The main commission on public ethics of Lithuania (VTEK) on Tuesday recognized that Inga Ruiginiene committed a serious violation of legislation related to the organization of foreign trips. The investigation was prompted by two official business trips. In February, the Prime Minister attended the Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, accompanied by her husband. In March, during a visit to the Vatican for a meeting with the Pope, her husband, daughter, and son also joined her. The commission established that Ruiginiene herself approved the composition of both official delegations, and the expenses for her relatives' trips were paid from the state budget. Following the investigation, VTEK mandated the Prime Minister to reimburse the state for the costs associated with the participation of family members in these trips. The government disagrees with the commission's conclusions. The press secretary of the Prime Minister, Ignas-Algirdas Dobrovolskis, stated that the decision will be appealed in court. According to him, the Prime Minister believes she acted within the framework of existing procedures and long-standing practices that had previously been applied during foreign visits by high-ranking state officials. "We believe that this case touches on issues of the relationship between legal norms and established practices, so the commission's assessment will be challenged in court," emphasized the Prime Minister's representative. The government also notes that back in March, they themselves approached the commission with a request for an official assessment of the existing practice of forming delegations. In the ruling Lithuanian Social Democratic Party, it is believed that the commission's decision will help eliminate uncertainty and create clearer rules for all government officials. Party representatives note that questions about the permissibility of relatives participating in official trips have been raised before, but until now there has not been such a clear legal assessment. Now the final point in the dispute will likely be set by the court, which must determine whether the Prime Minister's actions were in accordance with current legislation. This case has already become one of the most notable ethical scandals in Lithuanian politics in recent times and may influence the practice of forming official delegations in the future.