Corruption in Lithuania: Difference between revisions
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A study by Freedom House in 2013 claimed that corruption remained widespread in Lithuania and politicians regularly attempted to influence or undermine judicial decisions, compromising the independence of the courts.<ref name="NIT" /> Despite solid judicial base, Lithuania’s law enforcement is very weak according to independent assessors.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20171019160537/http://www.againstcorruption.eu/reports/lithuania/</ref> |
A study by Freedom House in 2013 claimed that corruption remained widespread in Lithuania and politicians regularly attempted to influence or undermine judicial decisions, compromising the independence of the courts.<ref name="NIT" /> Despite solid judicial base, Lithuania’s law enforcement is very weak according to independent assessors.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20171019160537/http://www.againstcorruption.eu/reports/lithuania/</ref> |
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== Lidl police headquarters scandal == |
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== Notable cases == |
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In 2016, Lidl bought an abandoned building in the outskirts of Vilnius with intentions to build local headquarters. Soon after the purchase, [[Lithuanian Union of Architects]] (Lietuvos architektų sąjunga)<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20171113091454/http://lzinios.lt/lzinios/gimtasis-krastas/konfliktas-issprestas-vilniaus-valdzia-leido-lidl-griauti-buvusi-keliu-policijos-pastata/240711/</ref><ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20171113091536/https://bustas.lrytas.lt/architektura/2016/03/23/news/-lidl-ruosiama-griauti-pastata-stojo-ginti-salies-architektai-1503972/</ref> and [[Ministry of Culture (Lithuania)|Lithuania's ministry of culture]]<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/20171113091925/https://www.15min.lt/verslas/naujiena/kvadratinis-metras/nekilnojamasis-turtas/vilniaus-valdzia-jei-ne-kulturos-paveldo-departamentas-lidl-isigytas-pastatas-jau-butu-nugriautas-973-698261</ref> declared the building ruin to be a national treasure freezing Lidl's plans in the process. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20170923162050/https://www.15min.lt/verslas/naujiena/kvadratinis-metras/nekilnojamasis-turtas/lidl-973-696635|title=„Lidl“ trūko kantrybė – kreipėsi į prezidentę, iš Lietuvos ketina reikalauti atlyginti nuostolius - Verslas - 15min.lt|author=|date=23 September 2017|website=archive.org|accessdate=21 October 2017}}</ref> There have been speculations and allegations that such actions were a covert attempt to extort bribes. After a public dispute, where Lidl placed formal complaints to various branches of Lithuanian government, including to Lithuania's president<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20171018095341/https://www.delfi.lt/verslas/nekilnojamas-turtas/neapsikentes-prekybos-tinklas-lidl-kreipesi-net-i-prezidente.d?id=72549308|title=Neapsikentęs prekybos tinklas „Lidl“ kreipėsi net į prezidentę - DELFI Verslas|author=|date=18 October 2017|website=archive.org|accessdate=21 October 2017}}</ref>, and after several rounds of legal battles<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20171018094855/https://www.15min.lt/verslas/naujiena/bendroves/teismas-is-naujo-spres-ar-priimti-lidl-pretenzijas-vilniaus-valdziai-663-677053|title=Teismas iš naujo spręs, ar priimti „Lidl“ pretenzijas Vilniaus valdžiai - Verslas - 15min.lt|author=|date=18 October 2017|website=archive.org|accessdate=21 October 2017}}</ref>, Lidl settled the case out of court in early 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20171018094900/http://www.teismai.lt/lt/bendroves-lidl-lietuva-savivaldybes-bei-paveldosaugininku-gincas-baigesi-taikos-sutarties-patvirtinimu/4474|title=Bendrovės „Lidl Lietuva”, savivaldybės bei paveldosaugininkų ginčas baigėsi taikos sutarties patvirtinimu - Lietuvos teismai|author=|date=18 October 2017|website=archive.org|accessdate=21 October 2017}}</ref> |
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== Examples post-2016 == |
== Examples post-2016 == |
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Revision as of 10:42, 18 November 2017
Corruption in Lithuania is examined on this page.
