Former Lithuanian PM Saulius Skvernelis faces bribery allegations

Lithuanian politician Saulius Skvernelis, whose career spanned roles as police commissioner, interior minister, prime minister, and Seimas speaker, now faces potential criminal charges after prosecutors moved to strip his legal immunity over bribery accusations, *LRT* reports.

The General Prosecutor’s Office announced plans to file charges against Skvernelis for allegedly accepting bribes, prompting a request to the Seimas to lift his immunity. Skvernelis denies the allegations, and former political allies have expressed skepticism. However, political analyst Ramūnas Vilpišauskas noted that prosecutors likely possess substantial evidence, as the case carries significant implications for the credibility of Lithuania’s law enforcement.

Skvernelis first gained public attention in 2001–2003 as head of the Police Traffic Supervision Service, where he addressed citizen concerns about corruption, urging the public not to offer bribes to officials. His career advanced rapidly: he became deputy police commissioner, then commissioner, and later interior minister in 2014 under President Rolandas Paksas. A 2015 conflict with then-Seimas Speaker Loreta Graužinienė—sparked by a high-profile case involving a suspect who seized a police firearm—boosted his political profile.

In 2016, Skvernelis joined the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, leading the party to victory in parliamentary elections and becoming prime minister. His tenure was marked by controversies, including allegations of favoring his home district in infrastructure funding—dubbed the “Skvernelis road”—and restricting press access to public registries. His premiership ended amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

After leaving the Farmers and Greens, Skvernelis co-founded the Democratic Party “For Lithuania” (*Demokratų partija “Vardan Lietuvos”*), which entered the Seimas in 2024. He briefly served as Seimas speaker before stepping down in a coalition reshuffle.

This week, Skvernelis requested that lawmakers waive his immunity, stating there was “no way out but to face this head-on.” The case marks a dramatic fall for a figure who once held Lithuania’s highest offices.