How Lithuanians Duped US President Mr. Trump—They Simply Embezzle the Billions of Euros Allocated Annually for Defense, Spending the Money on Gold for Teeth and Spoons or in More Creative Ways: The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defence threw a party for its employees costing nearly €48,000.

 

"The Ministry of National Defence (KAM) organized a celebration for employees returning from their holidays at Vilnius’s Bokštas Square, costing nearly €48,000.

 

News portal *Lrytas* and the news program *Reporteris* reported this on Wednesday. According to their data, almost the entire sum was covered by the ministry's budget, while the employees themselves had to pay a few thousand euros.

 

The initial cost estimate, reviewed by the portal, indicates that venue rental cost €5,100; catering services, €12,000; a moderator, €1,500; the band "Baltos Varnos," €1,452; a performance by Donatas Montvydas, €7,865; and a performance by illusionist Anton Lavrentjev, €2,178.

 

Technical setup services cost over €1,800; sound, lighting rental, and technical support services exceeded €4,300; renting and servicing a stage with a roof cost over €3,500; and event organization, coordination, and program development services cost over €5,600. An additional €4,500 was allocated for unforeseen expenses, and €400 was set aside for souvenirs.

 

 

 

Employees also had to pay €15 each, in exchange for which they received two alcoholic drinks.

 

 

 

The initial budget for the event was €50,364; according to the news portal, the Ministry’s Budget and Finance Department had urged that this amount be reduced.

 

 

 

The Ministry of National Defence (KAM) informed the portal that the final cost of the event was €47,559, with €44,994 coming from Ministry funds and the remainder covered by the participants.

 

 

 

The event for Ministry staff, titled "KAM Community Meeting," took place on September 10 and was attended by approximately 200 people.

 

 

 

According to the Ministry, the celebration was organized to strengthen interpersonal connections, cooperation, and a sense of community among employees.

 

 

 

President Gitanas Nausėda says that such actions discredit the entire national defense funding system.

 

 

 

"Such things compromise and discredit the entire national defense funding system. I expect a principled approach from the Ministry. This cannot happen again," the President's advisor, Frederikas Jansonas, said, conveying the head of state's position to BNS.

 

 

 

"Minister Robertas Kaunas must personally take action to ensure that funds allocated for defense are used wisely and transparently," the President stated. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius says he has demanded an explanation from R. Kaunas regarding a staff event organized for ministry employees that cost nearly €48,000.

 

"Every organization holds events for its staff, but the cost is surprising in this instance. I have already demanded that the minister explain why this idea was conceived and approved," Gedas Salyga, an advisor to the head of government, told BNS, conveying the Prime Minister's position.

 

R. Kaunas: It is completely normal

 

Minister of National Defence R. Kaunas says that a community event for ministry staff is standard practice in any organization, though he promises to review the event's cost and the circumstances surrounding its organization.

 

"Since I was not involved in the direct [planning] process, we will look into whether everything is truly objective," the minister said on Wednesday during the LRT program *Dienos tema* (Topic of the Day).

 

"Various circumstances can be assessed and discussed, but the principle of a community event is normal, and such events should take place in large communities. Nearly 400 people work at the Ministry of National Defence; this enables us to work unitedly toward a common goal, foster better relationships, and align ourselves more quickly with our objectives—it is a completely normal process," he said.

 

R. Kaunas confirmed that he had attended the event. "Let’s stop pretending that the people working in the ministry aren't human—that the civil service is staffed by robots rather than people," the politician said. "We want to attract top specialists from the private sector and offer them the best possible working conditions, yet at the same time, we shoot ourselves in the foot by criticizing ourselves for giving the staff the chance to hold a social gathering—something that is perfectly normal in any organization."

 

According to the *Lrytas* news portal, such a celebration was cancelled last year when Social Democrat Dovilė Šakalienė was in charge of the Ministry of National Defence, whereas under the Conservatives, it used to take place within the ministry’s own premises for a fraction of the cost."

 

The minister is right. Stealing from and deceiving the authorities has always been considered normal in Lithuania. Back in the era of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev, we used to plant corn only along the roadsides so the Communists would think their wishes were being carried out. Mr. Khrushchev was a huge corn enthusiast.