Vyšniauskas appeals to Supreme Court in “Čekiukų” case

Former MP and Marijampolė municipal council member Andrius Vyšniauskas has filed a cassation appeal with the Lithuanian Supreme Court (LAT) following his conviction in the so-called “Čekiukų” (receipts) case, LRT reports.

Vyšniauskas told ELTA he disagrees with the lower court rulings that found him guilty, arguing the case should never have been initiated. He claims prosecutors misinterpreted factual circumstances and applied incorrect legal assumptions. According to Vyšniauskas, both the district and appellate courts misapplied criminal law and committed procedural violations that significantly impacted the case outcome.

“The Appellate Court’s ruling contains many errors, contradictions, and inaccuracies that need correction,” Vyšniauskas stated. He also believes the court deviated from established judicial practice. His appeal requests the Supreme Court to annul the contested ruling and either terminate the criminal case against him or return it for reconsideration to the Appellate Court.

LAT spokesperson Tautvilė Merkevičiūtė confirmed the court received Vyšniauskas’s appeal on Monday. She noted the politician also seeks reimbursement for legal expenses. The Supreme Court’s Selection College will decide on the admissibility of the appeal.

In June, the Appellate Court upheld Vyšniauskas’s conviction but reduced his fine from €7,500 to €6,500. The court maintained a three-year ban on holding public office. The original conviction stemmed from Vyšniauskas falsifying 19 expense reports between May 2019 and October 2020 while serving as a municipal council member, submitting false claims for fuel, phone, and internet expenses. The Appellate Court later narrowed the conviction to only fuel-related expenses and reduced the misappropriated amount from €2,190 to €1,311.