Extent
| % | Percentage of Lithuanian population who | Remarks | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95% | consider corruption to be widespread | [1][2] | |
| 95% | consider country's corruption to be a major problem | [1][2] | |
| 90% | believe that corruption is widespread in Lithuania's government | [3] | |
| 72% | believe that bribes help solving problems. | [4] | |
| 61% | are prepared to pay bribes when needed. | [4] | |
| 48% | believe that corruption is pervasive in the legal system. | [5] | |
| 46% | would not report corruption | due to belief that the corrupt individuals would not be punished. | [6][7] |
| 45% | paid bribes in the preceding year | [8] | |
| 39% | consider prevalent tax evasion to be a major problem. | [9][10] | |
| 25% | trust Lithuanian legal system | [11] | |
| 10% | trust Lithuanian parliament | [11] |
Summary
Lithuania ranked 38th out of 176 countries in the 2016 Corruption Perception Index published by Transparency International (rising from 52nd place in 2009).[12] According to 2014 EU Anti-Corruption Report, Lithuania had the highest proportion of citizens who had paid bribes in the preceding 12 months of any EU country, with 95% of citizens considering corruption to be widespread and a major problem.[1][2] In surveys of Lithuanian business people, corruption is highlighted as the main issue prohibiting economic development and international competitiveness.[13] An investigation by Lithuanian government revealed that 46% of Lithuanians would not even consider reporting corruption due to resignation that the corrupt individuals would not be punished.[6][7] Lithuania has established a hotline for reporting corruption, but no major crimes have been reported in the first 5 years of its operation.[14]
Tax evasion is prevalent in the Lithuania and total tax revenues (inc. social security contributions) was at 27.5% of GDP in 2012, the lowest in the European Union. According to Lithuanian president Dalia Grybauskaitė, Lithuanian parliament's unwillingness to combat corruption is a major issue in the fight against corruption.[15] An anti-corruption program was introduced by the government in 2011–2014.[16]
Annual survey done by Special Investigation Service (STT) revealed that 45% of Lithuania's citizens paid bribes in 2014.[8] Lithuania's shadow economy was estimated to be 29% of the GDP in 2012.[17] Society's trust in the political and legal system is low overall, a survey in 2015 showed that 25% of citizens trusted the Lithuanian legal system and 10% trusted the national parliament, Seimas.[11] An international Gallup study found that 90% of Lithuanians believe that corruption is widespread in Lithuania's government[3]. A study by Freedom House in 2013 claimed that corruption remained widespread in Lithuania and politicians regularly attempted to influence or undermine judicial decisions, compromising the independence of the courts.[16] Despite solid judicial base, Lithuania’s law enforcement is very weak according to independent assessors.[18]
Lidl police headquarters scandal
In 2016, Lidl bought an abandoned building in the outskirts of Vilnius with intentions to build local headquarters. Soon after the purchase, Lithuanian Union of Architects (Lietuvos architektų sąjunga)[19][20] and Lithuania's ministry of culture[21] declared the building ruin to be a national treasure freezing Lidl's plans in the process. [22] There have been speculations and allegations that such actions were a covert attempt to extort bribes. After a public dispute, where Lidl placed formal complaints to various branches of Lithuanian government, including to Lithuania's president[23], and after several rounds of legal battles[24], Lidl settled the case out of court in early 2017.[25]
Examples post-2016
- In 2016, Masiulis case shook Lithuania. Eligijus Masiulis, leader of the Liberal Movement, a prominent political party in Lithuania, was arrested with 106 thousand euros in cash stuffed into a box under suspicion that the money was a bribe by MG Baltic, a Lithuanian investment firm.[26] During a subsequent search of Masiulis' apartment, additional 250 thousand euros in cash were found. In September 2017, the Liberal Movement and Labour Party were additionally named as suspects in the continuing investigation.[27]
- In 2016, Lithuanian public energy company came under fire for purchasing supplies well above the market prices. [28] As of September of 2017, no charges have been brought against any employees of the company.
