Ethics commission seeks more information on Matijošaitis conference invitation

Lithuania’s Chief Official Ethics Commission will gather more information before deciding whether to investigate Kaunas Mayor Visvaldas Matijošaitis over an invitation to a business conference, LRT reported, citing BNS.

The commission said it would assess whether to open an investigation into a possible breach of the Law on the Coordination of Public and Private Interests. The law prohibits public officials from accepting services or gifts because of their official duties or status.

Matijošaitis was invited to the Breakthrough Point conference in Palanga by company Superia LT, described in the report as his patron. The invitation meant he did not have to buy a ticket, which cost at least 1,500 euros.

The commission said it had taken publicly reported information into consideration because there were indications that the law may have been breached.

According to 15min, Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas, Vilnius municipal administration director Adomas Bužinskas and the heads of Vilniaus vandenys, Kauno energija and Kauno autobusai also attended. Kas vyksta Kaune reported that Kaunas deputy mayors Mantas Jurgutis and Andrius Palionis were there as well. The reports said the institutions that sent the politicians and civil servants paid for their tickets, except for Matijošaitis.