Lithuanian president sacked over mafia links

Lithuanian MPs voted President Rolandas Paksas out of office today following claims linking him to the Russian Mafia.

It was the first time in the Baltic nation’s history that a president was impeached and then removed from office.

Parliament in Vilnius, the capital, approved all three accusations: that Paksas illegally arranged citizenship for Yuri Borisov, that he divulged state secrets and that he used his office for financial gain.

Just minutes before the vote , Paksas again protested his innocence in front of MPs, who essentially acted as a jury while a judge presided.

“This is all the system’s revenge against me,” said a calm but determined-looking Paksas, standing below Lithuania’s coat of arms featuring a sword-wielding knight astride a white horse. “This is a vendetta for my efforts to fight corruption in this country.”

Many MPs said they were determined to remove Paksas before the Baltic nation country of 3.5 million enters the European Union on May 1.

The scandal emerged in October after a government report linked Paksas to Borisov, who police assert has ties to Russia’s Mafia. Parliament launched impeachment proceedings weeks later.

Parliament Speaker Arturas Paulauskas becomes the acting president and new elections must be held in 60 days.