OSCE/ODIHR Opinion on the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on the Seimas Ombudsmen Annex 1 REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA LAW ON THE SEIMAS OMBUDSMEN 3 December 1998 NoVIII-950 (As last amended on 13 May 2010 – NoXI-808) Vilnius CHAPTER I GENERAL PROVISIONS Article 1. Purpose of the Law This Law establishes the basic legal principles of activities and powers of the Ombudsmen of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter referred to as the Seimas Ombudsmen) as well as the organisational structure of the Office of the Ombudsmen of the Republic of Lithuania Seimas (hereinafter referred to as the Seimas Ombudsmen’s Office). Article 2. Definitions As used in this Law: 1. “Bureaucracy” means actions on the part of official when the latter, instead of dealing with the matter on the merits, observes unnecessary or invented formalities, unreasonably refuses to settle issues within the official’s jurisdiction or delays decision-making or carrying out of official duties or performs other malfeasance or misfeasance in office (refuses to inform a person of his rights, gives a deliberately misleading or improper advice, etc.). Also considered as bureaucracy shall be the officials’ style of work when they fail to implement or to properly implement laws or other legal acts shall also be treated as bureaucracy. 2. “Official” means a state and municipal institution or agency employee, as well as any other employee performing public administration functions; an employee of a public institution and non-governmental organisation with powers of public administration granted according to the procedure prescribed by law, who exercises powers of administration over persons not subordinate to him; a person authorised by the state, performing the functions prescribed by law which have been granted by the state. 20