President says her emails with Masiulis were misinterpreted

“I’m sorry for the fact that my communication is seen by some people as some sort of protection. I have always publicly said there must be no untouchables. When I assumed my position, the law enforcement was informed that if they see, feel or suspect somebody of breaking the law, there must be no exceptions.” Grybauskaitė told the Žinių Radijas news radio on Tuesday.

She also paid attention to the fact that not only the liberals but also the conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats and other political forces supported her during the presidential elections.

“There should be no exceptions to nobody, even to those who supported me during the elections, especially during my first term when they were able to do so. I don’t give any protection, and that’s another good lesson that one cannot expect any guarantees after standing beside me and posing for pictures and expect to do something bad. That’s not the case and has never been,” the Lithuanian president said.

As reported, the Lietuvos Rytas daily reported in late April that the president and Masiulis exchanged emails for several years, discussing various political affairs. The president later confirmed the fact of correspondence with Masiulis, a suspect in a political corruption case, but could not confirm the contents of the emails.