Whistleblower Protection in Lithuania: Key Facts and Procedures

Lithuania has a system in place for individuals to report suspected infringements anonymously to the Panevėžys)Šiauliai Regional Prosecutor’s Office or the Prosecutor General’s Office. Here are some key facts and procedures to know:

Reporting an Infringement

• To submit a report, individuals must provide:
  • Name
  • Surname
  • Personal identification number or date of birth
  • Contact details
  • Specific factual circumstances of the infringement
• Reports can be submitted in writing or electronically.

Confidentiality

• The Prosecutor’s Office ensures confidentiality from the moment it receives the report.
• This applies even if the status of a whistleblower is not granted or the information is not confirmed during the investigation.
• However, confidentiality may be waived:
  • If requested by the person reporting the infringement
  • If the information reported is known to be false

Investigation and Results

• The Prosecutor’s Office will notify the whistleblower about the results of the examination once the investigation is complete.
• If a decision is made not to investigate the report, the whistleblower can appeal against this decision to the immediate head of the prosecutor.

Authority Notification

• During the investigation, authorities may be asked to provide documents or other information.
• However, the authority or institution reported upon will not be informed that a whistleblower has submitted a report.

Anonymity and Confidentiality

• The anonymity/confidentiality of the whistleblower is ensured from the moment the report is received.
• This applies even if the person reports an infringement without complying with the requirements for reporting.

Liability

• A person who reports information known to be false or discloses a state or service secret or professional secret is liable according to legal acts.
• However, a person is only liable for damages caused by reporting information about an infringement where it can be demonstrated that they could not reasonably have believed that the information was correct.

Appeals and Revocation

• A decision to refuse recognition as a whistleblower may be appealed against in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Lithuania on Administrative Proceedings.
• The status of a whistleblower can also be revoked:
  • If there is a request from the whistleblower
  • If it is found that the whistleblower intentionally reported false information about the infringement

Conclusion

Lithuania’s whistleblower protection law aims to ensure confidentiality and anonymity for individuals reporting suspected infringements. By understanding the procedures and key facts outlined above, individuals can feel confident in coming forward with information about potential wrongdoing.