Lithuanian MEP Dainius Žalimas denies wrongdoing as prosecutors launch financial misconduct probe

Lithuanian Member of the European Parliament Dainius Žalimas denies any wrongdoing after prosecutors launched a pre-trial investigation into alleged financial mismanagement at a public institution he led, LRT.lt reports.

Žalimas, who headed the now-dissolved Law and Democracy Centre, stated he is “100 percent certain” the probe will find no criminal activity, insisting the organisation’s accounting was “completely correct” and that donors had no complaints. The investigation follows accusations from fellow MEP Petras Gražulis and Seimas member Remigijus Žemaitaitis, who allege improper use of state and EU funds between 2021 and 2025.

“I was essentially accused of wasting money, but clearly, they just want to check accounting documents—which, I stress, are not with me but with the foundation’s founder,” Žalimas told BNS. He added that authorities have not yet contacted him directly, suggesting the probe may be “a basic accounting check.”

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the Financial Crime Investigation Service’s Special Investigations Board, overseen by the Prosecutor General’s Office. Žalimas, who has not resigned from the European Parliament, accused his political opponents of launching a “deliberate slander and disinformation campaign” and said he is considering legal action for defamation.

“When certain politicians seek revenge for my active work and file baseless complaints to the prosecutor’s office, it’s clear that the mere fact a centre received support does not imply misuse,” he said. “This is a good opportunity to prove these accusations are groundless, and ultimately, these opponents may have to answer in court.”

Žemaitaitis, leader of the Nemuno Aušra party, recently questioned the centre’s spending in social media posts, claiming it received €246,000 in funding over three years, with over €30,000 paid directly to Žalimas. He alleged discrepancies in annual reports, stating that “income disappears in one section and reappears in another,” calling it a deliberate choice rather than an error.

The Law and Democracy Centre, founded in July 2021 and liquidated in November 2025, was established by the European Humanities University in Vilnius. Critics, including Belarusian opposition figures Valer Capkala and Dmitry Bolkunets, have also raised concerns about transparency in how the funds were used.