Former Ignalina district council member convicted in fuel receipts scandal seeks lighter sentence
The Lithuanian Court of Appeal is reviewing an appeal by former Ignalina district council member Alfonsas Gasparavičius, who was convicted in the so-called “fuel receipts” corruption case and is now seeking a reduced penalty, LRT reports.
Gasparavičius’ defense lawyer has requested the court either acquit him on grounds of amnesty—transferring liability to his son without bail—or reduce his fine by one-third to €3,300 under a revised legal classification, according to court spokesperson Venta Valčackienė. A three-judge panel will deliver its verdict in May.
In November 2025, Panevėžys Regional Court found Gasparavičius guilty of abuse of office, document forgery, and fraud after he falsified expense reports to claim nearly €6,000 in unauthorized fuel reimbursements from the municipality. The 80-year-old was fined €5,000 and barred from holding public office for three years.
Between 2019 and 2023, Gasparavičius submitted falsified receipts for fuel expenses allegedly incurred while performing his council duties. Investigators found that 117 receipts—originally belonging to other customers—had been altered by two employees at an Ignalina gas station to include his details. The receipts showed payments made with 96 different bank cards, none linked to Gasparavičius.
The court acknowledged that Gasparavičius repaid the misappropriated funds and cited mitigating circumstances, but emphasized that his prolonged abuse of office could not be dismissed as a minor ethical violation. He previously served as an assistant to MEP Viktor Uspaskich and worked as an administrator for the Labour Party’s Ignalina branch.
The case emerged from a broader investigation into municipal politicians’ misuse of public funds, initiated by activist Andrius Tapinas. Several other Ignalina council members, including Edita Brukštuvienė and her son Vykintas Brukštas, were also convicted for submitting fraudulent receipts under similar schemes.