Lithuania's chief prosecutor discards post of second deputy

"The decision is made in the framework of the ongoing restructuring of the prosecution system. After five divisions of the Prosecutor General's Office were restructured into two departments, functions of top officers and management of prosecution were redistributed, therefore, the post of the second deputy prosecutor general is no longer necessary," Valys said.

Under the Law on Prosecution, "the prosecution is headed by the prosecutor general and his deputies under the competencies prescribed by the prosecutor general." Deputy prosecutor generals are appointed and dismissed by the president upon proposal from the chief prosecutor.

Although the law refers to several deputy prosecutor generals, Rūta Dirsienė, spokeswoman for the Prosecutor General's Office, says it is consistent with the latest decree by Valys.

"The structure of the prosecution and the number of positions is approved by the prosecutor general," she said.

According to the press release, eight executive positions were discarded at the Prosecutor General's Office.

All in all, the number of leading prosecutors will be cut in half from 187 to 93.

"More prosecutors will be able to dedicate their time to their main function – investigations," reads the press release.

The post of the second deputy prosecutor general has been vacant since resignation of Andrius Nevera on 1 February.