LSDP leader responds to raids on “Nemuno aušra”: all parties face issues, no need for moralising

All political parties in Lithuania have problems, so there is no reason to moralise about the situation surrounding the “Nemuno aušra” party, Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius said Friday, following raids on the party’s offices and homes of its leaders, LRT reports.

Speaking on Lietuvos rytas TV, Sinkevičius acknowledged the seriousness of the situation but argued that no party is without flaws. “Which party has no problems? I won’t name names—does the Homeland Union-Lithuanian Christian Democrats have none? Does the Democratic Union ‘For Lithuania’ have none? Does ‘Nemuno aušra’ have none? Do the Social Democrats have none? They do,” he said.

He criticised what he described as selective moralising by political leaders, noting that criticism often softens when it involves their own party members. “Some leaders love to moralise, but later forget their own members when they find themselves in difficult situations. There’s loud criticism when it’s the opposing side, but the tone becomes much gentler when it’s their own,” Sinkevičius said.

The LSDP leader stressed that his party does not engage in moralising and understands the responsibility at hand. “We don’t moralise. We understand the responsibility, we understand what is happening. Of course, this is not the situation we expected or that society wants—a clean, corruption-free political environment. We understand that, but unfortunately, the reality is different,” he added.

The raids were conducted Thursday by the Financial Crime Investigation Service (FNTT) as part of a pre-trial investigation into possible fraud. Offices and homes of “Nemuno aušra” leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis and his deputy Daiva Petkevičienė were searched, including the party’s headquarters, Žemaitaitis’ private residence, and Petkevičienė’s apartment in the Seimas hotel.

Petkevičienė claimed that nothing incriminating was found in her office or apartment, insisting she had done nothing wrong. Žemaitaitis confirmed that investigators seized a Seimas computer, a tablet, and two phones from his home and office.

The investigation follows a March ruling by the Central Electoral Commission (VRK), which found that “Nemuno aušra” had misused state funding by leasing cars from Žemaitaitis and Petkevičienė using party funds intended for other purposes. The VRK also determined that the party had submitted incorrect financial reports, failing to justify expenses of €49,500. As a result, the commission reduced the party’s six-month state subsidy by €240,000 in April.