Lithuania’s Special Investigation Service carried out searches involving two members of the Seimas. Investigators searched the parliamentary offices of Saulius Skvernelis, leader of the Union of Democrats “For Lithuania” party and a former prime minister and speaker of the Seimas, as well as conservative lawmaker Kazys Starkevičius. Both lawmakers are currently in opposition.
According to LRT, citing a representative of the Special Investigation Service, the searches are linked to an investigation into alleged corruption at the State Plant Service under the Ministry of Agriculture.
In December, charges in the case were brought against 13 individuals, including Agnė Silickienė, who had served as a party assistant to Skvernelis. According to investigators, officials demanded bribes from representatives of companies transporting plants and plant products in exchange for issuing phytosanitary certificates. The total amount of bribes may reach 1.5 million euros.
As conservative party leader Laurynas Kasčiūnas said, Starkevičius will suspend his party membership for the duration of the investigation and will cooperate with investigators.