- In 2016, ŽŪMPRRA, an agency providing food support to the Lithuania's poor and financed by the EU bought food supplies significantly above the market price.[29]
- In 2016, several politicians in Kaunas, Lithuania's second largest city, were sued by the new city administration for having fictional employment - receiving large salaries without ever coming to work.[30]
- In 2016, a politician in Kaunas was arrested under suspicion that his newly built house was a bribe, provided to him by a government contractor.[31]
- In 2017, the head of state-owned Šilainiai clinic, one of the largest clinics in Kaunas, was sued for corruption. Under his management, the clinic had signed several contracts under conditions favoring a company managed by his son.[32]
- In early 2017, a scandal erupted when newspapers uncovered that Gintautas Kėvišas, a director of the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre with a 2 000 EUR salary, had amassed significant wealth, including large areas of land, several houses and an apartment, as well as real estate in Altea, Spain.[33][34] Kevišas was involved in scandals surrounding an expensive renovations at the theatre.[35][36] He was dismissed from his position, although, as of September 2017, there have not been any charges laid against him.
- In 2015, „Start Vilnius“, a municipal agency tasked with attracting investment, allowed one of its employees to claim a favourable plot of land in Vilnius.[37] In 2016, the same agency was again accused of handing over a large plot of land in central Vilnius to a private company for 15 000 EUR.[38]
Examples pre-2016
- Arturas Zuokas, former mayor of Vilnius was convicted for trying to bribe a fellow politician. Criminal record was later removed, although the Zuokas was not declared innocent.[39][40]
- In 2004, former Lithuanian president Rolandas Paksas became the first president in Europe to be impeached. He was impeached on multiple corruption charges: for giving Lithuanian citizenship to his Russian donor Jurij Borisov, for passing secret information to Jurij Borisov and for pressuring a private company to hand over ownership rights to people close to Paksas[41][42]
- Lithuania is a major receiver of EU funding [43] and there have been several high profile cases of EU funding embezzlement [44][45][46]
- There are suspicions that project to close Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant involves significant embezzlement and money laundering [47][48]
References
- ^ a b c "Lietuva - korumpuočiausia visoje ES - ve.lt". 23 September 2017.
- ^ a b c "Anti-Corruption report". 23 September 2017.
- ^ a b "75% in U.S. See Widespread Government Corruption". 13 November 2017.
- ^ a b "Portraying Lithuanian corruption". 13 November 2017.
- ^ "Lithuania Corruption Report". 13 November 2017.
- ^ a b http://web.archive.org/web/20170923113412/https://www.lrp.lt/lt/spaudos-centras/pranesimai-spaudai/atsakomybe-uz-korupcija-turi-buti-neisvengiama/24617
- ^ a b "Snapshot of the Lithuania Country Profile". Business Anti-Corruption Portal. GAN Integrity Solutions. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ a b Template:Lt icon "Virš Lietuvos sklendžia korupcijos šešėlis". TV3. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20171113112742/https://www.tv3.lt/naujiena/731918/lietuvos-seselines-ekonomikos-varikliai-kontrabanda-ir-mokesciu-vengimas
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20171113112459/https://www.15min.lt/verslas/naujiena/finansai/tyrimas-baudos-uz-mokesciu-vengima-verslui-lietuvoje-per-mazos-662-855768
- ^ a b c Template:Lt icon "Pasitikėjimas teismais - teigiamas pirmą kartą per du dešimtmečius". delfi.lt. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ "Corruption Perception Index 2016".
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20171113113335/http://www.ve.lt/naujienos/ekonomika/ekonomikos-naujienos/lietuvos-seselines-ekonomikos-varikliai---kontrabanda-ir-mokesciu-vengimas/
- ^ "Lithuania Corruption Report". 19 October 2017.
- ^ "D.Grybauskaitė ir S.Skvernelis – prieš „Lietuvos geležinkelių" pinigų kalyklą - 15min.lt". 23 September 2017.
