Lithuania’s ethics watchdog to gather additional evidence on Vilnius mayor’s trip to Spain for basketball final

Lithuania’s Chief Official Ethics Commission (VTEK) will collect further information before deciding whether to launch an investigation into Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas and city administration director Adomas Bužinskas over their attendance at a basketball final in Spain, the commission’s deputy chair confirmed Tuesday.

Virginija Aleksejūnė, VTEK’s deputy chair, told reporters the commission had reviewed a complaint regarding Benkunskas, his wife, and Bužinskas attending the Vilnius “Rytas” team’s Champions League final in Badalona in May. The body opted to gather additional material before determining next steps.

The complaint was filed by Aleksas Nemunaitis, chair of the political group “Lietuva–VISŲ” and a Vilnius City Council member. Nemunaitis asked VTEK to assess whether courtside seats—typically restricted and of significant commercial value—could be considered a gift or other benefit. He noted the municipality’s role in funding and regulating professional sports clubs.

VTEK will also examine footage of Benkunskas engaging in informal conversation with businessman Arvydas Avulis, whose business group develops major projects in Vilnius and holds interests tied to municipal decisions.

The “Rytas” team, which won the Champions League title in May, later received a €500,000 prize from the Vilnius City Council.