prosecutor General’s Office reviewed the information submitted by territorial prosecution services relating to infringements of the law during the Seimas elections and procedural decisions taken with regard to the said infringements. A total of 51 reports concerning possible infringements of election laws and election procedure was received from various individuals during both election polls. 24 such reports were followed by pre-trial investigations. It was decided not to launch any pre-trial investigation into the facts stated in 27 other reports.

Mr. Sigitas Jankauskas, Prosecutor of Pre-Trial Investigation Control Division who has prepared a general survey on these investigations explained: ‘This time we have received a lot of reports about possible infringements of election laws or election procedure where, due to the failure to identify any constituent elements of a criminal offence, prosecutors had to make procedural decisions, i.e. refuse to institute a pre-trial investigation into these facts. A number of individuals who infringed the election procedure have been held liable according to administrative proceedings.’

Two pre-trial investigations have already been completed in accordance with summary procedure. The district prosecutors of Alytus and Varėna Regions have addressed the court with requests to complete the proceedings by issuing penal orders. As early as October 13^th 2008 the District Court of Varėna Region delivered a judgment with regard to R. Grigaravičius – a fine amounting to 2080 LTL has been imposed on the aforementioned person for bribing voters.

Most of pre-trial investigations (even 13) have been initiated in the territory within the competence of Vilnius Regional Prosecutor’s Office (5, 3, 2 and 1 investigations were opened up in the territories of Regional Prosecutor’s Offices in Kaunas, Klaipėda, Šiauliai and Panevėžys, respectively). Most of pre-trial investigations have been commenced on the grounds of possible interference with the right to vote by means of bribery.

Upon the receipt of the request by the Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission, on 2008-10-28 the Prosecutor General’s Office decided to open up a pre-trial investigation with regard to allegations of miscalculation of votes in Vilnius City Šeškinė Electoral Constituency. The said pre-trial investigation has been referred for execution to the District Prosecutor’s Office of Vilnius City.

In comparison with elections to municipal councils which took place in February 2007, it must be noted that the number of reports on infringements of election procedure has increased. A total of 32 reports was received last year; 22 of them were followed by pre-trial investigations. The results of pre-trial investigations are the following: 17 investigations were cancelled, in 3 of them prosecutors addressed the court with requests to complete the proceedings by issuing penal orders, 1 pre-trial investigation case was referred to the court alongside with the bill of indictment, and one more pre-trial investigation was not completed due to the failure to identify individuals suspected of bribery of voters in the town of Tauragė. With regard to 10 other reports, it was decided not to commence any pre-trial investigation.

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