Lithuanian court rejects former State Security chief’s appeal over disciplinary reprimand

A Lithuanian regional administrative court has dismissed an appeal by Ričardas Pocius, the former head of the State Security Department (VSD), challenging a disciplinary reprimand issued by the government in 2022, LRT reports.

Pocius had sought to overturn the reprimand, arguing that no misconduct had occurred and that the internal investigation against him violated legal procedures. He also claimed the government failed to properly assess whether the alleged violations were minor.

The court ruled that the government’s decision was lawful, citing a prior Constitutional Court finding that confirmed the reprimand was justified based on the investigation’s conclusions. The disciplinary action was deemed proportionate given Pocius’ senior role and the “geopolitical context” at the time.

Among the violations, the court noted Pocius’ failure to attend mandatory meetings, improper delegation of representatives, and inadequate communication with the Interior Ministry. The ruling stated that his actions had disrupted institutional operations.

Pocius, who led the VSD from 2015 until his dismissal in October 2022, can still appeal the decision. Former Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė had previously stated that his termination followed repeated breaches, including unexcused absences from crisis meetings, unanswered calls, and misleading statements about his schedule.