OSCE/ODIHR Opinion on the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Seimas Ombudsmen Article 17. Refusal to Investigate a Complaint 1. The Seimas Ombudsman shall make a decision to refuse to investigate a complaint within 7 working days from the date of receipt thereof informing he complainant about this if: 1) the Ombudsman comes to the conclusion that the complaint has no substance; 2) the complaint is filed after the deadline set in Article 15 of this Law; 3) the circumstances indicated in the complaint are outside the Seimas Ombudsman’s investigative jurisdiction; 4) a complaint relating to the matter has already been resolved or is pending in court; 5) a procedural decision has been taken to open pre-trial investigation in relation to the subject matter of the complaint; 6) the Ombudsman comes to the conclusion on the expediency of investigating the complaint in another institution or agency. 2. Where a decision is taken to refuse to investigate a complaint, grounds for refusal must be specified. In the cases where the complaint falls outside the Seimas Ombudsmen’s remit, refusal to investigate shall also indicate the institution or agency the complainant may address on the matter. 3. A complaint filed repeatedly after its investigation shall not be investigated except in cases where new circumstances are indicated or new facts are presented. If the complainant abuses the right to apply to the Seimas Ombudsman, correspondence with such a complainant may be ceased upon the decision of the Seimas Ombudsman. 4. If the circumstances specified in paragraph 1 of this Article are disclosed in the course of complaint investigation the complaint investigation shall be discontinued. 5. The complaint shall be left unprocessed if the complainant fails to furnish information the absence whereof precludes the initiation of complaint investigation, also if the text of the complaint is illegible. 6. If the complainant’s request not to investigate the complaint is received, the Seimas Ombudsman shall cease the investigation. The Seimas Ombudsman may open the investigation on his own initiative. Article 18. Time-limits for Complaint Investigation A complaint must be investigated and the complainant must be given a response within 3 months of the day of the receipt of the complaint, except for the cases where the complexity 27