The Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejects criticism of the Presidency regarding double standards in investigating the behavior of ambassadors

Asta Skaisgirytė, the adviser to the head of the country, stated earlier this week that an investigative commission was created to investigate the possible misconduct of D. Matulionis, unlike in the case of E. Bajarūnas.

However, the ministry tells BNS that “the two cases differ due to different legal relationships, which are subject to different legal acts and different procedures.”

“D. In the case of Matulionis, a possible non-compliance with instructions is being investigated, which can be assessed as a possible official misconduct, therefore the procedure of investigation of official misconduct has been started, which should be completed at the beginning of November”, said Chancellor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Inga Černiuk.

“E. The case of Bajarūnas is fundamentally different – the employees complained about the manifestations of mobbing (psychological violence), so in his case, the investigation procedures set out in the Violence Prevention and Equal Opportunities Procedure, which provide for the protection of whistleblowers, were applied in his case,” she added.

The ambassador to the United Kingdom, E. Bajarūnas, has received accusations from the employees of the representative office in London regarding inappropriate behavior and poor working conditions. The situation at the embassy was assessed by the General Inspectorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which recommended that his suitability to continue his duties be decided.

In mid-October, Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis suspended the ambassador’s functions and called him to Vilnius for consultations. The President called this decision half-hearted and noted that he does not decide anything, and leaves the diplomatic mission without a leader for at least half a year.

G. Nausėda also calls for an official inspection.

At that time, the investigation into Lithuania’s representative to NATO, D. Matulionis, was started due to the fact that he could not comply with the mandate given by the state institutions and weaken Lithuania’s negotiating position at the NATO summit in Vilnius.