Minister says Lithuanian agency chief may have been detained
Thursday 17th September 2026 on 12:45 in
Lithuania
Financial Crime Investigation Service officers searched the premises of National Paying Agency director Fortunatas Dirginčius on Thursday, while Agriculture Minister Kęstutis Mažeika said law enforcement may have detained him, LRT reported.
“I was told that he was led out and was possibly detained,” Mažeika told reporters at the Seimas.
The Financial Crime Investigation Service did not comment on the possible detention. The Agriculture Ministry also said it had no additional information.
According to the service, the criminal investigation concerns suspected abuse of official position to provide unlawful advantages to people involved in European Union projects. It is linked to the activities of deputy director Tomas Orlickas and the awarding of support to Agro Digital Solutions, a company owned by Orlickas’ mother-in-law, Zita Čepkauskienė.
Investigators suspect that public officials deliberately failed to perform their duties, potentially causing significant financial and non-financial damage to Lithuania’s and the EU’s financial interests. The pre-trial investigation is being organised by European delegated prosecutors in Lithuania.
The service said intensive investigative actions were continuing and that more detailed information would be released when doing so would not jeopardise the investigation.
Mažeika said the searches marked the second visit by the service to the agency in about three days. He said the situation was serious because the National Paying Agency administers substantial national and EU funds and that the events raised questions about the institution’s operations and oversight.
The agency said on Monday that it had suspended Orlickas from his duties on July 15 over suspected conflicts between public and private interests in the implementation of international projects funded from a separate European Commission budget.
Mažeika later told BNS that if law enforcement brings charges against agency employees, they will be suspended, including managers.