Former advisor to ex-prime ministers Paluckas and Ruginienė announces charges in “čekiukai” case

Former advisor to ex-prime ministers Gintautas Paluckas and Ingrida Ruginienė, Povilas Saulevičius, has announced that he has been formally charged in the so-called “čekiukai” (cash-for-influence) case, LRT reports.

In a Facebook post, Saulevičius said the charges relate to the period between 2019 and 2023, during which he received 1,872 euros in compensation for his work as a member of the Varėna District Municipal Council. He currently continues to serve on the council.

“I understand that such news raises questions. Therefore, I want to state clearly that I have been cooperating with law enforcement from the very beginning and will continue to do so. I am convinced that during the investigation, I will have the opportunity to explain all the circumstances in detail. Charges are not a verdict. They can be dropped, and if not, the final decision will be made by the court,” Saulevičius wrote.

He maintained his innocence, stating: “For more than eleven years, I have been a member of the Varėna District Municipal Council. During this time, I have made hundreds of decisions, initiated more than one important project, and always acted in what I believed to be the best interest of the people of the Varėna region. If I had thought I was doing something illegal, I certainly would not have acted this way.”

Saulevičius is the chairman of the Varėna branch of the Lithuanian Social Democratic Party. He previously served as an advisor to former prime ministers Paluckas and Ruginienė.

The charges follow a broader investigation into potential misuse of municipal funds by local politicians, sparked by a transparency probe initiated by public figure Andrius Tapinas.