Seven Charged in Lithuanian Military Bribery Probe Over Alleged Draft Evasion Scheme
Lithuanian prosecutors have charged two soldiers and five civilians with bribery and influence peddling in a scheme that allegedly allowed over 200 conscripts to avoid mandatory military service. The investigation began after staff at a military conscription centre reported suspected corruption.
Lithuanian prosecutors on Tuesday announced charges against two soldiers and five civilians in an alleged bribery scheme that enabled conscripts to evade compulsory military service, according to the General Prosecutor’s Office. The investigation, launched earlier this year, was triggered by reports from personnel at the Military Conscription and Recruitment Centre under the Šiauliai Regional Military Command.
Prosecutors say evidence indicates that a soldier responsible for handling conscripts accepted bribes to ensure that young men listed for mandatory service in the Šiauliai region were not called up. That soldier faces charges of bribery and trading in influence. A second soldier from another unit and five civilians are suspected of influence peddling for using their connections with the primary suspect to facilitate the scheme.
Investigators believe more than 200 people on conscription lists may have avoided service through the alleged arrangement. Individual bribes were reportedly as high as 600 euros. The Šiauliai regional conscription district covers the municipalities of Šiauliai city and district, Kelmė, Radviliškis, Akmenė, Telšiai, Mažeikiai, Joniškis and Pakruojis.
“We want to emphasise clearly that such activity not only grossly violates the law but is also contrary to the fundamental values of the Lithuanian Armed Forces and causes enormous harm to the military, our state and its defence,” said Algis Chormanskis, head of the Military Police’s Pre-Trial Investigation Division in Šiauliai, in a statement. He commended the Šiauliai Conscription Centre staff for identifying the misconduct and reporting it promptly.
Under Lithuania’s Criminal Code, bribery is punishable by a fine or up to seven years in prison, while trading in influence carries penalties ranging from fines and restrictions on liberty to arrest or up to five years’ imprisonment. The pre-trial investigation is being led by the Šiauliai Regional Prosecutor’s Office and conducted by the Lithuanian Armed Forces Military Police.