- ^ a b "Nations in Transit 2013- Lithuania". Freedom House. Freedom House. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "Lietuva - korumpuočiausia visoje ES". ve.lt. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20171019160537/http://www.againstcorruption.eu/reports/lithuania/
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20171113091454/http://lzinios.lt/lzinios/gimtasis-krastas/konfliktas-issprestas-vilniaus-valdzia-leido-lidl-griauti-buvusi-keliu-policijos-pastata/240711/
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20171113091536/https://bustas.lrytas.lt/architektura/2016/03/23/news/-lidl-ruosiama-griauti-pastata-stojo-ginti-salies-architektai-1503972/
- ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20171113091925/https://www.15min.lt/verslas/naujiena/kvadratinis-metras/nekilnojamasis-turtas/vilniaus-valdzia-jei-ne-kulturos-paveldo-departamentas-lidl-isigytas-pastatas-jau-butu-nugriautas-973-698261
- ^ "„Lidl" trūko kantrybė – kreipėsi į prezidentę, iš Lietuvos ketina reikalauti atlyginti nuostolius - Verslas - 15min.lt". archive.org. 23 September 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Neapsikentęs prekybos tinklas „Lidl" kreipėsi net į prezidentę - DELFI Verslas". archive.org. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Teismas iš naujo spręs, ar priimti „Lidl" pretenzijas Vilniaus valdžiai - Verslas - 15min.lt". archive.org. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ "Bendrovės „Lidl Lietuva", savivaldybės bei paveldosaugininkų ginčas baigėsi taikos sutarties patvirtinimu - Lietuvos teismai". archive.org. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 21 October 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "E. Masiulio byla: į ką buvo įdėtas kyšis ir kas tie slaptieji prokurorai". delfi.lt. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ Vireliūnaitė, Lauryna (22 September 2017). "Korupcijos byloje – įtarimai Liberalų sąjūdžiui ir Darbo partijai, E.Masiulis iš R.Kurlianskio ėmė ne tik pinigus". 15min. 15min, BNS. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
- ^ "„Auksinių šaukštų" skandalą keičia „auksiniai kabeliai" - Verslas - 15min.lt". 22 September 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "Skandalas Rinkos reguliavimo agentūroje: varguoliams skirtos kruopos ir miltai kainuoja kaip auksiniai". 15min.lt. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "Kauno politikė priversta pasiaiškinti: nieko nedirbo, bet gavo 1500 eurų atlyginimą?". delfi.lt. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "Štai koks namas atiteko kyšininkavimu įtariamam Kauno rajono valdininkui". lrytas.lt. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "Kauno savivaldybė kreipėsi į teismą dėl Šilainių poliklinikos sutarčių". respublika.lt. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "Ne iš atlyginimo: nematoma G. Kėvišo šeimos imperija". delfi.lt. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "Prabangi G. Kėvišo imperija Ispanijoje: oazę kuria griežtai saugomame turčių kvartale". delfi.lt. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "G.Kėvišas nežino, kiek dar kainuos ir kada baigsis Operos ir baleto teatro renovacija". 15min.lt. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "Kėvišas ir nesibaigiantis apetitas rekonstrukcijoms: prašė dar daugiau, nei gavo". alfa.lt. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "Afera Artūro Zuoko panosėje: įtakingas pareigūnas susižėrė miesto turtą į savo rankas". 15min.lt. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "Specialus tyrimas: žemė Vilniaus širdyje dalijama pusvelčiui". 15min.lt. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "Amžinoji Vilniaus mero rinkimų byla baigta: Zuokas – kaltas". 15min.lt. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "A.Zuokui panaikintas teistumas". delfi.lt. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "Prezidentas R.Paksas yra nušalintas nuo pareigų". Delfi.lt. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ Template:En icon "Lithuanian Parliament Removes Country's President After Casting Votes on Three Charges". New York Times. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ Template:En icon "Infographics: EU budget explained: expenditure and contribution by member state". European Parliament. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "SAPARD parama: pradanginti ES milijonai valdininkams nerūpi". alfa.lt. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "E.Čijausko veiklą tirs speciali komisija". delfi.lt. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
- ^ Template:Lt icon "Korupcija skandina milijoninius projektus". delfi.lt. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
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- ^ Template:Lt icon "Atominiai litai išgaruoja". VakaruEkspresas.lt. Retrieved 6 April 2017.