Former Lithuanian prime minister arrives at anti-corruption agency with lawyer

Former Lithuanian prime minister Gintautas Paluckas arrived at the Special Investigation Service (STT) headquarters in central Vilnius on Thursday afternoon alongside his lawyer, LRT reports.

According to the public broadcaster, Paluckas entered the STT building at around 13:50 local time with his attorney, Darius Raulušaitis. He is expected to face formal charges during the visit.

The prosecutor general previously requested parliamentary approval to strip Paluckas of his legal immunity in connection with a pre-trial investigation. The politician agreed to waive his immunity through an expedited procedure but has denied the allegations.

Prosecutors allege that between December 2010 and late 2024, Paluckas and his wife Ilma Paluckė illegally acquired assets worth nearly €345,000. The couple is suspected of depositing cash in banks, purchasing vehicles, real estate, and securities with undeclared funds. The case involves potential charges of abuse of office (Article 228 of the Criminal Code) and unlawful enrichment (Article 189).

Paluckas announced he would suspend his membership in the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party (LSDP) following the allegations. He resigned as prime minister in late July last year after investigative reports surfaced regarding his business ties and questionable transactions.