Energy, Financial Services, Legislation, Lithuania, Nuclear power plant

"The current and former chief executive officers of the power plant, as well as a former head of a unit and another three natural persons are suspected of unlawfully organizing and running an auction of more than 1.5 million euros worth of radioactively contaminated copper tubes, whose winner was a possibly pre-selected company," Rasa Stundziene, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor General's Office said.

Suspicions of abuse and unlawful possession of radioactive materials were brought against these persons and information about this was forwarded to the government this week, she said.

According to information available to BNS, the suspects include Osvaldas Ciuksys, a former diplomat and director general of the Industrials' Confederation who held the job of CEO at the Ignalina NPP between March 2010 and April 2011.

Janulevicius, who has been at the plant's helm since early March 2013, could not be reached by BNS for comment.

Aurelija Vernickaite, spokeswoman for Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas, told BNS that the ministry was aware of the fact, adding that decisions would be made when the results of the ongoing investigation were known.

Law-enforcement officials opened their investigation regarding auctions of the assets of the shut-down Ignalina plant, which is undergoing decommissioning, back in 2015.