Lithuanian prosecutors approved search warrant for Starkevičius in November but did not execute it

A search warrant for the home and office of former parliament member Kazys Starkevičius was approved by prosecutors last November but never carried out, the news portal *Delfi* reported Wednesday, citing sources.

According to the outlet, the warrant was authorised by a Vilnius District Court ruling on **4 November 2025**, but neither the Prosecutor General’s Office nor the Special Investigation Service (STT) confirmed or denied the report. The Vilnius District Court, which issued the warrant, also declined to comment.

The revelation follows a large-scale anti-corruption operation in December 2025, during which authorities conducted over 100 searches as part of an investigation into systemic bribery at the State Plant Service (VAT). In January of this year, STT officers searched the homes and offices of Starkevičius and fellow former MP Saulius Skvernelis in connection with the same case.

*Delfi*’s sources suggest prosecutors may have initially planned to search Starkevičius’s properties simultaneously with the December raids targeting VAT officials, businessmen, and other suspects—but chose not to do so at the time.

In April, Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė announced that Starkevičius faced formal suspicion of accepting bribes. He subsequently resigned from the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats (TS-LKD) party. Earlier reporting by *15min.lt*, citing sources, claimed Starkevičius had admitted to receiving a cash bribe of up to **€20,000** last October from businessman Danielius Krinickis, allegedly linked to former VAT director Jurijus Kornijenko. The money was reportedly left in a bag at the Seimas dormitory before Starkevičius later handed it over to investigators.

The VAT corruption probe, launched in December 2025, initially led to the detention of **13 individuals**, later expanded to **15**. Authorities allege that officials systematically demanded and received large bribes from companies transporting plants and agricultural products in exchange for issuing phytosanitary certificates. Seized evidence included over **€1.3 million in cash**, **8 kg of gold** (worth ~€1 million), **11,000 packs of cigarettes**, **14,000 litres of alcohol**, as well as cocaine and explosives.

Starkevičius, a lawyer by training, served in the Seimas from **2004 to 2026** and held roles including deputy mayor of Kaunas and Kaunas district governor. He was also a member of the Sąjūdis reform movement.