A corruption scandal has erupted in Lithuania concerning the improper use of European funds meant for Belarusian fugitives. Dainius Zalimas, a member of the European Parliament and former Chairman of the Constitutional Court (2014-2021), is being accused of fraud, BelTA reports.
Lithuanian media report that the Lithuanian Prosecutor General’s Office has initiated a pre-trial investigation into alleged fraudulent financial reporting by the Law and Democracy Centre, which was headed by Dainius Zalimas. The centre, which operated from 2021 to 2025, was founded by the European Humanities University (EHU) in Vilnius [which was declared an extremist organisation by the Supreme Court of Belarus in April 2026]. Dainius Zalimas’ wife, Ingrida Daneliene, worked at EHU.
The Prosecutor General’s Office obtained documents suggesting that during its operation, the Law and Democracy Centre received approximately 246,000 Euros from European organisations, but the annual activity reports ‘barely detail’ how these funds were spent or what results were achieved. MEP Petras Grazulis and Remigijus Zemaitaitis, the leader of the Dawn of Nemunas political party and a member of the Seimas, have called for an investigation, claiming there may have been illegal use of state and support funds.
Belarusian fugitives sent a letter to Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, urging the establishment of an international commission comprising EU representatives, Lithuanian authorities and independent experts to examine European aid distributed through Lithuanian legal entities. President Nauseda said he forwarded the letter to the Lithuanian Prosecutor General’s Office.
Commenting on the situation, the Lithuanian President said that the allegations made by some politicians and activists against Dainius Zalimas concerning the use of EU aid are serious and emphasised the need to await the conclusions of law enforcement agencies, “The accusations are serious, especially as they involve our MEP Mr. Zalimas, so today I will refrain from making any personal judgments.”
