By Niki Bakouli/ bakouli@eurohoops.net
CAS will decide on Wednesday (16/1) in Lausanne, Switzerland, on the motion of censure they received by 28 national basketball federations-members against FIBA Europe, for not obeying it’s own statutes.
In case you don’t remember, on May 8th, -then- FIBA Europe’s General Secretary Nar Zanolin got fired by the he president of the Federation, Olafur Rafnsson and 28 national federations reacted by requesting to hold an emergency meeting of the General Assembly, something that has never happened before. Even though the statutes of FIBA Europe dictate that if 15 or more federations request it, it has to be held within 60 days of the request.
Αlthough it was believed that the purpose of such General Assembly would be to remove the president of FIBA Europe Olafur Rafnsson from his office, our sources informed us that the FIBA Europe charter does not foresee the possibility of changing the president, not even after a motion of censure against him.
People who know all about laws, insist that CAS will not even hold a trial, because they judge by only what there is written on the charter, where there is no “window” on having elections for purpose other than the end of the presidency tenure (every four years).
One of the main supporters of the motion of censure was Lithuanian Basketball Federation’s Secretary General, Mindaugas Balciunas (photo), who will remain in custody until the 29th of January, after the Panevezys’s court order, last Wednesday.
Mr. Balciunas is a suspect for corruption, in connection to the Eurobasket 2011. The authorities charge him for embezzlement of money which were destined for the renovation of the Hotel “Romantic”, in Panevezys.
LKF published a press release under its president’s, Arvydas Sabonis signature, to inform that “Employees of Lithuanian Basketball Federation were shocked by the investigation of the reconstruction of hotel “Romantic” that is being conducted by Special Investigation Service Panevezys Department and Panevezys Prosecutors and detention of Lithuanian Basketball Federation Secretary General Mindaugas Balciunas”, while they added that «”he allegations presented to M.Balciunas shocked us because LKF agreement with Panevezys municipality wasn’t signed secretly – it was considered in the city council, all politicians of the city and municipality lawyers examined the agreement, the voting on the agreement took place”.
LKF’s press officer, Dalius Matvejevas confirmed that Mr. Balciunas will remain in custody until the 29th of January and that “after his arrest as a private person, as officialy has nothing to do with federation matters, so his wife was the one who hired him a lawyer”.
As for the motion of censure, he reassured us “you know what Lithuanian basketball federation and all the others seek. We would not be in the process if we would not believe in our success”. And before we leave you, keep in mind the TBF’s president, Turgay Demirel’s quote according to which |”a lot of countries want me to be FIBA Europe president”.
UPDATE: CAS held the trial and the decision will be announced in 45 days.