Laurinkus: department has lots of compromising material

  • 2004-04-22
  • Baltic News Service
VILNIUS - If the shortcomings in Lithuania's political culture are not eliminated soon, a blow similar to the recent scandal of the President's Office may occur again, State Security Department Director General Mecys Laurinkus said.

"Problems which were unearthed [during the scandal] are widespread and reflect shortcomings of our political life," Laurinkus said during a broadcast by the LNK television April 20.
Asked whether on the eve of early presidential elections, the State Security Department had information compromising any potential candidates, Laurinkus said that "the department has a good deal of information."
"If it is needed, or if our analysts decide that it should be transferred to heads of the state or the Central Electoral Committee, this will be done," Laurinkus said.
The State Security Department director is appointed by the president with Parliament's assent.
Last October Laurinkus presented state's top officials with a report on the severe risks to national security, which said about facts compromising the then president Rolandas Paksas and his circle.