Former environment department chief rewarded official who inspected husband’s company

LRT, citing the Delfi news portal, reports that former acting head of Lithuania’s Environmental Protection Department, Edita Paužuolienė, awarded a salary bonus to a subordinate one day before leaving office. The official had carried out an unplanned inspection of a company founded by her husband.

The official, the head of the Vilnius District Environmental Protection Division, inspected drone manufacturer Vytis Tech after a complaint alleged that the company had failed to register in the Register of Producers and Importers and had not kept records of products, packaging and waste.

Paužuolienė’s husband, Donatas Paužuolis, is the company’s commercial director and a shareholder. He previously headed the company.

The department told Delfi that the official received a 20 percent bonus for an additional workload. It said the bonus was awarded on the recommendation of the head of the Trakai Division, who was temporarily leading the department’s Vilnius branch. The department also stressed that other employees received bonuses.

When Delfi asked Paužuolienė to explain the decision, the department said she was on leave. Donatas Paužuolis also declined to comment.

Delfi reported that the bonus was awarded one day before Edgaras Skrebė was appointed the department’s new director. Paužuolienė, who gave up the post, will continue working as his deputy.

Skrebė has led the Environmental Protection Department since July 31 after winning its second leadership competition. The first competition was announced last year after former director Giedrius Kadziauskas left office in July. Paužuolienė won that competition, but then-Environment Minister Kastytis Žuromskas ordered a new selection, saying he wanted more candidates to take part.