Lithuanian parliament member Žemaitaitis was denied access to confidential top-tier data.
In a significant development, the State Security Department (VSD) of Lithuania has denied top-secret clearance to Remigijus Zemaitaitis, the leader of the Nemunas Dawn party, due to concerns about his reliability and trustworthiness in handling sensitive state secrets.
The VSD's decision, communicated to the Lithuanian news agency BNS, follows a thorough background check on Zemaitaitis. The department has reasonable doubts about whether he would adequately protect classified information, fulfill his duties properly, and comply with legal requirements for the protection of classified information.
The VSD's report, submitted to the Seimas speaker on Tuesday, states that given Zemaitaitis's violation of the Constitution and oath of office, the state cannot unconditionally trust him. This assessment is based on the Constitutional Court's ruling against Zemaitaitis, given last year due to his statements on social media criticising Israel and blaming Jews for Soviet repressions against Lithuanians, which were deemed to represent hate speech.
The parliament, Seimas, has been notified of the VSD's decision, and Speaker Viktoras Pranckietis has said he will follow the VSD's recommendation. If the VSD's recommendation is negative, clearance for Zemaitaitis will not be granted.
It is important to note that the VSD's mandate is to protect national security by carefully vetting individuals seeking clearance. The VSD's recommendation against granting clearance to Zemaitaitis was made public on Thursday, and the parliament is now considering the implications of this decision.
Following the VSD's decision, Zemaitaitis resigned from the parliament but was re-elected in October. The Nemunas Dawn party, which is part of the ruling coalition, has not yet commented on the VSD's decision and its potential impact on the coalition.
This development underscores the importance of upholding the highest standards of trust and integrity when it comes to handling classified information in the interests of national security. The VSD's decision serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to the Constitution and the oath of office, and the consequences that may follow if these obligations are not met.
The VSD's decision not to grant top-secret clearance to Remigijus Zemaitaitis has escalated into a significant political issue, influencing policy-and-legislation discussions in Lithuania's parliament (Seimas). As Zemaitaitis's violation of the Constitution and oath of office, as well as his reputed hate speech, are at the heart of this general news story, it emphasizes the need for individuals handling sensitive state secrets to maintain integrity and adhere to legal requirements.
