Prosecutors suspect 15 politicians in municipal expenses probe
Tuesday 3rd November 2026 on 10:01 in
Lithuania
Lithuanian prosecutors have announced suspicions against 15 current and former municipal councillors in an investigation into the use of funds for official activities, LRT reported. The politicians are from six municipalities: Kalvarija, Jonava, Kaišiadorys, Lazdijai, Alytus and Akmenė.
The Special Investigation Service is investigating possible abuse of office. Prosecutors said the politicians may have submitted false information about fuel expenses to their municipalities.
Among those under suspicion is Artūras Margelis, a former mayor of Lazdijai district municipality. Prosecutors allege that, while serving as a councillor in 2019 and 2020, he submitted false expense reports, causing the municipality €1,332 in damage. He is suspected of embezzlement, abuse of office and forging or handling forged documents.
Two other former Lazdijai councillors, Albinas Žymančius and Daiva Barkauskienė, are suspected of causing losses of €2,501 and €1,645, respectively.
The largest alleged losses were reported in Jonava district municipality. Former councillor Povilas Garbauskas is suspected of causing nearly €15,500 in damage, former councillor Egidijus Sinkevičius €12,242, and Artūras Neimontas more than €9,000. All three face suspicions of embezzlement, abuse of office and forging or handling forged documents.
In Alytus district municipality, four politicians are suspected of causing losses: former councillor Raimundas Markauskas, more than €7,000; Marius Mickevičius, €4,729; Gediminas Krasauskas, €4,605; and former councillor Laura Bieliauskaitė-Svetlauskienė, €2,961. They are suspected of fraud, abuse of office and forging or handling forged documents.
In Kalvarija, former councillors Kęstutis Krasnickas and Renata Venslovienė are suspected of causing losses of €3,247 and €716, respectively. Kaišiadorys district councillor Aušra Gerulaitienė is suspected of causing €1,990 in damage. In Akmenė district municipality, Birutė Kulvinskienė and Nijolė Bartkevičienė are suspected of causing losses of €3,372 and €2,894, respectively. They face suspicions of fraud, abuse of office and forging or handling forged documents.