Lithuania’s prosecutor general files charges against former PM’s wife over illicit enrichment

Lithuania’s prosecutor general has formally accused Ilma Paluckė, the wife of former prime minister and current MP Gintautas Paluckas, of illicit enrichment, public broadcaster LRT reported on Monday.

Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė confirmed to parliament that charges had been brought under Article 189 of the Criminal Code, which covers unlawful asset acquisition. Conviction under this article can result in fines, restricted liberty, arrest, or imprisonment for up to four years.

Grunskienė did not disclose specifics of the allegations against Paluckė but noted that prosecutors were examining a period from 2010 to December 31, 2024. “I only know general information about the sums of money whose legitimacy and justification could not be substantiated,” she told lawmakers.

Paluckas, who currently retains his parliamentary seat, declined to comment on the charges against his wife. “My wife is a private individual. I certainly do not want to comment on my wife,” he told journalists.

The charges stem from a pre-trial investigation into suspected illicit enrichment by Paluckas and his wife, involving assets worth nearly €345,000. Prosecutors allege the couple acquired property—including cash deposits, vehicles, real estate, and securities—through undeclared funds between December 2010 and late 2024. Evidence cited includes witness testimonies, asset inspections, and expert assessments.

Last week, President Gitanas Nausėda called on Paluckas to resign his parliamentary mandate, though the lawmaker has stated he has no intention of doing so. Paluckas previously agreed to waive his legal immunity in a simplified procedure and paused his membership in the Social Democratic Party of Lithuania (LSDP) following the allegations.

The prosecutor general’s office first requested the lifting of Paluckas’ immunity in late April, citing suspicions of abuse of office and illicit enrichment. The former prime minister stepped down in July 2023 amid media investigations into his business ties and questionable transactions. Recent reports indicate Paluckas divested his shares in electronics manufacturer Emus on April 21, leaving business partner Mindaugas Milašauskas as the sole shareholder.