By Adam Easton BBC, Vilnius

Lithuanian President Rolandas Paksas could be voted out of office next month in an impeachment trial.

Mr Paksas, a trained stunt pilot, has made a spectacular comeback

The 47-year-old leader is facing six charges of violating the constitution in an unprecedented political scandal just weeks before the Baltic nation joins the European Union and Nato.

Mr Paksas' popularity plummeted when accusations linking the president's office to Russian criminal gangs surfaced last autumn.

But as the scandal drags on the Lithuanian leader is rising back up the polls.

After the accusations emerged, Mr Paksas' popularity slumped to 14.3% in December.

But by February it had gone back up to 20.4%, higher than any of his presidential rivals.

"The impeachment is a spectacle, a show... All the mistakes of the other (politicians) are being attributed to him now Algimantas Retired printer

Why? Well, the Lithuanian leader himself is not accused of having links to the criminal underworld.

Those accusations were directed at his former advisers who have now been dismissed.

At the same time Mr Paksas, a trained stunt pilot who famously flew his plane under a Vilnius bridge during his election campaign, has been touring the countryside rallying his support.

TV presenter Audrius Matonis has co-authored a book on the scandal, "President's Spin", a reference to the Mr Paksas' flying abilities.

"They just love him and they believe him," he said.

"You should see his meetings with his electorate. They are applauding at everything he's saying - and he's saying very simple things, 'Guys I love you, I'll defend you'.

"Everybody's so glad that somebody's going to defend them and they are not asking from what. "

'Young and interesting'

Opinion polls say Mr Paksas gets most of his support from those who are missing out on Lithiuania's recent economic boom - those who live in the countryside, the poor and the elderly.

In the relatively prosperous capital Vilnius, many of the older residents I spoke to supported Mr Paksas despite the scandal.

Mr Borisov's role has raised fears about Russian influence

"The impeachment is a spectacle, a show," retired printer Algimantas said.

"And it puts Lithuania in a shameful situation because Paksas has not done so much bad as is being attributed to him.

"He has made fewer mistakes than all the other (politicians) but all the mistakes of the others are being attributed to him now. "

A female pensioner said he was a very good president, "young and interesting".

"There's no need for impeachment, everything is OK as it is," she added.

"He is not lying and he is not cheating people. He's doing everything fairly, honestly."

But others were more critical.

If he was thinking of his country he would have resigned already Anonymous civil servant

A civil servant who did not want to be named said he did not personally vote for Rolandas Paksas.

He wished Mr Paksas could resign and solve this problem for all the country.

"If he was thinking of his country he would have resigned already," he said.

"The way that he hangs on to his position shows that maybe he has some real obligations to his sponsors, Mr Borisov and his paymasters in Moscow."

Yuri Borisov is a controversial Russian businessman who was the main contributor to Mr Paksas' electoral campaign.

Found guilty

Lithuania's Constitutional Court has already ruled Mr Paksas violated the constitution when he awarded Mr Borisov Lithuanian citizenship after his election victory.

Among the charges Mr Paksas is facing is one which accuses the president of being influenced by Mr Borisov and acting against the nation's interests.

Mr Borisov, one of Mr Paksas' former tennis partners, denies any wrongdoing and is appealing against a deportation order.

Those who voted for Paksas, they don't care about him being guilty or not being guilty Author Audrius Matonis

But the role of Mr Borisov has raised fears about Russian influence in Lithuanian politics.

Mr Paksas is also using the impeachment to his own advantage. He insists he has done nothing wrong and is the victim of a plot by his enemies.

"It is like religion and true believers," author Audrius Matonis said.

"Those who voted for Paksas, they don't care about him being guilty or not being guilty.

"They don't care about the arguments coming from the opponent's side because it's boring, it's difficult to understand.

"So that's why Paksas is regaining his popularity - 30% of the population are ready to vote for him."

Rolandas Paksas has said he will run for re-election should he be impeached as the constitution allows him to.