Seimas committee to approve conclusions of political influence probe

“There will be the final phase of agreeing on the formulation of the conclusions, as well as proposals to the Seimas and the government and other institutions on what can be done for the society to avoid such problems that came out,” Vytautas Bakas, the committee chairman, told journalists on the eve of the committee meeting.

The committee plans to spend the whole day approving the conclusions and later hold a press conference.

In the middle of October, 2017 the Seimas of Lithuania ordered the NSGK to carry out a parliamentary probe into individuals, business entities and other interest groups’ alleged illicit influence on state institutions’ decision-making and possible illicit influence on political processes.

According to Bakas, the committee investigated several business groups’ attempts to influence the political system. Part of the investigation materials has been declassified and committee members will decide whether to add it to the conclusion text or not. The conclusions will be based on both the declassified and classified information.

In the midst of the probe, the NSGK published part of declassified information submitted to the parliamentary committee by the State Security Department. It revealed that the MG Baltic business group tried to influence various officials and politicians to make decisions beneficial for the group. It was also stated that the Liberal Movement party, established in 2006, was MG Baltic’s long-term political project controlled by the business group’s executives.