Lithuanian Social Democrat lawmaker Gintautas Paluckas said on Friday he has suspended his party membership and will waive his parliamentary immunity as prosecutors seek to charge him with illicit enrichment.
The Prosecutor General applied to the Seimas on Friday to lift Paluckas' immunity. A pre-trial investigation into suspected abuse of office and illicit enrichment was launched by the Special Investigation Service (STT) following journalistic investigations last year into the politician's activities.
According to the probe, Paluckas allegedly acquired assets worth more than 45,000 euros illegally. Questions have also been raised regarding the financing of his company, Sagerta, and the purchase of a residence in Vilnius.
I suspended my party membership today as soon as I saw the information in the media, and I will certainly agree to have my immunity lifted under the simplified procedure, because the Seimas will neither acquit nor convict me," Paluckas said.
"I will prove my truth through legal means," he added.
The politician maintained that he and his wife have not "committed any criminal act".
Paluckas said he has consistently cooperated with law enforcement, providing testimony and explanations. Asked whether he would resign his seat in parliament following the allegations, the MP said he would wait for the Social Democrats' position on the matter.
"The opinion of both our Social Democratic group and the party is relevant to me; once my colleagues express it, I will make decisions," the politician said.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office and the Financial Crime Investigation Service are also conducting a separate probe into suspected credit fraud related to a soft loan from the national development bank ILTE.
Paluckas stepped down as prime minister and Lithuanian Social Democrat party chairman last August but remained in parliament and the party. Investigations into him and his associates are ongoing.
Unknown origin
Lithuanian prosecutors seeking to lift lawmaker Gintautas Paluckas’ immunity allege he and his wife may have illegally acquired assets worth nearly 344,578 euros, according to a letter to parliament.
The document states that Paluckas and his spouse, Ilma Palucke, allegedly engaged in these activities between December 2010 and December 2024.
“Paluckas and his spouse Paluckė, by depositing cash into banks and purchasing cars, real estate and securities with cash, used 800,136 litas (approximately 231,000 euros) and 58,684 euros of unknown origin that cannot be justified by legally obtained income,” the document reads.
It is further alleged that a Cyprus-registered company transferred assets of unknown origin worth 186,998 litas (approximately 54,000 euros) to the couple free of charge.
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