Lithuanian PM calls for resignation of Registrų centro head after data breach investigation

The head of Lithuania’s Centre of Registers (Registrų centras) should step down following a criminal investigation into unauthorised access and copying of registry data, Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė said on Friday.

“Incidents of this scale inevitably raise questions about leadership accountability. The director of the Centre of Registers must resign,” Ruginienė wrote on Facebook, as reported by the BNS news agency. She called on the Minister of Economy and Innovation to take appropriate action and order an audit of the incident and system security, along with a plan to strengthen the centre’s resilience and data protection.

The investigation, launched by the Prosecutor General’s Office, follows reports of potential unauthorised access to state-controlled data registries. Authorities suspect several unauthorised logins and attempts to access the Centre of Registers’ systems from abroad and through other institutions’ networks. Over 600,000 registry entries may have been illegally copied, with the primary target believed to be data from the Real Estate and Legal Entities Registers, which are provided as paid services.

Ruginienė emphasised that the breach raises serious concerns about state data security but noted that institutions responded swiftly: a pre-trial investigation was launched, suspicious accounts were blocked, access was restricted, and law enforcement, relevant ministries, and the State Security Department became involved.

“This situation must be taken very seriously. We are not just talking about a technical incident but also about public trust in the state and its ability to protect sensitive data,” she said. The prime minister demanded immediate measures to ensure data security and a clear plan to address identified vulnerabilities, stressing the need for timely answers to public concerns.

The pre-trial investigation is being conducted by the Lithuanian Criminal Police Bureau, in cooperation with the ministries of the Interior, Justice, Economy and Innovation, and the State Security Department. Updates on the investigation will be provided to the extent permitted by pre-trial and national security considerations.

Adrijus Jusas has led the Centre of Registers since 2023.