Lithuanian court accepts Nemuno Aušra party’s appeal over rejected state funding

The Lithuanian Supreme Administrative Court has agreed to review an appeal by the political party Nemuno Aušra challenging the Central Electoral Commission’s (VRK) decision to deny it a six-month state subsidy of over €240,000, LRT reports.

The court’s spokesperson, Paulius Žeimys, confirmed that the appeal was accepted for consideration on April 15. Two additional appeals against VRK rulings have also been received, including separate complaints from Nemuno Aušra lawmakers Remigijus Žemaitaitis and Daiva Petkevičienė.

Petkevičienė’s appeal was accepted on April 13, with the court requesting her response. A similar request has been issued to the party itself. Žemaitaitis’s initial submission contained deficiencies, which were later corrected; the court will decide this week whether to proceed with his case.

VRK’s April 2 decision to withhold funding followed findings that Nemuno Aušra had violated financial accounting laws by transferring nearly €50,000 to Žemaitaitis and Petkevičienė for car rental—allegedly misusing state budget allocations and submitting false financial reports. The rental agreement, signed January 17 for €31,500 and valid until November 13, listed Žemaitaitis as the service provider and the party as the client.