Analytics, Corruption, Crime, Lithuania, Medicine

According to the Prime Minister, the reports about a possible resignation of Caplikas appeared in public space too early. Kubilius says that so far he has received no information about the situation in the Ministry for Health from law enforcement institutions. On the other hand, the prime minister noted that law enforcement institutions had to work independently and not to come to the head of the Government to receive orders.

"Minister Caplikas has said clearly once and again that he will not avoid political responsibility. I will surely try to receive at least some information without damaging the investigation which is being conducted so that it would be possible to assess the level of political responsibility and then we will make the decision," Kubilius stated on the Ziniu Radijas on Thursday.

Asked whether he decided what to advise the minister – either to retreat or to stay, the prime minister joked that he had nothing to decide on and could only advise Caplikas to read the press which covered the corruption scandal at the Ministry for Health. According top the prime minister, if a similar case happened in his team, he would not rush to leave his post.

As reported, Officers of the Special Investigation Service (STT) arrested Deputy Health Minister Arturas Skikas, member of the Liberal and Centre Union, in his office last Thursday afternoon. Skikas is suspected of requesting and taking a bribe of 20,000 litas (5,785 Euros) from the head of a public institution.