Prosecutors launch investigation into spying on conservative party

"The investigation was launched after receipt of a complaint from Raimundas Alekna, executive secretary of the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats, about taping equipment found," the Office said in a statement.

Illegal installation or use of special taping equipment for the collection and storage of information carries a jail term of up to four years.

In a statement earlier on Friday, the party said the equipment inside a computer mouse and on a tree in the internal courtyard was discovered on 12 June. Prosecutors were to inspect and remove the equipment.

"The complaint states that the special taping equipment was allegedly installed illegally and without any legal basis in an obvious attempt to collect information about ongoing political-economic processes in the party and Lithuania, important issues regarding Visaginas nuclear power plant, Klaipėda LNG terminal etc.," the Homeland Union–Lithuanian Christian Democrats party said in a statement.

The party says it does not discount the possibility that foreign special services, interest group in Lithuania and political opponents might have initiated criminal actions against the party and its individual members and staff in an effort to illegally collect and store information which is of particular use ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections on 14 October.