Journalist’s ties attract attention of Lithuanian parlt probe – media

The daily points out that Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė mentioned the parliamentary probe earlier this week when she confirmed the fact of her email exchanges with former leader of Liberal Movement Eligijus Masiulis, a suspect in a political corruption case. In one of those emails the president called Dapkus “a hound”.

In an interview with the LRT public broadcaster, Grybauskaitė said that “unfortunately, there are journalists who are becoming a tool for or a representative of interests groups, lobbyists etc”. Further speaking about journalists’ alleged violations of professional ethics, the president mentioned the Committee of National Security and Defense’s ongoing investigation into possible business’s influence on political processes. The committee is expected to submit its conclusions to the Seimas by June.

Sources told the Lietuvos Rytas that Dapkus, having close relations with MG Baltic owners, is mentioned in the parliamentary probe as one of the key figures between politicians and businessmen.

Former MG Baltic Vice President Raimondas Kurlianskis is suspected of bribery and influence peddling, and Dapkus has been questioned as a witness in this political corruption case.

Vytautas Bakas, chairman of the Committee of National Security and Defense, says the State Security Department and the Special Investigation Service are now considering which part of the classified information used during the investigation could be declassified and published. The probe’s conclusions have not been drawn up yet.