Vilnius district mayor returns 9,500 euros in council expense funds

Vilnius district Mayor Robertas Duchnevičius voluntarily repaid 9,500 euros in council expense reimbursements after prosecutors examined councillors’ spending, LRT reported, citing the news outlet 15min.

Vilnius Regional Prosecutor’s Office spokeswoman Gintarė Vitkauskaitė-Šatkauskienė said the money was returned in October 2025 after an inquiry found that the sum had been paid to Duchnevičius to cover council member expenses during the term under review.

The inquiry examined all members of the Vilnius district municipal council. Prosecutors said they would not take further public-interest measures after finding that the alleged misuse of municipal budget funds had been remedied.

A separate preliminary investigation into alleged abuse of office at the municipality, opened in May 2024, was discontinued in July 2025, the spokeswoman said.

Duchnevičius told 15min he returned the money to avoid legal proceedings. He said the rules on eligible expenses were unclear and argued that politicians could repay disputed sums rather than spend money and time on litigation.

Prosecutors handle so-called “receipt” cases through both public-interest inquiries and criminal investigations. Critics say the different approaches can result in municipal politicians facing different consequences for similar conduct.