As in the previous year, the resources of the Special Investigation Service (STT) are being concentrated on quickening the investigation of systemic corruption offences. Systemic corruption cases are characterised by a high number of offences and individuals under investigation. Such cases involve complex corruption schemes in highly important and sensitive areas of the activities of the state, and because of their seriousness and scale, systemic corruption poses a threat to public and state security.
In 2023, a total of 88 pre-trial investigations were initiated, which is 24 percent more than in 2022. The largest number of criminal offences investigated simultaneously in 2023 reached 225. The Service conducted 6 pre-trial investigations for graft in international business transactions, 5 of which were initiated in 2023.
In preventing corruption, the Office focuses on identifying and preventing corruption risk factors that may pose the greatest threat.
Effective corruption prevention creates preconditions for the identification of corruption risks and threats before they escalate into corruption offences, and the corruption risk analyses carried out by the Service and anticorruption assessments of legal acts or their drafts contribute significantly to the identification and elimination of corruption risks and their underlying factors within the legal framework and in the activities of public sector entities.
In 2023, the Service issued a total of 557 observations on identified corruption risk factors, of which 48 per cent constituted critical anticorruption observations.
‘The more complex problems that could give rise to corruption are identified by the Service's officials, the longer it can take to implement the proposals. The implementation of proposals is often associated not only with the refinement of secondary legislation but also with amendments to laws characterised by a complex and lengthy legislative process. In order to timely identify and manage corruption risk factors, it is necessary for all decision-making branches to converge and act swiftly’, Linas Pernavas, Director of the Special Investigation Service, says.
The Service’s anti-corruption education initiatives reached even more individuals
Anticorruption awareness-raising initiatives reached 66 thousand individuals in 2023, which is 65 percent more than in 2022. People actively participated in or made use of the anticorruption awareness-raising measures provided by the STT, such as e-learning platforms, anticorruption lectures and lessons, practical workshops and other events. The evaluation of the anti-corruption awareness activities conducted by the Service also increased, reaching 9.6 out of 10 points in 2023, which is 0.2 points higher than in 2022.
The Initiative ‘Integrity Academy’ attracted attention of both business representatives and teachers
The ‘Integrity Academy’ initiated by the President of the Republic of Lithuania three years ago and implemented by the STT, continued to expand in 2023. In 2023, the ‘Integrity Academy’ brought together 60 participants: 49 organisations and 11 teachers. More than 2,000 people participated in the good practice sharing events aimed at strengthening the resilience of organisations to corruption, and more than 3,000 in the events for teachers.
Transnationality of activities
The Service shared its expertise with the representatives of anticorruption institutions in 25 states, implemented 5 European Union-funded projects aimed at promoting development cooperation and disseminating good practice among the Service’s partners in Europe.
‘Involvement of the Service in international activities does not only provide practical knowledge of the experience of other countries in the areas of reducing corruption, but also allows it to effectively contribute to the efforts of Lithuania and the international community in combating corruption, building a democratic and transparent society, strengthening trust in state institutions, and ensuring the rule of law and the public interest’, said Linas Pernavas, Director of the Special Investigation Service.
Lithuania has been granted the right to host the 21st International AntiCorruption Conference (IACC) in 2024. This is a significant recognition of Lithuania's progress in combating corruption and an opportunity for Lithuania to actively participate in initiating global changes.
Special Investigation Service of the Republic of Lithualia ANNUAL REPORT 2023
Budgetary institution, A. Jakšto g. 6, 01105 Vilnius
Phone +370 706 63 335
E-mail documents@stt.lt
Data is stored by the Register of Legal Entities
Code 188659948
