Lawyer for Puchovius's Companies Also Has Contract with 'Nemuno Aušra'

Lithuania's Central Electoral Commission (VRK) is scrutinizing the political party "Nemuno aušra" and its leader, Remigijus Žemaitaitis, over allegations of serious campaign finance law violations. If the VRK rules against the party, it could face a significant reduction in state funding, marking another blow to its finances.

Investigators have gathered data suggesting that companies associated with Member of Parliament R. Puchovičius allegedly provided funds to "Nemuno aušra" before the 2024 Seimas elections. According to VRK findings, companies "Tvari statyba" and "Lajota," owned by Puchovičius, transferred money to him, which he then reportedly forwarded to the party's account within minutes. These transfers, made through separate payments, totaled 24,200 euros.

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These are completely different things.

Further investigation indicates that Puchovičius might have used his company's funds not only to support the party's pre-election campaign but also to finance Žemaitaitis's presidential campaign. The VRK's final decision on these findings is pending.

Adding a layer of complexity, lawyer P. Gruodis, who represented Puchovičius's companies during a VRK hearing, also holds a contract with "Nemuno aušra." This contract, signed in April 2025, is open-ended with a maximum value of 50,000 euros, with the lawyer charging 200 euros per hour. Gruodis stated that he represents the party and the companies under separate agreements, asserting they are distinct matters. He declined to comment on the specifics of his services to the party, citing attorney-client privilege.

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By law, we are prohibited from commenting and providing the information you request... Respecting client privacy and the regulation and principles of legal ethics, I could not tell you about the content of the services, nor about the contract and the fact of the contract itself.