Former Lithuanian prime minister and parliament speaker Saulius Skvernelis on Tuesday denied allegations that he accepted or negotiated a 51,000-euro, calling the accusations false as prosecutors seek to strip him of legal immunity.
“I can confirm very clearly […] I did not take any 51,000 euros, no one offered it to me, I did not negotiate or discuss it,” Skvernelis told reporters at the Seimas, Lithuania’s parliament. “It did not happen.”
He said the Prosecutor General’s request to lift his immunity was “one of the darkest days” of his life.
The statement came after Prosecutor General Nida Grunskienė asked parliament to authorise criminal charges in a wide-ranging corruption investigation linked to the State Plant Service. Skvernelis has agreed to a simplified procedure to waive immunity, which avoids forming a parliamentary commission.
Under Lithuania’s Constitution, lawmakers cannot be prosecuted without parliamentary approval, which requires at least 71 votes in the 141-seat Seimas.
Allegations in corruption probe
Prosecutors allege Skvernelis accepted at least 51,000 euros in cash bribes between June and November 2025 while serving as parliament speaker. In return, he allegedly agreed to influence staffing decisions and help retain Jurijus Kornijenko as head of the State Plant Service.
Investigators also say he sought to assist in handling complaints against the agency and influence personnel appointments.
Skvernelis rejected the allegations, saying he never made any agreements or promises connected to criminal activity.
“I never negotiated with anyone, promised anything to anyone, or gave consent – directly or indirectly – for criminal acts,” he said, adding that he would address the case further during a parliamentary debate later this week.
Wider corruption investigation
The case centres on alleged bribery tied to phytosanitary certificates issued by the State Plant Service. Prosecutors say officials and intermediaries took payments in exchange for approving plant shipments without proper inspections.
Authorities say the investigation involves an organised group that may have collected more than 1 million euros in bribes. Searches have uncovered 1.3 million euros in cash, about 8 kilograms of gold worth roughly 1 million euros, as well as explosives and cocaine.
Prosecutors allege Skvernelis’s former aide Agnė Šilickienė, who also worked at the agency, helped transfer alleged payments.
Fifteen people have been charged in the case, including former lawmaker Kazys Starkevičius, who prosecutors say is also accused of bribery. Authorities have imposed travel restrictions on him.
Skvernelis has suspended his party membership pending the outcome of the case. The parliamentary vote on lifting his immunity is expected in the coming days.
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