Prosecutors seek over €50,000 from eight Alytus and Lazdijai politicians

Lithuania’s prosecutors have filed civil claims against seven members of the Alytus City Council and one member of the Lazdijai District Council, seeking the return of more than €50,000 in allegedly unjustified reimbursements, LRT reported.

The General Prosecutor’s Office said on Friday that the claims concern payments made from municipal budgets.

The Panevėžys Regional Prosecutor’s Office has asked the Alytus District Court to order current Alytus City Council member Valdas Račkauskas to repay nearly €6,500 to the municipality. Investigators found that he had been reimbursed almost €7,000 during the 2019 to 2023 council term for transport, office, telephone and internet expenses.

Of that amount, €66 covered office expenses, €479 telephone costs, €1,300 internet costs and €5,100 fuel costs. Račkauskas submitted 46 VAT invoices for telephone and internet reimbursements totalling nearly €1,800, but prosecutors considered only €357 of those expenses justified. Taking into account his actual attendance at council meetings and the distances travelled, prosecutors classified nearly €6,500 as unjust enrichment.

The same prosecutor’s office has asked the Alytus District Court to order current council member Laima Vincė Kirkliauskienė to repay more than €6,100. More than €7,000 was reimbursed to her during the 2019 to 2023 term for expenses linked to council activities.

Kirkliauskienė submitted receipts for office, telephone and transport costs, including 49 mobile phone payment notices totalling more than €2,500. Prosecutors considered only €205 of the mobile service expenses justified. Based on her actual participation in council meetings and the distances travelled, more than €6,100 was deemed unjust enrichment.

The Panevėžys Regional Prosecutor’s Office has also filed a claim with the Kaunas District Court seeking more than €5,500 from former Alytus City Council member Laura Radzevičiūtė.

Radzevičiūtė was reimbursed €11,900 during the previous council term for transport, office and office rental expenses. Although nearly €5,000 was paid for fuel, prosecutors found that only €3.65 was justified. The investigation found that she bought fuel during quarantine periods when work was conducted remotely, while her registered home address was just 200 metres from the municipality. The claim also states that €456 paid for communication services and school supplies was unjustified.

Prosecutors are seeking more than €4,100 from former Alytus City Council member Valė Gibienė. According to the investigation, more than €4,500 was reimbursed based on her reports during the 2019 to 2023 term. Of this, €227 covered office expenses and the remainder fuel costs.