The MP requested a week for studying the case materials.
Gražulis has also asked the court to interrogate the former Vilnius mayor who sanctioned the rally, along with Sweden's foreign minister, US ambassador to Lithuania and other parliamentarians, who showed support for the event. The court pledged to look into the plea later.
On Friday, the court also opens the administrative case of Kazimieras Uoka who was Gražulis' fellow during the LGBT rights event in May 2008.
The two cases were returned to the Vilnius court after Lithuania's Supreme Administrative Court ruled on 24 February that the issue of administrative charges against the two politicians should be returned to the court of first instance.
In early November 2010, a Vilnius court had dropped administrative charges against Uoka and Gražulis, saying the conduct of the two parliamentarians during the pride march was subject to criminal investigation. The parliament refused to strip the two off their legal immunity, therefore, the case could not be heard.
Homophobic bills
Petras Gražulis has become notorious for his remarks against LGBT rights and legislative initiatives that many deem homophobic and discriminatory.
In its current session, the Lithuanian Pariament is to consider a proposal submitted by Gražulis, who co-authored the controversial bill to make ‘the promotion of homosexuality’ an offence in November 2010 and ‘Protection of Minors against the Detrimental Effect of Public Information’ bill a year earlier. The new proposed amendments have been accepted by parliamentarians for consideration in a new Article 214(30) in the Administrative Code – Protection of constitutional moral values.
It states that "the public denigration of constitutional moral values and the principles of family stipulated in the constitution and the organisation of events contradicting social morality" should be a subject to a penalty between 1,000 to 3,000 litas (290 to 870 euros).
And if the proposed offences are committed repeatedly, the fine will be 3,000 to 6,000 litas (870 to 1,740 euros)
The proposal is a new version of the amendments submitted by Gražulis repetitively and aiming at criminalization of a very wide variety of actions and activities. These will include campaigning on human rights issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity, providing sexual health information to LGBT individuals and organizing LGBT film festivals or pride events.
The anti-gay legislation in Lithuania has been severely criticized by the European Union. Particularly outspoken in her criticism was Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding.
"As the European Commissioner responsible for Fundamental Rights, I am fully committed to combating homophobia and discrimination against people on the basis of their sexual orientation," she told participants at the Human Rights Combating Fear and Prejudice conference in Vilnius, part of Baltic Gay Pride, in May 2010 via a video link from Brussels.
"The principle of equal treatment is a fundamental value for the EU. This principle is guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Its article 21 prohibits any discrimination based on sexual orientation," she said.
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| 15min.lt skaitytojo Deimanto Rojaus nuotr./Petras Gražulis disobeyed officers' orders during Baltic Pride 2010 |
