Saulius Skvernelis placed under electronic monitoring for alleged contact with co-accused

Former Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis has been placed under electronic monitoring for allegedly violating a ban on communicating with co-accused in a corruption case, according to his former advisor Skirmantas Malinauskas, as reported by LRT.lt.

Malinauskas stated on social media that Skvernelis had communicated with Agnė Silickienė, another suspect in the case and his former advisor. “To my knowledge, S. Skvernelis violated the ban on communicating with certain individuals—specifically, with another suspect, his former advisor Agnė Silickienė,” Malinauskas wrote.

Silickienė is considered a key link between Skvernelis and the alleged corruption scheme, with prosecutors suggesting she may have facilitated the transfer of bribes. Both Silickienė and Skvernelis have been placed under electronic monitoring, with Silickienė’s assets also seized.

Malinauskas noted that while the court decides on the proportionality of the measure, electronic monitoring allows authorities to track an individual’s location, but direct communication between two monitored persons remains difficult to control without additional surveillance.

Skvernelis declined to comment directly, referring questions to Malinauskas. “Just talk to Skirmantas. Until there is a court decision, I will not comment. Skirmantas knows everything best,” he told LRT.lt.

Electronic monitoring is the second most severe pre-trial measure in Lithuania, imposed only by a court or investigative judge. Violations can lead to detention.

Skvernelis has previously called the monitoring an act of psychological pressure, arguing it prevents him from performing his duties as a member of parliament. He has appealed the decision in court and vowed to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights if not acquitted.

Prosecutors allege that Skvernelis, while serving as a member and later Speaker of the Seimas, accepted bribes totalling €51,000 in cash through Silickienė between January and November 2025. Silickienė also worked at the State Plant Service, which was headed by Jurijus Kornijenko, another suspect in the case.