Minister seeks reprimand for Lithuania’s prison service chief

Justice Minister Rita Tamašunienė has proposed reprimanding Lithuanian Prison Service director Mindaugas Kairys over alleged misconduct, LRT reported.

The proposal was included in a draft government resolution registered on Monday. It cites a conclusion issued on September 14 by the Justice Ministry’s Corruption Prevention and Internal Investigations Division.

The ministry says Kairys failed to comply with the minister’s order to reverse decisions abolishing posts at Kaunas Prison and warnings issued to staff. It also says he decided to abolish posts in the prison’s Security Management Division and create posts in its Resocialization Division without consulting the ministry.

Kairys has rejected the allegations and asked that it be found he committed no misconduct. He told BNS on Monday that he stood by that position, saying the changes were intended to ensure continuity and align operations at the prison’s two addresses.

Tamašunienė initiated the investigation after Kairys declined to reverse decisions involving five employees who did not agree to move to the Resocialization Division. The minister said she opposed pressuring officers to change roles, while stressing that strengthening resocialization was necessary. She also cited a staffing shortage of 26 percent.

The ministry said a reprimand would not automatically lead to Kairys’s dismissal. Under the statute governing internal service, dismissal may be imposed for misconduct if an officer has received a severe reprimand or a more serious disciplinary penalty within the previous 12 months.

Tamašunienė has asked the government to consider the proposal at its next meeting, scheduled for September 30. Her adviser said the ministry hoped it would be considered this week or next.