Lithuanian financial crime investigators raid homes and offices of Aušra party leaders

Lithuania’s Financial Crime Investigation Service (FNTT) has conducted searches at the homes and offices of leaders from the opposition Aušra (Nemuno aušra) party, including party chairman Remigijus Žemaitaitis, as part of an ongoing probe into alleged misuse of state-funded vehicles, LRT reports.

Investigators on Wednesday carried out raids at Žemaitaitis’ home, the party’s headquarters, and the parliamentary offices of Žemaitaitis and fellow MP Daiva Petkevičienė. Prosecutors from Vilnius Regional Prosecutor’s Office ordered the searches to gather evidence in a pre-trial investigation into whether lawmakers improperly leased personal cars to their party while simultaneously using them for private purposes.

Žemaitaitis confirmed that officers seized two phones and a computer from his residence but claimed the allegations were minor compared to other suspected schemes within the party. “This is the smallest of their offences that I see among their schemes,” he told LRT, adding that he remained “calm” about his political future. “I knew this was coming—just not the exact date.”

No formal charges have been filed in connection with the raids. Petkevičienė stated that investigators found nothing in her office, while Žemaitaitis suggested the probe could expand to other cases, calling it “just the first visit of several to come.”

Civil activist Karolis Žukauskas speculated that the timing of the raids—months after the Central Electoral Commission flagged irregularities in Aušra’s campaign financing—could indicate either new evidence, procedural delays, or a strategic move by law enforcement to gather broader information. The commission had previously ruled that Aušra failed to properly document nearly €50,000 in expenses.

Žukauskas also pointed to larger unresolved questions, including allegations of €130,000 in undeclared cash ahead of elections, potential conflicts of interest involving MP Robertas Puchovičius’ business activities, and Environment Minister Kęstutis Žuromskas’ asset acquisitions.

“A search isn’t a normal procedure—it’s done when law enforcement needs specific evidence,” Žukauskas said. “Now they’re sitting quiet, tails between their legs. Žemaitaitis’ Facebook is unusually silent today—no posts, nothing. He has a team to write for him, but it seems they don’t know what to say.”