Lithuanian parliament speaker says dismissal of Registry Centre head appears justified
Monday 25th May 2026 on 08:00 in
Lithuania
The dismissal of the head of Lithuania’s Registry Centre following a large-scale data breach appears to be the correct decision, according to Juozas Olekas, speaker of the Seimas (parliament).
“Data protection is extremely important, and perhaps the leadership’s attitude and other factors created conditions where that protection was insufficient,” Olekas told LRT Radio on Monday. “It seems the decision to dismiss the head and seek new solutions is justified.”
He called for swift technical and administrative measures to prevent third parties—particularly those attempting to influence Lithuanian citizens—from misusing the data. While Olekas did not confirm or deny whether the breach could have been a targeted operation by foreign intelligence services, he stated that speculation should be avoided until the investigation concludes.
“I couldn’t say right now—some data is available, but we should wait for the final answers to avoid misinterpreting preliminary findings,” he said, adding that the situation, while serious, is manageable.
The Prosecutor General’s Office announced last Thursday that it is investigating unauthorised access to the Registry Centre’s databases, resulting in the theft of over 600,000 records. Authorities reported that the breaches originated from “a foreign state and through systems administered by other institutions,” though neither the country nor the institutions were named.
Adrijus Jusas, the dismissed head of the Registry Centre, confirmed that leaked data included real estate registry extracts with personal identification numbers but insisted no contact details, financial records, or legal documents were exposed. Reports indicate the first unauthorised access occurred earlier this year, with the centre becoming aware of the breach in April.
Laurynas Kasčiūnas, a member of the Seimas National Security and Defence Committee, previously suggested that data on Lithuanian intelligence officers may have been compromised.