Lithuanian MFA seeks swift probe into ambassador’s alleged conduct

Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seeking to complete as quickly as possible an investigation into publicly reported allegations of inappropriate conduct by Lithuanian Ambassador to the United States Gediminas Varvuolis, LRT reports.

The ministry said the investigation’s duration would depend on the amount of information collected, the need for additional details and other actions required for the inquiry.

“The commission has begun its work and is currently collecting and assessing information relevant to the investigation in order to establish, comprehensively, objectively and impartially, the factual circumstances related to information published in the public domain about the situation at the Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania in Washington,” the ministry told news agency ELTA.

The ministry said it would not assess or comment on potential findings or possible decisions concerning specific individuals before the investigation is completed. It said this was necessary to protect the rights and privacy of those involved and to ensure the inquiry’s confidentiality, objectivity and impartiality.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the commission’s formation on August 14. It includes representatives of the ministry’s General Inspection Division, the Foreign Ministry employees’ trade union, the Human Resources Management Department and the Legal Department.

The Office of the President said it would not comment on the circumstances for now and was waiting for the investigation’s conclusions.

The news portal Delfi was the first to report alleged problems with the working atmosphere at the Lithuanian embassy in the United States. The portal obtained the results of an anonymous survey conducted at the end of last year, in which embassy employees gave notably negative responses.

According to Delfi, the Foreign Ministry received complaints about Varvuolis’ conduct. Sources said some embassy employees had reported disrespectful behaviour, raised voices and long working hours.

The ministry confirmed to ELTA that it had conducted the employee engagement and job satisfaction survey, and said the results from the Lithuanian embassy in the United States stood out negatively from the overall picture.

Following the survey, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys spoke with Varvuolis, while ministry representatives also held discussions with embassy staff. The ministry said it had taken other measures to improve the workplace atmosphere, including providing the ambassador with leadership training in April.

The training, prepared by the Public Management Agency, covered the improvement of management competencies and the handling of difficult situations. Varvuolis was also given materials from ministry training on feedback and effective leadership.

Varvuolis previously said he had not personally heard complaints from embassy staff about him.

He was appointed ambassador to the United States in summer 2025, replacing diplomat Audra Plepytė. Varvuolis has also headed Lithuania’s embassies in Japan and Belgium and served as deputy head of Lithuania’s permanent representation to NATO.