Ethics commission investigates Kaunas mayor’s conference invitation

Lithuania’s Chief Official Ethics Commission (VTEK) has opened an investigation into an invitation accepted by Kaunas Mayor Visvaldas Matijošaitis to attend a business conference, LRT reported.

The commission will assess whether accepting the invitation to the “Turning Point” conference breached the Law on the Adjustment of Public and Private Interests, which prohibits accepting services or gifts because of one’s official duties or status.

Matijošaitis was invited to the conference in Palanga by Superia LT, a company described as his patron. A ticket to the event cost at least 1,500 euros.

Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas, Vilnius municipal administration director Adomas Bužinskas and the heads of Vilniaus vandenys, Kauno energija and Kauno autobusai also attended, the news outlet 15min reported. The outlet Kas vyksta Kaune reported that Kaunas Deputy Mayors Mantas Jurgutis and Andrius Palionis were also there.

Reports said the institutions that sent the other politicians and public servants to the conference paid for their tickets.