Lithuanian environment minister denies illegally occupying state land

Lithuania’s Environment Minister Kastytis Žuromskas has denied allegations that he unlawfully occupied state-owned land, following an investigation launched by the Special Investigation Service (STT), *LRT* reports.

The minister stated that all land he owns is privately held and consists of three separate plots: a residential plot adjacent to his home, a second plot shared with other co-owners under a usage agreement, and a third forestry-purpose plot. “There is not a single patch of state land there—everything is my private property,” Žuromskas told BNS on Thursday.

According to land registry data, Žuromskas and his wife purchased a 0.1-hectare residential plot in Geležių village, Vilnius district, in August 2023 from *Constructionrk*, a company previously co-owned by the minister. They also acquired a 91.6 m² apartment in the same location from the same firm. Both transactions occurred shortly after Žuromskas and his business partner sold their shares in *Constructionrk* to Robertas Puchovičius, a fellow member of the ruling *Nemuno aušra* party.

The STT probe began after activist Karolis Žukauskas claimed Žuromskas had annexed state land adjacent to his property and that the minister’s home was sold at a price significantly below market value. Žuromskas confirmed he had submitted all property acquisition documents to investigators this week.