Apykojė prevents Skvernelis from attending classified meetings

Former Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis cannot participate in closed sessions of the Seimas National Security and Defence Committee (NSGK) where classified information is discussed due to the electronic monitoring device (ankle bracelet) he is required to wear, the Seimas Chancellery confirmed to ELTA.

According to the response, the ankle monitor prevents Skvernelis from entering secure rooms where electronic devices are prohibited. “Due to the applied restrictive measure of wearing an ankle monitor, the Seimas member cannot, for technical reasons, participate in closed meetings where classified information is presented and discussed, as such meetings take place in special premises where no electronic devices are allowed,” the Chancellery stated.

Skvernelis, who is under investigation for suspected bribery in the State Plant Service, retains his clearance to access classified information. The Seimas Chancellery noted it has not received any documents from state institutions that would justify revoking this clearance.

“Under Article 20 of the Law on State and Official Secrets, the revocation of clearance to work with classified information could be considered and decided upon only after receiving an assessment and recommendation from a competent institution regarding such revocation,” the response emphasized.

The clearance to work with classified information is granted by the head of the secrecy subject— in this case, the Speaker of the Seimas—based on an evaluation by the State Security Department (VSD).

Skvernelis has publicly stated he disagrees with the decision to impose the ankle monitor and has appealed it in court. In February, searches were conducted at his home and office as part of the corruption investigation. In April, he was formally charged with bribery.

Last December, 13 individuals were detained in a major corruption probe at the State Plant Service. The number of suspects later increased to 15. Investigators allege that representatives of companies transporting plants and plant products systematically demanded and received large bribes in exchange for phytosanitary certificates issued to cargo carriers.

Among those implicated were the then-director of the service, Jurijus Kornijenko, his deputy Mantas Butas, advisor Agnė Silickienė (who had also worked with Skvernelis), and regional office heads Giedrius Urbelionis and Dalia Šubonienė. During the investigation, over 100 searches seized more than 1.3 million euros in cash, 8 kilograms of gold worth around 1 million euros, 11,000 cartons of cigarettes, 14,000 liters of alcohol, as well as cocaine and explosives.

In February, searches were also conducted at the home and office of conservative MP Kazys Starkevičius, who later resigned from his Seimas mandate and suspended his membership in the TS-LKD party. He later admitted to 15min.lt that he had accepted a bribe of up to 20,000 euros.