Three Ignalina district council members lose positions after fuel receipts scandal

A Lithuanian court has ruled that three members of Ignalina District Municipal Council will lose their positions following a corruption case involving falsified fuel expense receipts, state news agency ELTA reported Monday.

The Utena District Court found Justas Rasikas, Juozas Rokas, and Jonas Baltakis guilty of fraud, document forgery, and abuse of office. While the court suspended their three-year prison sentences—placing them on 1.5 years’ probation—it barred all three from holding any elected or appointed public office for three years. The ruling, if upheld, will force their removal from the council.

According to Lithuania’s Special Investigation Service (STT), the politicians submitted fake expense reports to the municipality between 2019 and 2023, supported by 312 forged fuel purchase receipts. Investigators allege they fraudulently obtained a combined €17,800 from the municipal budget. Seven local gas station employees, who admitted to creating the false receipts without payment, were granted amnesty in exchange for cooperation.

Rasikas, a former mayor of Ignalina District and current Social Democrat council member, faces allegations of submitting 27 falsified reports backed by 86 fake receipts, neting €5,075. Rokas, a former deputy mayor, is accused of 28 forged reports with 93 receipts (€5,489), while Baltakis, representing the Lithuanian Farmers and Greens Union, allegedly filed 31 false reports with 133 receipts (€7,152).

The case emerged after civic activist Andrius Tapinas initiated an investigation into potential misuse of council funds, prompting broader scrutiny of municipal expenses nationwide.