Scepticism expressed over Skvernelis's parliamentary aspirations as he is ordered to wear electronic ankle monitor
Seimas member Saulius Skvernelis, who has been charged with corruption offences in an investigation by the Plant Protection Service, has been ordered by law enforcement to wear an electronic ankle monitor.
Scepticism expressed over Skvernelis's parliamentary aspirations as he is ordered to wear electronic ankle monitor
Seimas member Saulius Skvernelis, who has been charged with corruption offences in an investigation by the Plant Protection Service, has been ordered by law enforcement to wear an electronic ankle monitor. This restrictive measure is being applied to a Lithuanian parliament member for the first time.
The politician demonstrated the device attached to his leg to journalists. According to him, due to weak signal strength in the parliament building, the device constantly sends alerts, requiring him to step outside regularly – approximately every ten minutes. Skvernelis believes this measure is intended to maximally obstruct his activities, but says it has had the opposite effect.
He has been charged with having potentially received no less than 51,000 euros in cash during the previous year whilst holding the position of parliament speaker, through his former consultant Agnė Silickienė, in exchange for political support. The accused denies the allegations.
Initially, after receiving the charges, Skvernelis avoided the media and spoke about ending his career. Currently, he does not rule out participation in future elections – both municipal and parliamentary.
A member of the National Security and Defence Committee, he has clearance to work with classified information. However, committee meetings take place in premises where electronic devices are prohibited, so he cannot enter with the ankle monitor. Committee chairman Rimantas Sinkevičius stated that he has not yet received an order to revoke Skvernelis's clearance to work with confidential information.
Seimas speaker Juozas Olekas acknowledged that such a situation is damaging to parliament's prestige, but recalled that previously there have been convicted deputies who retained their mandates whilst serving their sentences.
His political colleagues have varying views on his prospects. Liberal Movement representative Eugenijus Gentvilas considers Skvernelis's plans overly naïve. Meanwhile, "Dawn of the Nemunas" leader Remigijus Žemaitaitis sees no obstacles, emphasising that politicians have previously recovered from various crises.
The case also involves Skvernelis's former adviser A. Silickienė, who has also been ordered to wear an ankle monitor. Furthermore, charges have been brought against former deputy Kazys Starkevičius and approximately fifteen other individuals.
Source: LRT
Source: LRT