Sinkevičius paid lawyer €9,680 in “čekiukų” case, payment copies show
Social Democratic Party leader Mindaugas Sinkevičius paid a total of €9,680 to the law firm Ellex Valiunas for legal services in the so-called “čekiukų” (invoices) case, according to copies of payment orders obtained by BNS news agency.
Sinkevičius had previously promised to provide documents proving he personally covered the legal costs and later shared them with BNS. The payment copies show four transfers to the firm for services provided by its partner, Arūnas Petrauskas.
The first payment of €2,420 was made on September 14, 2023, followed by €3,630 on February 26, 2024. On June 11, 2024, Sinkevičius transferred another €2,420, and on November 18, 2024, he paid €1,210. The documents confirm that Sinkevičius initiated all transactions.
Sinkevičius told BNS he aimed to address public questions about his legal representation. He stated the payments covered different stages of his defense, including the pre-trial investigation, representation in the Kaunas Regional Court, the Lithuanian Court of Appeal, and the preparation of a cassation complaint to the Supreme Court of Lithuania. All expenses were covered with his personal funds, he said.
Earlier, Sinkevičius denied receiving any discounts from Ellex Valiunas. He also confirmed that family members had financially supported him during the legal proceedings by transferring money to his account.
His father, Parliament member Rimantas Sinkevičius, confirmed to journalists that he had contributed financially to his son’s legal defense. In addition to legal fees, Mindaugas Sinkevičius paid a €12,500 fine following an unfavorable 2024 ruling by the appellate court. He was temporarily suspended from his duties as mayor of Jonava but later reinstated after the Supreme Court terminated the case against him in early 2025 and refunded the fine.
LRT previously reported that Sinkevičius hired the Ellex Valiunas lawyer around the same time that the municipality-controlled company Jonavos vandenys signed a legal services contract with the same firm. Sinkevičius denied having any influence over the company’s decision to choose Ellex Valiunas, stating that neither he nor his sister, a partner at the firm, had any involvement in the process.
On Tuesday, Sinkevičius announced his intention to take over the government leadership from Inga Ruginienė, potentially becoming the third prime minister of the ruling majority during this term.