Varvuolis denies allegations of improper conduct, committee chair says

Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States Gediminas Varvuolis has denied allegations that he behaved improperly towards embassy staff, Seimas Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Remigijus Motuzas told LRT after meeting the ambassador on Wednesday.

Motuzas said Varvuolis regretted the reports that had emerged publicly but denied raising his voice or behaving disrespectfully towards employees.

“He denied improper conduct, yes,” Motuzas said when asked whether the ambassador had rejected the allegations. He added that Varvuolis considered the embassy’s diplomats and administrative staff highly competent and valued their work.

According to Motuzas, Varvuolis said there were currently no disagreements among staff but promised to work on improving the workplace atmosphere, remain open and avoid what he described as management mistakes.

Varvuolis had reportedly spoken with Foreign Ministry Chancellor Aistė Stakėnienė on Tuesday and was due to meet President Gitanas Nausėda’s chief foreign policy adviser, Asta Skaisgirytė, on Wednesday.

The reports followed earlier claims by the Delfi news portal that the Foreign Ministry had received complaints about Varvuolis’s conduct. Sources said some embassy employees had reported disrespectful behaviour, raised voices and long working hours.

The ministry initially described the complaints as rumours and did not open an investigation. It later announced that a commission had been formed to examine the situation.

The Foreign Ministry employees’ trade union said it had not received an appeal from the embassy staff regarding the ambassador’s alleged conduct, but had delegated one of its members to the commission investigating the matter.

Varvuolis said he had not personally heard any complaints about his conduct and expressed satisfaction with the employees’ work.

“I have not heard of any,” he told ELTA when asked whether staff had complained to him directly. “I am very satisfied with the employees’ work. We work in tense, dynamic conditions, and I am truly very proud of their work.”