Lithuanian Supreme Court rejects parliament vice-speaker’s appeal in fuel expense case

The Supreme Court of Lithuania has rejected an appeal by Daiva Žebelienė, vice-speaker of the parliament and a member of the “Nemuno Aušra” faction, in a case involving disputed fuel expense reimbursements, LRT reports. The ruling upholds earlier court decisions ordering Žebelienė to repay €6,900 to Šilutė District Municipality.

The court’s selection panel determined that the cassation appeal—Lithuania’s highest level of judicial review—did not raise legal issues substantial enough to warrant reconsideration. Žebelienė had argued that local governance laws and Šilutė’s municipal council regulations were unclear and open to interpretation, particularly regarding which documents could justify expense claims.

Her appeal also claimed that prosecutors lacked legal grounds to demand repayment for fuel used during her time as a council member, as her travel aligned with council regulations. She further urged the Supreme Court to refer the case to the Constitutional Court to assess whether the laws in question complied with Lithuania’s constitution.

However, the selection panel found no basis for such a referral, stating that the appeal did not demonstrate misapplication or misinterpretation of the law by lower courts in a way that would affect broader legal consistency.

The case stems from Žebelienė’s purchase of nearly 2,000 litres of fuel during pandemic lockdowns while serving as a Šilutė council member. Lower courts ruled that the quantity exceeded the capacity of her vehicles and that her documented activities—including political campaign events—did not qualify as official council duties. The courts also noted discrepancies in her reported schedule, such as claiming participation in 36 events in a single month.

The Supreme Court’s decision is final and not subject to further appeal.