Lithuanian PM expresses confidence in law enforcement after raids on Nemuno Aušra party

Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė has stated she trusts law enforcement institutions following last week’s searches at the offices and homes of Nemuno Aušra party leaders, as part of an ongoing pre-trial investigation into suspected misuse of public funds, LRT reports.

“I trust law enforcement institutions and am pleased they are doing their work thoroughly and honestly,” Ruginienė told reporters on Wednesday. “Let’s not pre-judge the process—we must wait for specialists to complete their work.”

The Financial Crime Investigation Service (FNTT) conducted searches last week at the Seimas offices, party headquarters, and private residences of party chairman Remigijus Žemaitaitis and his deputy Daiva Petkevičienė. The raids were tied to a pre-trial probe into potential fraud involving the rental of vehicles by party members using state funds allocated to Nemuno Aušra.

Petkevičienė claimed investigators found nothing during searches of her office and Seimas apartment, insisting she had “done nothing wrong.” Žemaitaitis confirmed that authorities seized a Seimas-issued computer, tablet, and two phones from his home and office.

The investigation, launched in early March, follows a ruling by the Central Electoral Commission (VRK) that the party had misused €49,500 in state funds by renting cars for Žemaitaitis and Petkevičienė without proper documentation. The VRK classified the violations as “gross” and, on April 2, reduced the party’s six-month state subsidy by €240,000.

President Gitanas Nausėda previously stated that precise work by authorities would help “clear the political environment of things that should not be there.” The FNTT has not yet formally charged any individuals in the case.