The Seimas backed the Committee on Economic Affairs‘ conclusion not to launch a probe, with 53 votes in favor, 41 against and six abstentions.
Gabrielius Landsbergis, leader of the opposition conservative Homeland Union – Lithuanian Christian Democrats, called the parliament’s decision historic and consolidating interests of Agrokoncernas, a business group owned by Ramūnas Karbauskis, leader of the ruling Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union.
“The fear to carry out a probe shows that you are dependent. I really hope we won’t have to wait for ten years for the State Security Department to write the names of all of you in a report, as we will be able to learn them sooner,” the lawmaker said.
The TS-LKD sought a probe following reports that Agrokoncernas uses land owned by his sons, sister, brother and father, thus possibly circumventing the 500-hectare limit on farmland ownership per natural or legal person.
It was proposed that the probe should give answers to 30 questions regarding agricultural land purchases, fertilizer imports from third countries, plant protection products, agricultural machinery sales, and others.