Prime Minister on possible corruption in the Plant Production Service: an unacceptable and sad event

After the head of the State Plant Breeding Service and 12 other suspects have been indicted on suspicion of possible corruption offences, Prime Minister Inga Ruginienė says the development is unacceptable and sad.

Among other things, she praises the work of law enforcement services. „The event is unacceptable and sad, but the results of the services are good. From the large seizures of smuggled cigarettes to the uncovering of a corruption scheme in this very service," Ruginienė told reporters at the Government on Wednesday.

„We are both expecting and waiting for such results from the STT (Special Investigation Service – BNS), so that we can see really big revelations. Our government has made it clear that the tolerance for corruption is zero," the prime minister added.

I. Ruginienė hopes to discuss the issue in more detail with the head of the STT, Linas Pernavas, after the New Year, as she „wants to know more than just the generalities“. 

BNS wrote that the Prosecutor General's Office said on Wednesday that the head of the Plant Breeding Service, Yuri Korniyenko, and other employees are under suspicion in the investigation of possible corruption offences in connection with bribes worth €1.5 million.

Agriculture Minister Andrius Palionis said on Wednesday that suspicions about this were already present in the ministry last spring, but the latest news – is shocking. 

According to law enforcement, 13 people were detained during searches last week and this week, six of whom have been sentenced to detention for one to two months, while others have been given lighter precautionary measures.

Suspicions of bribery in an organised group have been brought against Mr Kornijenko, his deputy Mr Mantas Bata, his advisers Aurelijs Šapranauskas and Agne Silickiene, the interim head of the Kaunas Regional Division Ms Dalia Šubonienė, the head of the Alytus Regional Division Mr Giedrius Urbelionis, as well as against the managers of seven private companies and persons connected with them.

According to law enforcement, last week and this week over 120 STT officers in Vilnius, Kaunas, Utena and Alytus regions carried out more than 100 searches, during which they found €1.3 million in cash, eight kilograms of gold worth about €1 million, explosives and cocaine.