Lithuanian authorities search lawmakers’ offices and party headquarters in car lease probe

Lithuania’s Financial Crime Investigation Service (FNTT) conducted searches on Thursday at the offices of two lawmakers, the headquarters of the political party Nemuno aušra (Dawn of Nemunas), and the home of the party’s leader as part of a pre-trial investigation into alleged fraud involving the lease of private vehicles to the party, LRT.lt reports.

The searches targeted the parliamentary offices of Remigijus Žemaitaitis and Daiva Petkevičienė, both members of Nemuno aušra, as well as the party’s central office and Žemaitaitis’ residence. According to Žemaitaitis, investigators seized his phones, computers, and examined documents during the operation.

The probe, launched in early March by the Vilnius Regional Prosecutor’s Office, centres on suspicions of fraud under Article 182(2) of the Criminal Code. Authorities are investigating whether Žemaitaitis and Petkevičienė committed an offence by leasing their personal cars to the party while simultaneously using the vehicles themselves. The party allegedly covered the lease costs using state budget funds allocated for its operations.

Earlier this year, Lithuania’s Central Electoral Commission (VRK) ruled that Nemuno aušra had violated financing regulations by failing to justify expenses totalling €49,500 linked to the car leases. As a result, the party was denied a six-month state subsidy of over €240,000 in April. The commission also ordered Žemaitaitis to repay €26,776 and Petkevičienė €15,349 to the party.

The party, along with the two lawmakers, has challenged the VRK’s decision in the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania. A ruling is expected on June 10. No formal charges have yet been brought in the criminal investigation.