Lithuania to Reconstruct Šventoji Port; Mayor Faces Fraud Charges; Espionage Trial Underway

Lithuania is moving forward with the reconstruction of the Šventoji seaport, signing a contract worth 38.23 million euros with the company "Tilsta." Mayor Šarūnas Vaitkus highlighted the project's significance, noting that the revitalized port will serve recreational boating, tourism, fishing, and state institutions, fostering maritime economic development.

In a separate legal development, prosecutors are seeking a conviction for the mayor of Prienai, Alvydas Vaicekauskas, in a case involving document forgery, abuse of office, and misappropriation of municipal property. The prosecutor requested a 7,500 euro fine and a four-year ban from holding public office. Vaicekauskas is accused of submitting falsified expense reports for fuel, using municipal funds for personal expenses, and allegedly defrauding the municipality of approximately 1,113 euros.

Additionally, a criminal case is proceeding against a Russian national accused of systematically gathering information for Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) over several years. The trial will occur in absentia, as the accused allegedly coordinated the activities of two Lithuanian citizens who have already been convicted of espionage. These individuals, Aleksėjus Greičius and Mindaugas Tunikaitis, received sentences of four years and 1 year and 6 months, respectively, for their roles in collecting sensitive national security information.