Lithuanian activist claims ruling coalition linked to criminal networks

A new investigation by activist Karolis Žukauskas alleges deep ties between Lithuania’s ruling coalition, the Social Democratic Party, and organized crime figures, centering on high-profile politicians including MEP Vilija Blinkevičiūtė and businessman Remigijus Žemaitaitis.

In an interview with LRT Television’s Laba diena, Lietuva, Žukauskas presented findings suggesting the Social Democrats’ persistent alliance with the Nemuno aušra party is driven by “macro-goals” of individuals tied to criminal groups, particularly those with historical links to money laundering and Belarusian interests.

“Fertilizers, Belarus, lifting sanctions—it becomes clearer why this coalition has these goals, why they’re trying to oust Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, and why the Social Democrats are in bed with Nemuno aušra,” Žukauskas wrote in summarizing his research. “It seems this is all about other ‘beds.’ Tell me, what is this if not a criminal coalition?”

Žukauskas claimed his analysis of connections—including phone records, business ties, and personal relationships—reveals a network linking Blinkevičiūtė, Žemaitaitis, and Social Democratic leader Vilija Blinkevičiūtė’s long-time associate Gintas Jagėla, who was previously detained in a 2000 money-laundering case involving large sums from Germany. Jagėla, described as Blinkevičiūtė’s “close friend or partner,” reportedly shares a residence with her in Brussels and at her estate in Molėtai.

“Blinkevičiūtė has known Jagėla since 1998, when she began her political career. The fact that they live together now, that he flew out to Brussels with her—that’s established,” Žukauskas said. He added that interactions between Jagėla, Žemaitaitis, and convicted crime figure [name redacted as per source] date back to at least 2015, intensifying after Žemaitaitis split from his former party in 2023 to run for president, allegedly funded by individuals linked to the Jozita fuel station network.

The investigation also highlights Žemaitaitis’s use of a Canary Islands apartment owned by Kelmė’s mayor, as well as business ventures in wind energy and Belarus-aligned projects. Žukauskas asserted that the coalition’s policy agenda—including its stance on Belarus—appears to serve private interests over state objectives: “It seems the dominant goals aren’t for the state, but macro-goals for certain individuals that extend beyond Lithuania’s borders. There’s a very favorable attitude toward Belarus.”

Žukauskas’s full findings were discussed on LRT’s Laba diena, Lietuva program on June 5, 2026.