Prosecutors probe Law and Democracy Centre previously led by Lithuanian MEP

Lithuania’s Prosecutor General’s Office has launched a pre-trial investigation into alleged fraudulent accounting at the Law and Democracy Centre, formerly headed by Member of the European Parliament Dainius Žalimas who called the allegations disinformaton.

The prosecutor’s office said on Friday that the probe will examine circumstances outlined in complaints filed by Member of the European Parliament Petras Gražulis and Remigijus Žemaitaitis, leader of the Nemunas Dawn party and member of the Seimas. The allegations concern the potentially illegal use of state and support funds between 2021 and 2025.

Žemaitaitis raised questions on Facebook last week regarding the use of funds by the Law and Democracy Centre for legal aid to Belarusians. He said the institution received about 246,000 euros in support over three years, with more than 30,000 euros allegedly paid to Žalimas, though he argued the reports do not clearly show how these funds were used.

"Income disappears in one part of the document and reappears in another. This is not negligence, but a choice," Žemaitaitis said.

According to the Centre of Registers, the Law and Democracy Centre began operations in July 2021 and was liquidated in November 2025 by a decision of its governing bodies. The centre was founded by the Vilnius-based European Humanities University (EHU).

Žemaitaitis also suggested the liquidation may have been intended to complicate any audit of the funds. Several representatives of the Belarusian opposition have also publicly questioned the transparency of the organisation in an appeal to the Lithuanian president.

Žalimas said he is confident the investigation will reveal no criminal activity. He said the institution’s accounting was handled properly, donors had no complaints, and law enforcement is simply verifying documentation.

In a post on Facebook, he said this was part of "disinformation" being spread against him and the centre. He added that he does not intend to resign from the European Parliament and is considering legal action over what he considers potential defamation.

Žalimas was elected to the European Parliament in 2024 on the Freedom Party list.