He spoke in comment of the amendments under discussion in parliament that would clear political parties and religious communities off criminal liability.
"I believe that those committing crimes or engaged in financial or other types of fraud should be held responsible [individually]. Entire parties – 16,000 or 17,000 people – cannot answer for actions of one person, two persons, or three persons," Gedvilas said.
On Tuesday, parliament approved for discussion a bill amending the Criminal Code, envisaging an exemption for political parties and religious organizations from criminal liability.
The amendments propose exceptions for criminal liability for parties and religious communities as legal entities.
The Labor Party as a legal entity is on trial for failing to include more than 24 million litas (EUR 6.9m) in income and 23 million litas in spending in its books in between 2004 and 2006. Charges have been brought against its leader Viktor Uspaskich, his deputy Vytautas Gapšys, MP Vitalija Vonžutaitė and the party's former accountant Marina Liutkevičienė.
