VILNIUS - Another foray in the fight against corruption and the criminal underworld has apparently started off on a wrong foot again after police commissioner General Vytautas Grigaravicius announced on Sept. 20 that the Kaunas mob was trying to implant some of its people in the Parliament.
Grigaravicius met with Parliamentary Chairman Arturas Paulauskas to inform him of the ongoing investigation, which is part of a larger operation to destroy a long-existing criminal world in the country's second largest city of Kaunas.
According to official police information, up to 10 candidates running in the Oct. 10 parliamentary elections are dependent on criminal gangs. Moreover, Kaunas-based crime bosses are sponsoring both the country's traditional and new parties with large sums of money.
"Shortly, we will inform the State Security Department about the individuals who are related to criminal organizations and are intending to become MPs," Grigaravicius told the press after his meeting with Paulauskas.
Refusing to name the individuals, he explained that up to now the individuals under investigation had no criminal record. He said the State Security Department alone would have to decide whether the names should be revealed to the public.
"When formerly convicted people acknowledge their mistakes, the electorate can decide on how to regard them. In this case, it is more difficult because the individuals seem flawless. This is dangerous," said Grigaravicius.
Investigative officers have received information that Kaunas criminals were even intending to have members of the police force sacked. Grigaravicius said he himself was a target and that gangs aimed to dispose of him physically.
"Kaunas is a state within a state with its black business, with its laws and demands," said the police commissioner.
Still, the seemingly praiseworthy efforts of the police to curtail mob-backed candidates from penetrating Parliament ran into criticism.
Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas blasted Grigaravicius, accusing him of hasty and ill-considered behavior, particularly in disclosing secret information to the public.
"He is police chief, and he must act accordingly to the norms prescribed by law. If there are some suspicions, they have to be checked, one cannot start with upraising a fuss," said Brazauskas.
In the prime minister's opinion, the chief of the police should bring a list of names 's if he has one 's to the Central Election Committee.
He ordered the police commissioner to provide him with thorough information on the criminals' push into Seimas [Lithuania's parliament] and possible consequences to the upcoming elections.
"One must act like that in a normal state and stop practicing propaganda," said Brazauskas.
Minister of Internal Affairs Virgilijus Bulovas also expressed dismay about Grigaravicius' decision to reveal the information. He was also concerned that the police chief did not inform him first.
The police commissioner works under supervision of the government; therefore informing Paulauskas, the parliamentary chairman and not a member of the Cabinet, baffled many ministers.
When The Baltic Times went to press, Bulovas was intending to call Grigaravicius to demand an explanation.
"I did not know anything about this information, and therefore I am skeptical about Grigaravicius' behavior. The police have to carry out their duties and should not get involved in politics," said Bulovas.
This is the second time this year when the police commissioner has been accused of making impact on political process. Earlier this summer, the Special Investigation Service was criticized for openly speculating on parliamentary corruption and illegal campaign finance on the eve of presidential and EU parliamentary elections in June. Special investigation agents were accused of incompetence after carrying out raids on the headquarters of top parliamentary parties.
It is believed that the raids and unproved claims of corruption could have influenced the elections after they had given rise to an uproar in society.
Strong dissatisfaction with the Special Investigation Service was one of the most important factors leading to the resignation of Valentinas Junokas, head of the Special Investigation Service, on Sep. 16.
