Agriculture minister denies discussing sector issues with corruption suspect Skvernelis
Lithuania’s agriculture minister Andrius Palionis has stated he never discussed sector-related matters with Saulius Skvernelis, the former leader of the Democrats’ Party “For Lithuania” now under investigation in a major corruption case, LRT reports.
Skvernelis, a former prime minister and current member of parliament, faces potential charges of bribery as prosecutors seek to lift his legal immunity. The allegations stem from a large-scale corruption probe at the State Plant Service, the agency responsible for issuing phytosanitary certificates.
“We definitely did not discuss phytosanitary investigations,” Palionis told Žinių Radijas on Thursday. “As for agricultural issues, we may have spoken only in 2019–2020, when I was agriculture minister and Saulius was prime minister.”
The minister also claimed he does not know Agnė Silickienė, Skvernelis’s former advisor, who is likewise facing charges in the case. Palionis confirmed he has not been questioned as a witness in the investigation.
Prosecutors allege that officials at the State Plant Service systematically demanded and received large bribes from companies transporting plants and plant products in exchange for issuing phytosanitary certificates. Fourteen individuals are now under suspicion, including the agency’s former director Jurijus Kornijenko, his deputy Mantas Butas, advisor Silickienė, and regional office heads Giedrius Urbelionis and Dalia Šubonienė. Seven private company executives and associated individuals also face charges of bribery, extortion, and influence peddling.
Palionis acknowledged that concerns about Kornijenko’s conduct had surfaced as early as spring 2023, prompting cooperation with the Special Investigation Service (STT). Despite this, Kornijenko received a positive performance review and a salary increase in October—both initiated by Kornijenko himself—based on self-reported achievements. “We coordinated with the STT, knowing a serious pre-trial investigation was underway, to avoid raising suspicions,” the minister explained.
Palionis described the case as shocking, particularly given Kornijenko’s prior role as head of the ministry’s Prevention Division. “In Lithuania’s fourth decade of independence, it is staggering that such things are still possible,” he said. The minister noted that morale at the agency has since stabilised under interim leadership, with no further complaints about its operations despite reduced capacity.
A permanent replacement for Kornijenko is expected to be selected this summer.