Kazys Starkevičius

Kazys Starkevičius, a former Lithuanian Minister of Agriculture and longtime member of the Seimas, is currently the subject of a major corruption investigation involving the State Plant Service (VAT). In 2026, Starkevičius was formally charged with bribery under Article 225, Paragraph 3 of the Criminal Code, which carries a potential prison sentence of two to eight years. The charges stem from allegations that he accepted a bribe of 20,000 euros in October 2025, reportedly handed to him by a businessman linked to the former head of the VAT, Jurijus Kornijenka. Starkevičius has admitted to taking the bribe, characterized it as a major lapse in judgment, and reportedly turned the money over to investigators himself. Following searches of his home and office in February 2026, Starkevičius suspended his party membership and resigned from the Seimas in March 2026. He is currently under a written undertaking not to leave the country. The broader VAT investigation involves at least 15 suspects and allegations of systemic bribery in exchange for phytosanitary certificates, with investigators seizing over 1.3 million euros in cash and 8 kilograms of gold.