The European Parliament has decided to waive the immunity of Viktor USPASKICH (ALDE, LT).

He is being prosecuted for illicit political party financing and other related offences in the proceedings pending in the Vilnius Regional Court of criminal offences. The alleged crimes were all committed between 2004 and 2006, a period during which Mr. Uspaskich was not MEP.

Given that the charges against Mr. Uspaskich are not related to opinions expressed or votes cast in the performance of his duties as an MEP and that they have nothing to do with his activities as an MEP, Parliament decided to waive the immunity of Viktor Uspaskich.

The Committee on Legal Affairs adopted the report drawn up by Bernhard RAPKAY (S&D, DE) on the request for waiver of the immunity of Viktor USPASKICH (ALDE, LT).

To recall, criminal proceedings have been brought against Viktor Uspaskich, Member of the European Parliament, who is accused in the proceedings pending in the Vilnius Regional Court of criminal offences. He is essentially charged with offences of false accounting in relation to the financing of a political party during a period prior to his election (2004-2006) to the European Parliament.

As far as the applicability of Article 8 of the Protocol on the Privileges and Immunities of the European Union is concerned, the committee considers that the charges brought against Mr Uspaskich do not relate to opinions expressed or votes cast in the performance of his duties as a Member of the European Parliament. The charges brought against Mr Uspaskich refer to facts committed in Lithuania which have nothing to do with his activities as a Member of the European Parliament.

After considering the reasons for and against waiving the Member’s immunity, the Committee on Legal Affairs recommends that the European Parliament should waive the parliamentary immunity of Viktor Uspaskich .