Uncategorized
Corruption
Politics
Change electoral laws to make campaigns more transparent, says Transparency International
The Lithuanian branch of Transparency International (TILS), an international anti-corruption watchdog, has proposed a range of new measures to make Lithuanian political parties more transparent. They include requirements to publish more information about their financing and to impose stricter sanctions for political campaign financing violations. […]
Politics
President wants ‘serious conversation’ with prime minister
President Dalia Grybauskaitė is to have a “serious conversation” with Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius about corruption suspicions that have plagued his cabinet over the last week. The meeting is scheduled for next week, after Butkevičius comes back from vacation. […]
Economy
Major pharmacy retailer named in hospital corruption investigation
Suspicions have been brought against two staff members of the Eurovaistinė drug store network as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected corruption at Šiauliai Hospital. […]
Economy
Lithuania jumps to 13th in global economic freedom rankings
Lithuania moved up two places to 13th in the latest global economic freedom index published by the Heritage Foundation in conjunction with the Wall Street Journal. […]
Politics
Court of Appeals to give verdict in Labour Party’s fraud case
The Lithuanian Court of Appeals is to hand down a ruling in the Labour Party‘s bookkeeping fraud case on Monday, paving way for the verdict in the case to take effect. […]
Politics
Healthcare minister under suspicion of demanding bribes from hospitals
Lithuania’s Minister of Healthcare Rimantė Šalaševičiūtė is being investigated for allegedly demanding bribes from hospitals in exchange for EU support, 15min.lt reports. […]
Politics
Healthcare minister admits offering bribe to doctor
Healthcare Minister Rimantė Šalaševičiūtė has admitted she once gave a bribe to doctors. She made the comments while discussing small-scale corruption that is wide-spread in the country’s healthcare system. […]
Politics
Lithuania improves its standing in corruption rankings
Lithuania is seen as less corrupt than before as the country moves up seven spots in Transparency International‘s corruption perception index. […]
CORPORATE
Controversy grows over minister taking spouse on official trip to London
There is growing controversy over Education Minister Audronė Pitrėnienė taking her spouse Aurelijus Pitrėnas on an official trip to the World Education Forum in London last week. […]
Society
NGOs believe government funding is not distributed transparently
A third of Lithuania’s non-governmental organizations (NGOs) believe that there is not enough transparency in the way government support is distributed for the sector, a survey shows. […]
Politics
Corruption probe findings will decide future of Deputy Speaker, says Graužinienė
Seimas Speaker Loreta Graužinienė has sent a request for information to the Special Investigation Service (STT) about Deputy Speaker Kęstas Komskis after Liberal MP Andrius Mazuronis requested that she probe whether Komskis was suitable for the post. […]
Politics
Vilnius District mayor under investigation for repeated nepotism
The Mayor of Vilnius District, Marija Rekst, is under investigation for hiring her niece to run the municipality’s administration. […]
Politics
Corruption investigation will not affect government functioning, PM says
Corruption allegations made against the Order and Justice party, one of the governing coalition partners, does not threaten the government, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevičius says. The party’s future in the coalition will be considered only after a legal verdict is passed. […]
Politics
Party charged with influence peddling and money laundering by investigators
The Special Investigation Service‘s (STT) Vilnius Department has brought charges against the Order and Justice political party over suspicions of influence peddling and money laundering. […]
Economy
Lithuania makes significant progress in fighting corruption
Over the last two years, Lithuania has made significant progress in its fight against corruption, reveals the latest Eurobarometer study on Businesses‘ Attitudes towards Corruption in the European Union. […]
Economy
Business to join anti-corruption body in Lithuania
The Lithuanian Government decided on Wednesday that representatives of associated business organisations may from now on become members of the Inter-agency Commission for Coordination of Fight against Corruption. […]
Politics
Opposition MPs want scrutiny on Lithuanian Social Democratic Party’s hiring policies
MPs of the conservative Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) party have asked the Special Investigation Service (STT) and the Public Service Department (VTD) to look into media reports about alleged dubious practices of hiring for government jobs by the Social Democratic Party (LSDP). […]
Defence
Transparency International says ‘moderate’ risk of corruption in Lithuania’s defence sector
Transparency International has published the Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index revealing that primary anti-corruption challenges for Lithuania’s defence and security sector are related to internal procedures and procurement. […]
Politics
Amendments to curb corruption submitted to Lithuanian parliament
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaitė submitted a bill aimed at curbing the shady donations from state and municipality controlled companies, preventing waste of money and ensuring more transparency. […]