President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola told a plenary session on Thursday that she had received a request from Lithuanian prosecutors to lift the legal immunity of MEP Petras Gražulis.
“I have received a request from competent authorities in Lithuania for the parliamentary immunity of Petras Gražulis to be waived. This request is referred to the Committee on Legal Affairs,” she said.
Lithuania’s Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė turned to the EP president with a request to strip the controversial Lithuanian MEP of his legal immunity in mid-September.
The lifting of Gražulis’ legal immunity would allow him to be prosecuted, arrested, or otherwise deprived of liberty.
The responsible committee will now examine the request, interview the MEP in question, draw up a draft conclusion, and vote.
Gražulis is accused in Lithuania of publicly ridiculing and expressing contempt for a group of persons or a person on grounds of their sexual orientation.
On May 26, 2022, after the Lithuanian parliament gave its initial backing to the civil union bill legalising same-sex unions, Gražulis met several representatives of the LGBTIQ+ community as he was leaving the plenary session hall and called them “degenerates spreading STDs”, and said they should get treatment.
According to prosecutors, evidence collected during the investigation indicates that Gražulis acted with direct intent, knowing his statements were being recorded, broadcasted, and reported in the media.
Under the Criminal Code, this offence is punishable by a fine, restriction of liberty, arrest, or imprisonment for up to two years.
Five individuals have been recognised as victims in this investigation.
Vilnius Regional Court is hearing Gražulis’ case. The proceedings were suspended over the summer as Gražulis was elected to the European Parliament.
Gražulis enjoyed legal immunity during the criminal proceedings, but the Seimas consented to the prosecution of the politician in November last year.
Since July, Gražulis has been serving as an MEP and enjoyed legal immunity, which can only be lifted by a decision of the European Parliament.
Gražulis, 65, was impeached from the Seimas last year for voting on behalf of another MP.
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