More than 600,000 records have been stolen from Lithuania's Centre of Registers, the state agency responsible for managing property and personal data. Prosecutors have opened an investigation, saying the unauthorised access may have originated from a foreign state.
What data was breached?
According to Centre of Registers chief Adrijus Jusas, the breach exposed data from real estate register extracts, including personal identification numbers.
He maintained, however, that contact details such as phone numbers and email addresses were not compromised, nor were bank account numbers, payment information, or documents relating to property transactions or court rulings.
Prosecutors confirmed that several unauthorised logins and attempts to access the Centre of Registers were carried out from a foreign state, using systems administered by other institutions. They have not named the country or institutions involved, and Jusas said he was unable to disclose those details.
The news portal 15min reported that the breach occurred via accounts belonging to Lithuania's Migration Department.
Intelligence officers' data may be among those exposed
The Conservative opposition leader Laurynas Kašiūnas warned on Sunday that the breach could pose a direct threat to national security.
Writing on Facebook, he said the leaked data may include sensitive information on intelligence officers, military personnel, politicians, diplomats and civil servants, as well as private individuals and businesses. He suggested the incident bore the hallmarks of a Russian intelligence operation.
Kašiūnas argued that residential address data for intelligence or military personnel is particularly sensitive, as it can be used for physical surveillance, monitoring a person's movements and contacts, or attempts to install tracking devices. Such information can also underpin cyber operations – enabling highly targeted phishing attacks, identity theft, or account hijacking – as well as recruitment or coercion efforts that exploit financial, family or personal vulnerabilities.
The Prosecutor General's Office has not confirmed or denied these claims, and has not named the foreign state involved.
Chief under pressure to resign
Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė and Economy and Innovation Minister Edvinas Grikšas have both called on Jusas to step down.
Jusas said he had not yet reached a decision on his resignation and intends to discuss the matter on Monday during a meeting with the Ministry of Economy and Innovation, which owns the Centre of Registers.
He stressed that his priority was ensuring the stable and smooth operation of what he described as a strategically important enterprise.
Jusas said the position of the ministry and political leadership must be considered, especially when decisions regarding his future are being weighed at state level. At the same time, he noted that he is a professional manager rather than a politician and declined to comment on discussions regarding political responsibility.
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