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.