Border guard chief’s twin moved to avoid conflict of interest

The twin brother of Lithuania’s acting State Border Guard Service chief has been transferred to a post outside his direct chain of command to prevent possible conflicts of interest, LRT reported. Darius Škarnulis, who led the Vilnius Border Guard District, became head of the Criminal Investigations Board on Tuesday.

Service spokesperson Giedrius Mišutis said the transfer means the brothers are no longer in a direct reporting relationship. The Vilnius district chief reports directly to the service chief, while the Criminal Investigations Board head reports to a deputy chief.

Mišutis said the move was not a promotion: the two posts are at the same level and Darius Škarnulis’s salary has not changed. A deputy chief signed the order transferring him.

Rimantas Petrauskas, who had led the Pagėgiai border guards, took over as head of the Vilnius Border Guard District on Tuesday.

Donatas Škarnulis has served as acting head of the State Border Guard Service since August 20, when Rustamas Liubajevas left the post following a border incident. He is expected to become the permanent chief after the service receives the findings of relevant authorities. The service chief is appointed for a five-year term.