Saulius Skvernelis claims ankle monitor hinders his parliamentary duties

Lithuanian MP Saulius Skvernelis, who is under investigation for alleged bribery in an agriculture case, has stated that the electronic ankle monitor imposed on him as a precautionary measure is obstructing his ability to perform his duties as a member of parliament, LRT.lt reports.

Skvernelis, who previously faced only a travel restriction, was ordered to wear the ankle monitor a week ago. He has appealed the prosecutors’ decision in court, arguing that the measure is unjustified and lacks legal basis. He described it as a form of pressure and humiliation, noting that house arrest would be the only stricter precautionary measure.

“I am not fleeing, I am not obstructing the investigation, I am not avoiding the investigation. In my opinion, these are the only grounds on which a precautionary measure can be imposed. It has been imposed unlawfully, tightened without legal basis,” Skvernelis told journalists in the Seimas on Tuesday.

The MP admitted to a minor violation but dismissed it as a “formality,” comparing his situation to that of former MP Kristijonas Bartoševičius, who was convicted of sexual crimes but was not required to wear an ankle monitor. Skvernelis also claimed the device interferes with his participation in parliamentary work, calling the investigation politically motivated. He added that the monitor disrupts his personal life and health, sometimes emitting beeping sounds during votes in the Seimas hall, which he suspects is due to poor signal.

“I cannot perform the duties of a member of the Seimas. Last Tuesday, I had to go outside to vote, I cannot go to the office to familiarise myself with documents because no electronic devices are allowed there,” he explained.

Skvernelis also revealed he had received letters from Belarus offering him refuge from law enforcement, which he forwarded to the State Security Department. He stated that if not acquitted, he would appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

Prosecutors suspect that while serving as an MP and Speaker of the Seimas, Skvernelis, through his advisor Agne Silickiene, allegedly accepted a total of €51,000 in cash bribes on several occasions. The bribes were allegedly paid between January and November 2025 to gain favour for interested parties. Silickiene worked both as Skvernelis’ advisor and at the State Plant Service, which was headed by Jurijus Kornijenko, who is also suspected of bribery.

According to prosecutors, money from Kornijenko was transferred to Silickiene, who then passed between €5,000 and €10,000 in cash to Skvernelis each month. The case is part of a broader pre-trial investigation, which also involves another politician, former MP Kazys Starkevičius, who has admitted to receiving approximately €20,000 in bribes.